Preview Second Qualifying Final, 2014 - Hawthorn v Geelong, MCG, Friday, 5 September 2014

[The BIG X]

The way for Hawks to play all games at the MCG is to win every game.

Correct MB

 

[MinerBoy]

Won 2 of the last 3 against them now so any talk of curses and streaks is basically irrelevant. The only streak that is likely to continue is the streak of epic matches.

As a team we've been the better over the period 2012-now but we've not started translating that to enough wins over the Cats specifically until the past few matches. I think we'll extend it to 3 from 4 but not without some tense moments first.

 

[lickmerocks]

This will go the distance for sure. Both teams can pile on goals in very quick time and this will be no different. Momentum swings and hold on for dear life when they have one will give us a chance when the final siren sounds.

Time to wipe that silly smirk of Scott's face.

 

[Gene Simmons]

5 restless nights coming up

Brian Lake is the key to our chances vs Cats. Since becoming a Hawk he has faced Geelong (Hawkins) 3 times. We have won 2 out of 3.

And the game we lost (by 10 points), Hawkins was goaless.

And the 2 games vs Cats that Lake missed, we lost (and Hawkins kicked combined 7 goals).

It is no coincidence

 

[MistyAvalon]

if we had given it to the pies we would be on top... damn it all

 

[cryptor]

Excited already! We Haven't kicked a goal before the 26 min mark the last two weeks, that'll be a good place to start, to fine time a few improvements for next week!

The last time I remember the players saying they were focusing on getting off to a good start...

 

[Hodge2NormSmith]

5 restless nights coming up

Brian Lake is the key to our chances vs Cats. Since becoming a Hawk he has faced Geelong (Hawkins) 3 times. We have won 2 out of 3.

And the game we lost (by 10 points), Hawkins was goaless.

And the 2 games vs Cats that Lake missed, we lost (and Hawkins kicked combined 7 goals).

It is no coincidence

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

 

[heh]

Didn't Hawkins kick a few on lake in the prelim??
It was one of the games anyway.
I remember it cos at the time it amused me, because if it had been schoe he would've got reamed, but it was all good cos it was Lake. Lol

Edit: actually that may have been cloke.. damn my memory

 

[randyzany]

Since Qualifying Finals don't mean 'anything' (i.e. 2011 QF according to some BF hawk posters ) we'll gladly take this one again if you don't mind.

 

[SA HAWK]

Since Qualifying Finals don't mean 'anything' (i.e. 2011 QF according to some BF hawk posters ) we'll gladly take this one again if you don't mind.

Of course they mean something just not as much as a Prelim or GF.

Cats fans that think winning a QF is revenge for losing those finals are dreaming.

 

[randyzany]

Of course they mean something just not as much as a Prelim or GF.

Cats fans that think winning a QF is revenge for losing those finals are dreaming.

I'll politely agree to disagree. Had Geelong not won that 2011 QF we more than likely would not have gone on to become Premiers that year because of the increased path difficulty to get there, i.e. an extra high intensity SF plus a better quality PF opponent. I don't know about 'revenge' but this is as important as any other final (besides the GF of course) to Geelong supporters because of how pivotal it is for Premiership success.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Since Qualifying Finals don't mean 'anything' (i.e. 2011 QF according to some BF hawk posters ) we'll gladly take this one again if you don't mind.

Oh this one means everything. Losing this is essentially elimination. Away to Freo is certain failure

 

[cryptor]

I'll politely agree to disagree. Had Geelong not won that 2011 QF we more than likely would not have gone on to become Premiers that year because of the increased path difficulty to get there, i.e. an extra high intensity SF plus a better quality PF opponent. I don't know about 'revenge' but this is as important as any other final (besides the GF of course) to Geelong supporters because of how pivotal it is for Premiership success.

The fact that you acknowledge that there was still a chance of going on to become premiers if you'd lost the QF no matter how slim that chance was proves that a PF and GF mean more. You lose either of those games and your chances go from being incredibly slim to absolutely zero.

As far as I'm concerned a QF is 9/10 in terms of importance. A PF and GF are 10/10. Both highly important and anyone who suggests a QF "doesn't count" is a troll or an idiot.

 

[fpm84]

Oh this one means everything. Losing this is essentially elimination. Away to Freo is certain failure

You expect Freo to beat Sydney, then?

FWIW I think Freo away is a tougher challenge than Swans at ANZ.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

You expect Freo to beat Sydney, then?

FWIW I think Freo away is a tougher challenge than Swans at ANZ.

Yep Freo will win quite easily

 

[SA HAWK]

I'll politely agree to disagree. Had Geelong not won that 2011 QF we more than likely would not have gone on to become Premiers that year because of the increased path difficulty to get there, i.e. an extra high intensity SF plus a better quality PF opponent. I don't know about 'revenge' but this is as important as any other final (besides the GF of course) to Geelong supporters because of how pivotal it is for Premiership success.

No doubt winning the QF sets up a finals series but teams have lost them and gone on to win still.

Very hard no doubt but still possible.

Prelim is clearly more important than QF as there is no tomorrow and GF obviously more so again.

 

[The Casey Cat]

You expect Freo to beat Sydney, then?

FWIW I think Freo away is a tougher challenge than Swans at ANZ.

Is an interesting one that. Swans overall a better side most probably but as you say Freo @ Patterson's is far more daunting than Swans @ ANZ. I still expect the Swans (and Hawks for that matter) to find a way next week but not by much.

Brian Lake is the key to our chances vs Cats.

He's important. I'd prefer to play a Hawthorn side without him but not sure he's the difference. Even last week Hawkins still looked imposing at times. It's Geelong streaming the ball through the middle of the ground under little pressure that will cause you problems with Hawkins. Same deal for us as far as stopping Roughead although he has a few more strings to his bow.

 

[TyHawk]

This is more tha just a QF IMO! Win this and stay at the 'G' and get a week off plus win against our Modern nemesis will give us a huge boost. Have to win the Contested Footy and the Clearences as we have lost on both counts in both games this year and considering it's our strong point all year, there are no excuses to lose these areas!

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

The advantage of the QF final is not the second chance that all the commentariat go on about it's the week off you get that your Prelim opponent doesn't, therefore it's imperative that we win IMO.

 

[savagelunchbox]

We need to play small up forward again and have Roughead leading away from the ball to take Taylor or Lonergan away from the ball like we did the other week. The small forwards and mids need to spread themselves out in the F50 and keep the Geelong defenders, who will be defending space more so than a player, unsure of who to defend.

Get the ball up the forward end quickly too and take a few risks. Our defense is starting to click and should be able to hold off their one-dimensional forward line if we do turn it over going forward.

Whoever is on Stevie J needs to making him accountable. He'll be unfit at the moment having not run much in the last 4 weeks, so blow him up early and make him play defense.

Most importantly, DON'T BOMB THE HIGH BALL INTO THE FORWARD 50 TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

Do that and we are a strong chance of getting over Geelong and being one step closer to the big dance. Lose, and we have to travel interstate prelim week to make the GF.

 

[threesixpio]

Is an interesting one that. Swans overall a better side most probably but as you say Freo @ Patterson's is far more daunting than Swans @ ANZ. I still expect the Swans (and Hawks for that matter) to find a way next week but not by much.



He's important. I'd prefer to play a Hawthorn side without him but not sure he's the difference. Even last week Hawkins still looked imposing at times. It's Geelong streaming the ball through the middle of the ground under little pressure that will cause you problems with Hawkins. Same deal for us as far as stopping Roughead although he has a few more strings to his bow.

Yep. Boring but it will be won and lost in the midfield. Stevie J back scares me a bit. It often feels that we shut down Selwood and Stevie J takes off ....and vice versa.

 

[fpm84]

Yep. Boring but it will be won and lost in the midfield. Stevie J back scares me a bit. It often feels that we shut down Selwood and Stevie J takes off ....and vice versa.

We're a bit scared about Stevie J too , he hasn't played for almost a month. Club has said they are being conservative but conspiracy theorists think they're foxing.

I'd be very surprised if he didn't line up on Friday but I'm not expecting him to be anywhere near his best.

 

[threesixpio]

Time for us to prove that we are a better side than Geelong and that they no longer have a mental hold over us. Let's pray that Lake is okay because no Hawkins no Geelong. Motlop is the other guy we really need to shut down and I reckon Langers did the job to a tee last time.

They clearly think they have us covered on the spread given that they rested two of their runners last night and if they out number us at the contest like they did in the first half last time we will be in strife. However, I doubt (and will be really disappointed if) they will be afforded that luxury. They didn't look that flash when forced to kick under pressure so denying them time and space will be key.

When we have the ball we must not hold it up and not allow their players time to get numbers back and set up blocks for the defenders to go third up. Lonergan and Rivers are vulnerable if we can get it in quickly. Roughie or the resting ruck need to get on their bike to keep Taylor from helping out (the same way that they will try to keep Gibbo from helping with Hawkins). We will need Bruest to hit the scoreboard also for mine.


Ruck is the other area where we can exploit them. McIntosh is a good ruck man but not the most mobile. Hale and Ceglar need to be dangerous both in general play and when resting up forward so that McIntosh thinks twice about pushing forward.

Gunner finding form was good. Although this cannot be separated from Hale finding form. Related methinx

 

[threesixpio]

We're a bit scared about Stevie J too , he hasn't played for almost a month. Club has said they are being conservative but conspiracy theorists think they're foxing.

I'd be very surprised if he didn't line up on Friday but I'm not expecting him to be anywhere near his best.

If Cyril and Stevie J turn up (unlikely) we have no excuses.

We haven't any anyway. Will be a pearler of a game

 

[MinerBoy]

No more close ones please. Let's 50+ this baby with the second half basically in cruise control.