Preview The Grand Final - Hawks vs Swans - teams and match discussion etc

[Mr Cyril Rioli]

Murph goes, unfortunate but there is no reason for an extra defender, given that Jetta is Syds leading goal kicker. It is their mids that kick goals so Ellis/Savage/Poo a better fit for mine

 

[KingHodge15]

We had 13:19 = 97 to Sydney 13:18 = 96, happy to get up by a point this week

 

[Dipper]

Will be a mistake to drop Savage I think.

 

[Jiggystoon]

Will be a mistake to drop Savage I think.

I would like to see Savage keep his spot, I was keep him as the sub, I think it will be a bruising game on Sat and he could be the man to use as the fresh legs in the last quarter, im tipping it to be tight, someone like that could be the diff, he has plenty of run and when his radar is on he is usually good for a couple of goals

 

[Swanhotels]

Mumford is in the clear but was it ever in doubt?Dunkley on Hird in 96" ,Hall on Maguire in 2005 i think it was, the swans hardly ever get suspended especially for grand finals.Demetriou's wet dream if the Swans can win another one ,anything to create interest up there

So you think he should have been suspended?

 

[MinerBoy]

Mumford rightly had no case to answer.

 

[Swanhotels]

This game is unbelievably close and really hard to pick! The Hawks will really enjoy the MCG where as the Swans have battled there in the past so that may be a determining factor. In terms of the the match ups there are mouth watering match ups all over the field. The key will be the midfield battle and the quality of ball coming into each sides forward 50. If either side just bombs it in they will struggle to score. All the best its going to be a cracker! Swans by 1 point in triple extra time! But seriously I have no idea.

 

[LiveToSki]

The umpires are: Brett Rosebury, Matt Stevic and Simon Meredith.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-grand-final-umpires-revealed/story-fnelctok-1226480749524

At least no one starting with Mac....

 

[realhawk]

So you think he should have been suspended?

No there was not much in it, but the Swans do get probably the best go of any side with the MRP and the umpires, the AFL need the Swans to do well to keep the game going in NSW, so every little bit of help that can be given to the Swans is, the Swans being given the extra days rest despite the Hawks finishing on top is just another example, had the situation been in reverse the AFL would have moved heaven and earth to still give the Swans the advantage, this is just the way it is, the commercial realities of football, having said that the Hawks will still win even if they through both McInerney and Mcburnie into the Swans midfield.

 

[MinerBoy]

This game is unbelievably close and really hard to pick! .

You think? I'm picking the Hawks without a second thought.

 

[onthemoney]

The umpires are: Brett Rosebury, Matt Stevic and Simon Meredith.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-grand-final-umpires-revealed/story-fnelctok-1226480749524

At least no one starting with Mac....

Two first timers? Seriously, for the sake of both sides and the football viewing public, thank feck they didn't go with McBurney or Nicholls.

 

[jd1991]

I can't decide whether:

A. Saturday was the scare we needed, and the shackles will be off come Saturday or...
B. if it is like last season where collingwood (hawthorn 2012) scraped through in the prelim and looked 2nd rate in the GF against the form team of the finals in Geelong (sydney 2012).

I am going to be optomistic. the difference between that game and this game is that the Hawks led most of last year, and then kicked themselves out of the game with a failure to convert in the last.

This year in the prelim, we dominated the first without converting, 10 more scoring shots, 22 more inside 50s, with everything even we should of won comfortable, but instead we had to fight it out.

What it has shown is that we have overcome our poor showing in close games recently (Swans in rnd 22 and this game). Completely different to the pies last year. (Thats my hope anyway)

 

[MC_9]

Two first timers? Seriously, for the sake of both sides and the football viewing public, thank feck they didn't go with McBurney or Nicholls.

Hopefully they will be fine. They only paid 20 frees in the friday prelim, as opposed to 45 frees in ours. Grand Final you want the umps to put the whistle away.

 

[jd1991]

My view is that Hodge in, Murphy out.

Reason: - Is that Hodge can play a 3rd man up/intercept better than Murphy. Shoe v S reid, Gibson v LRT, Stratton v Goodes, as such we need someone who can read the play, come off his man at the right time and provide coverage for all 3 of those people. The swans will try and do the same as Adelaide and force seperation, and make Gibson be more accountable, so we need another to provide this defensive option - Hodge did it in 2008, again to doi it in 2012.

Murphy goes out as Hodge in effect will take his backline place, plus provide options for other parts of the ground (midfield and fwd) if needed. Murphy is just a backline player, good solid dependable, but with swans talls, and my belief that they will try to make sure Gibson cant be that 3rd man, thus we need someone else to do that role.

 

[MinerBoy]

Umps don't matter. No excuses this week people.

PAY THE PRICE.

 

[JustKickIt]

I can't decide whether:

A. Saturday was the scare we needed, and the shackles will be off come Saturday or...
B. if it is like last season where collingwood (hawthorn 2012) scraped through in the prelim and looked 2nd rate in the GF against the form team of the finals in Geelong (sydney 2012).

If you remember..... Collingwood limped into the Grand Final with a number of significant injuries.

 

[JustKickIt]

Rough struggled and has done for the last month IMO. Probably a result of working so hard to get back.

He missed a game about 5 or 6 weeks ago and just hasnt been the same since. I don't remember what we were told the injury was but something isnt quite right with him since then.

 

[MC_9]

He missed a game about 5 or 6 weeks ago and just hasnt been the same since. I don't remember what we were told the injury was but something isnt quite right with him since then.

I think he has still been good in the ruck and around the ground, but has really struggled up forward. Hopefully this is the week he turns it around.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

In: Hodge
Out: Murphy

I'd also start the game with:

FF: Gunston - Roughie - Breust
HF: Puopolo - Franklin - Lewis
Ce: Shiels - Mitchell - Young
HB: Birchall - Schoey - Burgers
FB: Hodge - Gibson - Stratton

Ru: Hale
RR: Sewell
Ro: Rioli

I/C: Suckling, Smith, Savage and Ellis

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Murph plays for mine. Was very solid on the weekend. Given the respect he has from the group I reckon it will give the boys a lift to have him run outside along them.

Out of X and Savage to miss. X struggled to keep up late in the game fitness-wise and his knee looks shot.

Might need Murph to do a shut down job on Rhys Shaw. I reckon Shaw had the better of Puopolo at the SCG.

I don't think the selection of our 22nd player is going to be the difference between winning and losing.

 

[MinerBoy]

I think he has still been good in the ruck and around the ground, but has really struggled up forward. Hopefully this is the week he turns it around.

5 first half goals on Grundy again would certainly be super....as long as the game stays on our terms this time.

 

[Brishawk]

Team Changes

IN: Hodge
OUT: Savage (omitted)

B: Murphy Gibson Stratton
HB: Birchall Schoenmakers Burgoyne
C: Lewis Mitchell Young
HF: Smith Franklin Rioli
F: Gunston Roughead Breust
R: Hale Hodge Sewell

INT: Ellis Suckling Shiels Puopolo (Sub)

EMG: Bateman Savage Bailey

IMO i think Savage will be the unlucky one to make way for Hodge. At his best Ellis is a better player then Savage and Murphy played well last week and he would be a great stopper on one of the Swans Half Forwards like Ryan O'Keefe or Lewis Jetta type. We need Murphy this week. You know he will give you 110% week in week out.

First Goal Scorer: Jack Gunston
Norm Smith Medal: Jarryd Roughead
Tip: Hawthorn by 12 points

Go Hawks!

Murphy is better against the forwards who play closer to goal than the high HFF/Winger types like Jetta. I'd be inclined to keep Savage in as we may need his speed across the turf to cover the spread of the swans more so than a pure stopper like Murphy who sits behind the play and tracks his man back to goal.

 

[onthemoney]

In: Hodge Out: Ellis

Start like this:

B: Murphy Gibson Birchall
HB: Stratton Schoenmakers Hodge
M: Shiels Mitchell Lewis
HF: Breust Franklin Young
F: Gunston Roughead Rioli
R: Hale Sewell Burgoyne
Int: Savage Puopolo Suckling
Sub: Smith

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

Not confident that Hodge, X and Young can run out a game. Would be tempted to start one as the sub.

Last time when Jetta went deep he was picked up by Goo, when he played up the ground he was picked up by Sucko. It could be a good run with role for Sav.

Rough needs to stand up. There is no reason why he cannot kick a bag. If he clunks one or two early their group defence will be shot.

Regardless this game is all about us. If we kick the ball confidently we will win.

 

[realhawk]

I think he has still been good in the ruck and around the ground, but has really struggled up forward. Hopefully this is the week he turns it around.

Has roughy ever in his career played a top finals game, I cant remember one final where he has played well, dropped marks, missed goals, low possies, are a common theme to his finals, if ever he has to " bring it " this is the week, time to get the growing monkey off your back Roughy.