As a huge tactical surprise, Hawthorn’s coach Sam Mitchell moved defender Tom Barrass to full-forward against West Coast. The complete lack of subtext in the decision was illustrated when this all led to a disgusting 50-point loss. It’s this strategic shift that has garnered the most attention, but surprised all in equal measure by West Coast coach Andrew McQualter, who was blindsided by the decision. Barrass has only found the net once in his 157-game career. Now, he is on the biggest move of his career, so to speak, leaving his home as a fullback to join a new squad as an attacking midfielder.
Andrew McQualter the decision to run Barrass out there was not a conventional one, considering his lack of experience in attack. He noted, “I haven’t seen Tom Barrass play forward too often in his career.” This quote underscores how difficult it can be to move a player who has built their reputation on defensive prowess into an offensive player.
Mitchell stood by the move, saying it was meant to make Barrass a more versatile player. He compared Barrass’s potential to that of teammate James Sicily, suggesting that developing multiple positions could benefit the player’s overall game. “Almost every player that has played 100 games plus, you want them to have a couple of positions,” said Mitchell. He added, “TB I think is going to be a viable forward for us in time.”
Despite the tactical change, Barrass’s history as a fullback makes it difficult for him to adapt quickly to a new position without prior exposure. McQualter expressed his hope that Barrass would manage to score against his former team, noting, “I mean of course, I think he’s kicked one goal in his career, and it was from a 50m penalty. So to get him to kick one would be great.”
This week, Oscar Allen returned from injury. Now, after one-quarter of the season, McQualter is looking at moving him back into defence to combat Melbourne’s tall forward line ahead of Saturday’s clash at Optus Stadium. The coach stated, “Potentially, yep, we’re open to it, and we’re just going to work our way through it with Oz and our team.” That would mean a permanent move for Allen in the long run, underscoring that this team is thinking long-term with its recent decisions.
Earlier this month, Barrass had a chance encounter with Mitchell’s family at Gather Round in Adelaide. This chance encounter could have played a big part in Mitchell’s decision to include Barrass in the plans for the team. The tactical shift reflects Hawthorn’s ongoing efforts to explore new dynamics within their squad while raising questions about player adaptability.
