WHO’S FLYING

Each week throughout the 2023 season we will present Who’s Flying, a series of stories which will encapsulate everything that is good about our great game. It could be a star player, a coach who has inspired his men or a team that is – pardon the pun – flying.

Brendan Rhodes

analyses Hawk pair James Sicily and Finn Maginness after last week’s upset win over the Pies.

How do you beat Collingwood?

Having an unstoppable captain is a fair start, while an outstanding tagger seems to also be part of the blueprint.

And 16th-placed Hawthorn had both as they stunned the ladder-leading Magpies in fine style at the MCG last Saturday.

The Hawks kicked the first five goals but looked in all sorts of trouble when the Magpies got within five points late in the second quarter.

Those watching assumed Collingwood would just roll over the top of Hawthorn and record a big win.

But what happened was the sign of a team unlikely to be at the bottom of the ladder for long – the Hawks responded.

Brandon Ryan kicked a steadier before the break and another straight after as Hawthorn booted 10 goals to seven to seal a 32-point triumph that made the competition sit up and take notice.

But captain James Sicily and young tagger Finn Maginness were the difference.

Sicily had 21 disposals, nine marks, 305 metres gained and three goal assists in the first half on his way to 37 disposals, 19 marks and 515 metres gained in one of the most dominant displays by a key position player this season.

And Maginness claimed his second big-name scalp – perhaps the biggest of all this season – holding Brownlow Medal favourite Nick Daicos to just five disposals before the Collingwood wunderkind left the field with a fractured knee in the last quarter.

It was Maginness’ second major victim in a month after he held GWS star Josh Kelly to just six touches in round 17 and he has made himself undroppable after spending time with Box Hill Hawks this season.

As for Sicily, it’s no coincidence most of Hawthorn’s worst performances have come when he was out suspended and he has proven a master stroke appointment by Sam Mitchell.

As a centre half-back, its hard to imagine anyone putting together a better season than his 26.9 disposals, 10.2 marks and 6.2 rebound-50s, having won at least 30 possessions five times in 16 games and had at least 10 marks on eight occasions.

The All-Australian blazer appears to be his to lose.