The area of Hawthorn’s game that has impressed Hodge the most

Hawthorn has been the talk of the town of late, especially since the 66-point demolition job on Collingwood on the weekend.

Sam Mitchell’s Hawks are up and about, playing an attractive brand of footy which has delivered them 10 wins from 13 games since they lost their opening five.

While many have been taken by their fearless style and risky ball movement under Mitchell, the way they have been defending has stood out to one club great.

Premiership hero Luke Hodge pointed out that the Hawks, despite scoring strongly of late, have been an excellent defensive unit that has conceded an average of just 70 points across their last 10 outings.

“Everyone is talking about how they play the game, which is taking the game on,” Hodge noted on SEN’s Sportsday.

“On the weekend the conditions weren’t great for a tall but he had Mabior Chol in the forward line and everyone else was about five-foot-six. You had Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan, Luke Breust, Dylan Moore, Connor MacDonald, who has ability to play tall.

“They sized up really well and they played to the lineup that they had.

“But what I have liked about them is their defence and no one talks about their defence. Since Round 8 they’ve had the fewest points scored against them out of anyone.

“So we’re all talking about how they take the game on, that they’re risky, that their midfield is really strong, but they’ve had the least scored against them also from turnover.

“We all talk about how risky their ball movement is, but they defend behind the ball. So if those short 45 (degree angle) or long 45 (degree angle) risky kicks are turned over, they’re the number one team in defending scores for turnover.

“You look at how they’re playing and no one is giving them much credit for their defence. Being a defender I’m probably looking at that more than most other people do.”

Hodge then laid out some impressive numbers from an attacking sense.

It has the emerging Hawks keeping some quality company as they strive to force their way into the top eight.

“There’s one thing that has stood out and this comes a little bit from the scoring and also a little bit from the pressure - there’s only three teams apart from Hawthorn that have rated in the top five for points from turnover and points from stoppage,” Hodge continued.

“Those teams are Sydney (first on the ladder). They’re rated fourth in scores form turnover and first in scores from stoppage.

“Brisbane (third on the ladder) are first from turnover and third from stoppage. And Fremantle (fourth on the ladder) who are third from turnover and fifth from stoppage.

“So you look at this young team who up until Round 5 looked like they were lost. ‘Mitch’ tried to change a few things with the game style and he’s very good at explaining a game style to a young group.

“Offensively and defensively they’ve been really good since about Round 8 so if they keep going the way they are they might be playing finals.”

Hawthorn’s defence has been led by captain James Sicily with help from Jack Scrimshaw, Josh Weddle, Blake Hardwick, Sam Frost, Jarman Impey and more.

They next meet the Crows in Adelaide this Sunday evening as their quest for finals footy continues.