Collingwood star Adam Treloar will write exclusively for AFL Media during this year's finals series as well as appearing on the AFL Exchange podcast.

In week two, Treloar reveals the danger posed by Hawthorn’s small forwards and their never-give-up attitude.

Cyril Rioli hasn't run me down from behind, yet.

Neither has Luke Breust, nor Paul Puopolo, but it's been due more to good luck than good management. 

One of their less illustrious former teammates, Jonathan Simpkin, did run me down from behind once when I was playing for Greater Western Sydney in 2014.

It was at the MCG when Brendon Bolton was coaching the Hawks because Alastair Clarkson was ill.

We were down by six points with 40 seconds to go and Adam Kennedy handballed it to me.

I thought I had time and space to run through the middle and kick long into our forward line.  

Then, out of nowhere, Simpkin got me as I went to bounce the ball.

It wasn't one of the terrifying trio who tackled me, but the feeling of being caught when you think you're clear is the same regardless of who drags you down.

You just don't hear players coming from behind at that pace, and then … you're gone.

It's embarrassing and deflating, and something those three Hawk stars have done time and time again to opponents. 

The tackling team gets a lift too, a psychological and motivational edge. 



A younger Adam Treloar escapes the clutches of Ryan Schoenmakers during his time at the GWS Giants.

Depending on who the tackler is you might also enjoy having your face pushed into the dirt and enjoy a quick assessment of your pace, or lack thereof.

The reality is that having chasers in the opposition make you second-guess yourself when you have the ball and this Hawk trio tend to hit you in spurts. 

They have a never give up mentality, running around like maniacs trying to tackle opponents and force a turnover. 

It's why the Western Bulldogs will feel the heat moving the ball out of defence or escaping from clearances on Friday night.

Puopolo is like a bull at a gate. He goes at a million miles an hour all of the time, and his pressure is fanatical. 

Treloar says his hair is better than Puopolo's - Find out why on Sports Galore...


Rioli does not say much on the ground but he physically intimidates. 

He doesn't do that by trying to bash and crash you. He intimidates you because he is so evasive that you can't tackle him and he then does smart things with the ball.

It's the same with Breust. 

Not only have the three laid 305 tackles between them this season, they have also managed 125 goals. 

Rioli and Breust have both kicked 46 goals this season, with Bruest having kicked at least 40 goals a season for the past five years. 

Puopolo has kicked 33 goals this season. 

Because of that goalscoring power, the Bulldogs will have to play the trio tighter on Friday night than they might do when matched up against other attacks.

The Hawks will counter that coverage by pushing their three small forwards through the midfield from time to time. 

Those three play as extra midfielders when in the centre, allowing Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis and Liam Shiels to do the grunt work inside.

You don't want to make a mistake because it's almost like having a tagger inside the centre square whenever one of those three go inside.

Their pressure is intense, but you know if the ball spills they can hurt you with their attacking run. 

If you're not careful such referred pressure can have you telling yourself to get rid of the ball quicker.

That can lead to mistakes, which further rattles the confidence.

Having said that, the Bulldogs are capable of standing up to such pressure. 

What they will need more than anything is courage: the courage to run and stick to their game against the experienced Hawks.