KEEPING a leash on the Western Bulldogs' midfielders in Friday night's semi-final will be "pivotal" to Hawthorn's hopes of staying in the premiership hunt, ruckman Ben McEvoy says.
After a subdued September build-up hampered by a long list of injuries, the Dogs ran rampant and pulled off a stunning upset over West Coast in Perth to kick-off a wide-open finals campaign with a bang.
That victory – and Hawthorn's heartbreaking two-point loss to Geelong – has set up a do-or-die clash between the reigning premiers and one of the challengers to their throne at the MCG.
The teams haven't met since way back in round three under the roof at Etihad Stadium, when the Dogs dominated disposals, contested ball and clearances and also outscored the Hawks by a whopping 70 points to 27 from stoppages.
Although Hawthorn still found a way to clinch an epic three-point win, with James Sicily icing the game with a nerveless set shot, the Hawks know they need to clamp down on the Dogs' onballers.
"They've been a really strong side at getting numbers around the ball. That's going to be a pivotal element of the contest to try and get our hands on the footy and get it going our way," McEvoy told AFL.com.au.
"If they can get their hands on the footy and get in their half, they're pretty good at keeping it there.
"So that will be a really important battle."
Ahead of his second game since returning from a back injury, McEvoy is setting himself to shoulder the majority of the ruck load against Jordan Roughead and Tom Boyd, who were influential in the elimination final.
McEvoy was splitting ruck duties until round 22 – a shocking game for ruckmen on the injury front – when the luckless Jonathon Ceglar went down with a ruptured ACL against the Eagles.
After missing out on the premiership three-peat, Ceglar had finally cemented his spot in Alastair Clarkson's side but now won't return until late next season.
"There's not a lot you can say other than you're feeling for him," McEvoy said.
"He's had his operation and has been back around the club and he was there on the weekend keeping his eyes out and giving me a hand, which is fantastic.
"As you would expect, he's carried himself superbly. We're all feeling for him and there's blokes around this club who know exactly what he's going through.
"Footy can be a tough game … but he's got a long future in the game and at this club ahead of him. With any luck, there'll be more opportunities down the track."
McEvoy, who became a father for the first time to son Angus three weeks ago, is now forging a ruck partnership with pinch-hitter and potential finals fairytale story Jack Fitzpatrick.
Their football journeys have been vastly different – McEvoy has featured in three Grand Finals while ex-Demon Fitzpatrick has played in only three wins – but how well they combine could be telling in the Hawks' bid for a fourth-straight flag.
"For our first game together, I thought it was pretty good (against the Cats)," McEvoy, 27, said.
"I suppose there's certain advantages of playing with someone you've played a lot with, so certainly myself and Cegs were pretty tuned in to what the other was doing.
"I spent a lot more time in the ruck on the weekend (rather than in attack), but we go in with an open mind to how the game might play out."
