ALTHOUGH Hawthorn veteran David Hale's form has dipped in the past month, he remains likely to play an important role in the Grand Final once again.
Hale has been a stalwart in the past two flags, helping out in the ruck and drifting forward to stretch opposition defences.
However the 31-year-old's form in the past month has been below par, even allowing for the fact he has been subbed out of the three finals to allow the Hawks to introduce run late in the game.
Hale has averaged 9.8 hit-outs and just 7.2 disposals a game, below his season average of 16.2 hit-outs and 9.2 disposals.
He has not had more than seven touches in any of the 2015 finals, but has chipped in with a goal in two of the three games despite not exceeding 70 per cent game time in any of them.
This has raised the question of whether the Hawks might consider including Jonathon Ceglar who was unluckily dropped from last year's Grand Final.
Such a decision appears unlikely.
Bringing back Ceglar would appear too big a risk as he has played just one senior game since round 14 (although Alastair Clarkson selected Ben McEvoy for last year's Grand Final despite the former Saint not having played a senior game since round 21).
Ceglar played against West Coast in round 19 but had just five disposals although his only kick was a goal.
He battled in the VFL Grand Final and did not seem to make a significant enough impression to force his way into the senior team.
However Ceglar is able to put pressure on the opposition and his tackling numbers are good. He also averages 11.4 disposals a game in 2015 (two more than Hale) and 23.2 hit-outs (seven more than Hale).
With 31 games under his belt, the 22-year-old has had a perfect grounding behind Hale if the veteran decides the Grand Final is his last game.
Trusted and reliable, Hale knows exactly what is required in big games and can chip in with a handy goal when needed.
His ball-use is good too, his kicking efficiency of 66.7 per cent much more reliable than Ceglar who sits at 50.7 per cent. A higher percentage of Hale's possessions are contested too.
Decisions like this are never easy but their importance doubles at this time of the year. Hawthorn rarely gets them wrong.
Stats supplied by Champion Data.
