Hawthorn Hawks v Adelaide Crows; West Coast Eagles v St Kilda Saints; Geelong Cats v Richmond Tigers scores, results, fixtures, teams, tips, games, how to watch

Will Day is yet to play 60 AFL games but is already being hailed as an on-field mentor by Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.

The 22-year-old is back to causing trouble for opponents in midfield after missing the first six rounds of the season with a stress fracture in his leg.

After returning to the AFL stage in round seven against Sydney, the star Day-winner has helped the Hawks to four wins in their last six games ahead of Saturday’s tough assignment against Adelaide at the MCG.

The club’s best and fairest winner comes into the game after booting a goal and making 26 disposals in the Hawks’ 25-point win over Brisbane.

He is shaping up to be an important cog in Mitchell’s plans to get over the Crows in the crucial midfield battle.

“Having Will back is just an extra player that helps us be able to control the narrative of the game,” Mitchell said.

“Sometimes you miss the player himself, sometimes you miss the peripheral things he does.

“His vision and understanding of where other players need to be, his communication on the pitch is first class.

“He’s a little bit like a coach there for us.”

A blockbuster match between Day and Crows midfield bull Jordan Dawson could be on the cards after Mitchell opted out of using Finn Maginness as a tagger.

Averaging 25 disposals and five points a game this season, the Crows captain’s quality was on full display against West Coast last time out.

Dawson stunned the Eagles with two goals and 32 touches in their 99-point win.

Maginness held the Australia midfielder to 15 offloads and a point in last season’s Round 17 match but was named as one of the emergency players ahead of the weekend clash.

“Jordan Dawson is as important to Adelaide as any player is to his team throughout the competition,” Mitchell said.

“His ability to take a game away from the opposition – you saw it in the first quarter (against West Coast) last week.

“He’s going to be a huge player for them and we’re going to have to cut him down.”

Hawthorn will also celebrate three-time player Jack Gunston’s 250th game in charge of the club when they host Adelaide.

AAP