DEDERANG-raised Hawthorn ruckman Ben McEvoy admits he will have to adjust his game to combat the Nic Naitanui threat in Saturday’s grand final against West Coast.
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Because of his athleticism and unpredictable style, Naitanui shapes as an X-Factor and could stand in the way of a premiership hat-trick for Hawthorn.
The star was one of the Eagles’ best in their 32-point qualifying final win over the Hawks at Domain Stadium, when he had 40 hit-outs to McEvoys’s 25.
“If you let him get the game on his terms, he’s hard to stop,” McEvoy said.
“You have to change things a little bit.
“He’s a quality player and he’s a significant and unique challenge.
“There’s no one like him in the AFL.
“He’s a tremendous athlete … (but) it’s no different to last weekend with (Aaron) Sandilands.”
While the Hawks are aiming for a flag hat-trick, McEvoy is gunning for back-to-back premierships.
Last year, McEvoy was out of the side from round 21, but replaced Jonathon Ceglar in the grand final team.
McEvoy will again play ahead of Ceglar and said he knows what the former Wodonga Raiders big man is going through.
McEvoy was dropped for St Kilda's 2010 grand final draw against Collingwood, but then recalled for the replay, which the Saints lost.
“I understand, but that’s what happens in footy,” McEvoy, 26, said.
“I emphasise with him but he’s carried himself really well.”
It’s a completely different build-up to last year for McEvoy, but no less exciting.
While there’s never any guarantees with the Hawks, McEvoy has played every game since round 15.
“Extremely excited about the week,” he said.
“It’s a bit different for me then last year.
“Last year I found out on the Tuesday that I was playing.
“I pulled out of the VFL grand final on the Sunday morning.
“There were some nervous days.
“"I'm going into a grand final week with a little more clarity on what's going on.
“You don’t want to play the game before you get there.”
