Dixie Flatline
Moderator
- Jun 3, 2005
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- #1
The final round of the home & away season sees two injury-depleted sides go head to head with more than just pride on the line tonight.
Collingwood must defeat Hawthorn if they are to play finals in 2014, but they will need to do it without a number of their big-name players, including Travis Cloke and Dane Swan. Former Hawk Clinton Young will also miss a reunion with his former teammates after he incurred another soft tissue injury in Collingwood's win over GWS.
On the Hawks' side of the ledger, three players that are normally locks in Hawthorn's best 22 won't play tonight, with Luke Hodge (knee soreness), Matt Suckling (knee) and Ben Stratton (corked calf) will all miss, while there are some concerns over the fitness over key defender Josh Gibson.
While the stakes are massive for Collingwood, they are also reasonably high for Hawthorn. A loss tonight and results going against Hawthorn across the weekend could see Hawthorn slip to fourth on the ladder by the end of the season, risking an interstate trip for the first week of the finals.
On the flipside, should Hawthorn thrash Collingwood tonight and Richmond comfortably defeat the Swans tomorrow afternoon, then Hawthorn may claim the McLelland Trophy for the third consecutive year.
Collingwood must defeat Hawthorn if they are to play finals in 2014, but they will need to do it without a number of their big-name players, including Travis Cloke and Dane Swan. Former Hawk Clinton Young will also miss a reunion with his former teammates after he incurred another soft tissue injury in Collingwood's win over GWS.
On the Hawks' side of the ledger, three players that are normally locks in Hawthorn's best 22 won't play tonight, with Luke Hodge (knee soreness), Matt Suckling (knee) and Ben Stratton (corked calf) will all miss, while there are some concerns over the fitness over key defender Josh Gibson.
While the stakes are massive for Collingwood, they are also reasonably high for Hawthorn. A loss tonight and results going against Hawthorn across the weekend could see Hawthorn slip to fourth on the ladder by the end of the season, risking an interstate trip for the first week of the finals.
On the flipside, should Hawthorn thrash Collingwood tonight and Richmond comfortably defeat the Swans tomorrow afternoon, then Hawthorn may claim the McLelland Trophy for the third consecutive year.