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

[MinerBoy]

Lol @ Healy and Roos talking about matchups. Yes Roos, please put that spud Bird as a lockdown role on Mitchell. What a almighty stupid matchup

Give a Swan a job and rest assured they'll bust their are trying to fulfil it. I won't take any of them lightly. Bird is solid.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Are you still giving out hugs on Thursday?

Too nervous to leave the house

 

[Bardo State]

Jason Dunstall - "We could not have played any worse" in reference to the Adelaide game

Maybe the close shave we had to have?

 

[Phil McCreviss]

Give a Swan a job and rest assured they'll bust their are trying to fulfil it. I won't take any of them lightly. Bird is solid.

You do realise they are talking about tagging Mitchell right? That's a two man advantage our way.

Bird is not solid on decent opposition.

 

[grizzlym]

Jason Dunstall - "We could not have played any worse" in reference to the Adelaide game

Maybe the close shave we had to have?

Yes, I agree with that.

 

[JustKickIt]

Are you still giving out hugs on Thursday?

He gave one to Hodgy last Thursday..... you still want one?

 

[Bardo State]

Having Bird at every stoppage with a negative focus essentially leaves the swans a man down. They'd be crazy to do it.

 

[Phil McCreviss]

Having Bird at every stoppage with a negative focus essentially leaves the swans a man down. They'd be crazy to do it.

Dam straight. Geez I hope Longmire is thinking lock down on Mitchell. Strategic suicide right there.

 

[MinerBoy]

You do realise they are talking about tagging Mitchell right? That's a two man advantage our way.

Bird is not solid on decent opposition.

Of course I do. Bird has shut down our blokes before and Mitch hardly has a great record against the Geese.

Mitch is in great form and has the capacity to smash this game to bits ( and obviously I hope he does ) but there's no way we should just assume a walkover just because Bird might stand him.

 

[Rushed_Behind]

Firstly i think savage will tag jetta thats why he stays. X is more versatile than murph so i would say Hodge in Murph out, and X as sub.

But who knows i Just want saturday to come and the result to go our way.

 

[TheFourPillars]

The swans are the epitome of battalian of soldiers they are even across the board. This has its advantages and disadvantages. One thing the swans can and will do is run all day and try and close down our space around the ball thats what they have always done. Defence first then think about scoring. We need to match their intensity and desperation at the ball if we do then i am confident that our class will prevail.

 

[Phil McCreviss]

Of course I do. Bird has shut down our blokes before and Mitch hardly has a great record against the Geese.

Mitch is in great form and has the capacity to smash this game to bits ( and obviously I hope he does ) but there's no way we should just assume a walkover just because Bird might stand him.

I didn't suggest a walkover. I am suggesting it would be one of the stupidest coaching decisions to play Bird as a tagger on Mitch. But I really really really hope it happens.

 

[Fastback]

The swans are the epitome of battalian of soldiers they are even across the board. This has its advantages and disadvantages. One thing the swans can and will do is run all day and try and close down our space around the ball thats what they have always done. Defence first then think about scoring. We need to match their intensity and desperation at the ball if we do then i am confident that our class will prevail.

True and you'd think the players would know exactly what to expect given the game at the SCG 4 weeks ago, that was a brutal contest.

We lose Whitecross & Guerra from that game, but gain Savage & Cyril

 

[bungholes_premiers]

For me, Savage either plays from the start or doesnt play at all - he has had nill effect as sub, whereas when he's played full games he can impact them - biggest case in point was collingwood when whiey went out early, he comes in and is very effective for us.

Its clear Murphy out for Hodge, but I think X becomes the sub in light of what i see with Savage as sub.

 

[HR Roughnstuf]

For me, Savage either plays from the start or doesnt play at all - he has had nill effect as sub, whereas when he's played full games he can impact them - biggest case in point was collingwood when whiey went out early, he comes in and is very effective for us.

Its clear Murphy out for Hodge, but I think X becomes the sub in light of what i see with Savage as sub.

Agree with this. Murphy out for Hodge, Ellis the sub

 

[MrFujiMoto]

You do realise they are talking about tagging Mitchell right? That's a two man advantage our way.

Bird is not solid on decent opposition.

Mitchells two quietest games this year have been against the Swannies and Bird has had the job both times. Bird is solid and has had the better of Mitchell twice this year. I am certain they will go this way and he will do his job.

 

[MrFujiMoto]

Getting closer and closer. It is Tuesday night and I just want the bloody ball bounced. CARNA HAWKS

 

[glammers]

2008 we were the underdogs. 2012 we are like Geelong in 2008(favorites) . So much more nervous for this match. Swannies will be wanting to do a 2008 on us.
I take regular solace from this 2008 tribute video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&hl=en-GB&v=XxCyK0L8pHU

I hope the boys play this out again.
Go Hawks!!!!

 

[Phil McCreviss]

Mitchells two quietest games this year have been against the Swannies and Bird has had the job both times. Bird is solid and has had the better of Mitchell twice this year. I am certain they will go this way and he will do his job.

That's great. And what did Burgoyne, Lewis and Sewell do as a result? Completely freed them up as the Swans were obsessed with Mitchell.

Let them go in with a defensive mindset. Works perfectly for us.

 

[hamohawk1]

how much does the mcg play into things. despite the cold and wet conditions i have a feeling the swans a secretly hating playing a melbourne team on the g. can they play in the wet?

 

[bugalugs213]

Judging by how Ellis has ran the last few games out i'd put him out for Hodge.
Hodge and Burgoyne to rotate through the middle and hb/hf then.

 

[J_Moore]

You do realise they are talking about tagging Mitchell right? That's a two man advantage our way.

Bird is not solid on decent opposition.

Personally, I'd like to see us play Mitchell & Sewell the way we did Thompson & Dangerfield. Basically sent in Kennedy to do the extracting on his own, and the rest of the mids blocked the exits, forcing hacked kicks out of the packs. Not much point trying to tag guys like Mitchell out of the game, I don't think.

And yeah, I'm of the opinion Bird is best locking down a player on the half-back line. He can struggle a bit trying to run all over the MCG (was found out a bit in the Richmond game), though he probably has the pace to keep up with Mitchell if they choose to go that way (endurance would be a different story).

He's a solid player, though, and Clarkson would want his opponent pay him a bit of respect. He can easily kick a goal or two if his opponent forgets their defensive duties.

 

[Tuck In]

If there is any joy for the Swans in their tagging of Sam, get Burgers in and on the ball for a spell. Love his work bursting the game open from the middle plus it gives them a problem about then moving a marker on to him or not. The other key for us is we need an uplift in intensity and performance from Roughie. Not just to keep them honest in the rucks but in the forward 50, he needs to hold his marks but compete a lot more.

Fancy the game last week has caused a lot of soul searching and we will be harder, faster and stronger...

 

[Flukey!]

I actually like the concept of Murphy staying in, which will allow Hodge to play where ever he is needed.
Back, centre or forward, he could be the swing man which would be invaluable.
If that was the case, it would mean X or Sav out.
I would say X stays just because he can also go into the middle.

 

[Off The Couch]

Injury prone or not X goes when it's his turn and at times even when it's not his turn - invaluable in a grand final