Preview Preliminary final - Hawthorn v Port Adelaide, MCG, 20 September 2014 @ 4.45pm

[BIG MATTY WHITE]

Your best footy involves that shitfull first half you put in against a spent Freo?

No our best gives us the belief that we can win anytime anywhere and at any stage of the game....

To explain all we read last week was how soft tigers were and how freo was going to spank us...this week same thing vice versa freo and richmond...this week is different though because unlike freo you guys can actually walk the talk...well you run it...so make no mistake any confidence and trash talk you guys have about this game is probably warranted..

Please understand beating freo in freo is no easy task ....few weeks ago we were losing to essendon and collingwood...the team we had in earlier rounds I am not so sure could get up last weekend but thats all subjective...

 

[Hotlips]

No our best gives us the belief that we can win anytime anywhere and at any stage of the game....

To explain all we read last week was how soft tigers were and how freo was going to spank us...this week same thing vice versa freo and richmond...this week is different though because unlike freo you guys can actually walk the talk...well you run it...so make no mistake any confidence and trash talk you guys have about this game are probably warranted..

Please understand beating freo in freo is no easy task ....few weeks ago we were losing to essendon and collingwood...the team we had in earlier rounds I am not so sure could get up last weekend but thats all subjective...

Make no mistake, I think you guys are a great team, love the way you play and are capable of beating us, but to say you're playing your best footy after that first half just last week is a bit of a stretch. Some teams play four quarters of hard footy. You won't be able to show up just for a half against us.

 

[Hawkk]

No our best gives us the belief that we can win anytime anywhere and at any stage of the game....

To explain all we read last week was how soft tigers were and how freo was going to spank us...this week same thing vice versa freo and richmond...this week is different though because unlike freo you guys can actually walk the talk...well you run it...so make no mistake any confidence and trash talk you guys have about this game is probably warranted..

Please understand beating freo in freo is no easy task ....few weeks ago we were losing to essendon and collingwood...the team we had in earlier rounds I am not so sure could get up last weekend but thats all subjective...

That said, I thought you actually played better against them in round 23 and not the Semi Final. In that game you blitzed them and should have won.

 

[MELTY]

Anyone at training today to give us an update on Cyril Watch?

Anything out of the ordinary?

On a scale of 1to Brendan Bolton how happy do the boys look?

 

[MrPremiership]

Cyril will be named no matter what. Whether he plays or not is the interesting one.

 

[bungholes_premiers]

why are these Port chumps coming on here and trying to justify themselves to us, do u think ?

is it kinda like needing validation from your daddy ?

 

[Vanstead]

Whats age got to do with winning a game of footy. Have you not watched any Hawthorn games over the last couple of years??? I'll take a 30 year old hardened experienced footballer over a young in experienced footballer, especially in finals, any day of the week.

So age has nothing to do with it!!!

I'm wondering what is the actual evidence behind the theory that a team of 23 year-olds are quicker and should overrun a team with more 30 year olds?

If we accept that AFL players run approx. 10-15km in a match, then we could look at endurance running statistics to perhaps shed some light. A quick use of Mr Google reveals stats from approx. 50 US Marathons in 2010:

AGE AVE TIME
20-24 4:23:48
25-29 4:20:54
30-34 4:21:09

So in fact 25-34 year-olds run FASTER than 20-24 year-olds! A fairly blunt comparison perhaps, but hardly supporting the notion that a "young" Port should overrun an "old" Hawthorn.

Source: http://www.marathonguide.com/features/Articles/2010RecapOverview.cfm

 

[The Kipster]

What about goals against? The game includes both score for and against.

Anyway, point was Hawks tend to be flat track bullies - good with a tailwind, but have not handled the heat such as crafting the kind of win Port had on the road last Saturday.

now you are now being an absolute pile of dogs blow...go and put your flannelette shirt on, head outside of your clandestine crack house and shag ya neighbours dog...woof!

 

[heh]

*head desk*

 

[Taskmaster]

What about goals against? The game includes both score for and against.

Anyway, point was Hawks tend to be flat track bullies - good with a tailwind, but have not handled the heat such as crafting the kind of win Port had on the road last Saturday.

Wow. Well we are f..ked!!

 

[Jones Boy]

Why such angst man I come in peace...

All I have read here is you guys convincing each other of why you will win..

Good for you...you have been the best team on your home deck and reigning premiers coming off a 1 week break...

No excuses from us ...

No angst here buddy - just facts . . . and I see about the same amount of convincing happening on your board so perhaps you can throw your stones in your own glass house . . . just sayin'

 

[Jones Boy]

.but in reality you guys are the best team in the league right now just like last week I cant argue with your rude awakening comments as we havent proven anything yet....you guys have you have all the runs on the board...

its yours to lose..

Funnily enough given there are TWO teams playing, there is something for us BOTH to lose - a spot in a GF. Don't throw that bollocks up as it is just a security blanket to catch you when (if) you fall . . .

 

[Jones Boy]

I'm wondering what is the actual evidence behind the theory that a team of 23 year-olds are quicker and should overrun a team with more 30 year olds?

If we accept that AFL players run approx. 10-15km in a match, then we could look at endurance running statistics to perhaps shed some light. A quick use of Mr Google reveals stats from approx. 50 US Marathons in 2010:

AGE AVE TIME
20-24 4:23:48
25-29 4:20:54
30-34 4:21:09

So in fact 25-34 year-olds run FASTER than 20-24 year-olds! A fairly blunt comparison perhaps, but hardly supporting the notion that a "young" Port should overrun an "old" Hawthorn.

Source: http://www.marathonguide.com/features/Articles/2010RecapOverview.cfm

Yep agree here - it takes quite a few pre-seasons to get the legs into players . . . of course you do get exceptions to the rule, but there are outliers everywhere you look.

 

[Hawker55]

I've got to call this one out. You had just come off a long break - you played Fremantle on May 10 then us on May 24.

The players didn't look drained from where I was sitting. Nor was it commented on by the hordes of Port supporters around me in the Riverbank Stand. It was more about how fit they were.

DIdn't we also come off a game in Sydney?

 

[jpap]

Geez Port has its fair share of one eyed illogical supporters. Call it blind faith or utter lack of footall knowledge the interesting thing will be how many of these same zealots will congratulate Hawthorn after they win...my guess they will dread turning up to work on Monday so their Crows mates don't rub it in.

The way I see the game is simple:

Hawthorn expect to win.

Port hope to win.

Read into that what you want.

Ultimately the best team on the day will win so its 0 - 0 or 50/50 if you like until the ball is bounced. Now lets all get back to trolling in the false bravado only an internet forum can provide.

 

[Glasgow Hawk]

Port are much more likely to blow this through poor decision-making under pressure than being overrun by Dad's Army.

Do they have a decent chance to win? of course they do.

 

[Hawthorn23]

Went down to training today, and he looked reasonable to start off with, coming out a bit late. But when we did some full ground drills, he looked like the Cyril of old. Left the track 10mins earlier than everyone else, but I think he will come in. Did full paced run throughs as well, and was as quick as ever.

 

[hawkheart]

Too old.
Too slow.
Too good.

Let's 30+ 'em.

 

[Lithium]

Bruest, Gunston, suckling, macevoy, Duyrea, Hill, smith, cegerlar, stratton, shiels, langford, cyril, ALL 25 or under!
heck! We're to old! We Don't stand a chance against such young team like port. Just give them the win now...

 

[MC_9]

Why such angst man I come in peace...

All I have read here is you guys convincing each other of why you will win..

Good for you...you have been the best team on your home deck and reigning premiers coming off a 1 week break...

No excuses from us ...

Pretty similar to your board really.

Anyway, I would be surprised if you didn't better 119. We're that good. Joking .

I genuinely think this will be a very tough game. I was hoping that Fremantle would get through, as they were looking a little wounded and I would have backed us to beat them.

Port's speed and running game no doubt will be a challenge. We can sometimes struggle to contain teams on the spread.

Hopefully both teams bring their best. Think it will be a close game (less than a goal), but hopefully with a Hawthorn win.

 

[Argy]

Funny, the Port fans who've popped in to give us the benefit of their insights into how they're going to thrash us has only served to make me more confident. Weird.

 

[Ranj Sri Lanka]

Like in this game?

Any chance for someone to upload a video of this game? At least highlights?

 

[Main Man]

My thoughts on the game, I have a healthy respect for Port and believe they will be no easy beats but if I was one of their supporters and looked at this game objectively I would be shitting myself for the following reasons.

Port were flying when we played them last time with there form was every bit as good as it is now.

This time we play them at the MCG, add Mitchell, Roughead, Rioli, Gibson and Lake whilst removing Suckling, Schoenmakers, McEvoy, Hallahan and Hartung not to mention the fact that Sheils was having his first run back for 5 weeks and Stratton was in career worst form.

Yes we had just come off the bye but we had been in a heavy block of 3 x 6 day breaks traveling to Sydney before the bye and then travelling again to Adelaide, we are rested this time and they are the ones who have been traveling.

It is a different story this time and I think we are in a reasonable position come Saturday night.

 

[Goodo73]

Just to get us in the mood, the AFL site has video of the 2001 semi between these two sides. What a classic game this was. Barker's heroics in the last including the goal from the "impossible pocket" at Footy Park, Mark Graham's saving mark with a minute to go, dodgy umpiring as per usual

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-18/2001-semi-power-vs-hawks

I've been looking for these highlights for years

sorry - mildly on topic, yet off topic too

I reckon that's the most of that game I've ever seen. Talk about willing contests! Loved seeing my man BAAAAAAAAAARKEEEEEEEEEER!!!! nail those goals.

On the night I was at a work function and was getting text updates from mates watching at home. When I got the call that we'd won, me and another Hawks supporter started belting out the theme song (we were fairly pissed too). Thankfully the function was at the Palladium at Crown, and the room was loud, so we didn't drown out the CEO, who was speaking at the time.

 

[Hawkk]

Looks like hawthornfc.com.au has been reading the Port board....

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2014-09-18/preliminary-final-preview-hawthorn-v-port-adelaide

Are the Power really the second half specialists?

For the last two years the buzz has been around Port Adelaide’s fitness and their ability to run over teams in the second half, particularly the last quarter but the stats show the Hawks are just as good in second halves this season.
Hawthorn’s best quarter this year has been the third, having won 17 of 23 so far, while the Power have won 16 of 23 but have played one more game than the Hawks.
Interestingly though, the Power have won just two more last quarters this year than the Hawks with 17 to Hawthorn’s 15 but again, they’ve played one more game this year because the Hawks advanced straight to the Preliminary Final.
Anyone banking on the Power being able to run over Hawthorn in the second half on Saturday might be in for a shock.

As the slow week goes on this game has a bit of that purple haze about it...

...and we know how that ended up