HOKBALL will be put through a severe test in Cairns when Hawthorn tries to stop Narrm's late-season surge.
Thursday night's start to Indigenous Round shapes as one of the games of the season. The Hawks are second and the breakout team, while Narrm has recovered from a bad start and is outside the top eight only on percentage with two rounds left until the finals.
A cursory look at the ladder shows that hokball - the high-octane style of play that came to define Hawthorn's AFL season - has been warmly embraced by the women's program at Waverley.
The Hawks and top side North Melbourne are the only teams so far to have scored more than 500 points this season.
After they mauled Waalitj Marawar by 66 points earlier this month, Hawthorn captain Emily Bates spoke about how they had played the game on their terms, "a bit of hokball".
There has been a lot of discussion this month about AFLW tactics and being too defensive - an accusation that cannot be levelled at Hawthorn coach Daniel Webster.
"I wonder if it (hokball) just naturally translated over. Both sides, and as one club, we have a really exciting brand of footy," said Hawks utility Mattea Breed.
"'Webby' speaks a lot about having an attacking brand ... we don't want to sit back and be a defensive side.
"Fast pace, moving the ball well - we've trained for it all season, so it just naturally comes along.
"But it is exciting to coin the 'hokball' phrase and get on board with the boys as well. It's a bit of fun."
For all Hawthorn's rapid improvement this season, the Demons represent a step up in their opposition.
Between them, the Demons, Kangaroos, Kuwarna and reigning premiers Brisbane have played in the last four Grand Finals.
Hawthorn has played only one of those teams this season and it was its one loss, going down to the Crows in round three.
And the Dees, who have welcomed back several top players from injury in the last couple of games, are on a roll with four straight wins.
"We learned a lot from that. They're obviously a great side and Melbourne are on par with their talents and skills - they're a great program," Breed said of the Crows game.
"So it's exciting, because now I feel that we're at the point of the season where we're a bit more prepared, for more of a challenge.
"We're a bit more equipped and it will just be interesting to see how we go. We play better against quality sides - no disrespect to anyone.
"When you come up against a side like the Demons, you can bring your best and you know it will probably be matched. It will come down to who wants to bring it on game day, who executes."
