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April 19, 2007
Round 4 - HAWTHORN v GEELONG
Aurora Stadium
Sunday, 22 April, 1:10pm
Hawthorn
B: Brown Gilham Jacobs
HB: Birchall Hodge Ladson
C: Bateman Sewell Crawford
HF: Young Boyle Franklin
F: Roughead Dixon Williams
FOLL: Campbell Mitchell Rover: Lewis
I/C: From: Dawson Ellis Guerra McGlynn Taylor Thurgood Osborne
IN: Bateman Thurgood Dawson
OUT: Nil
Geelong
B: Enright Scarlett Mackie
HB: J Hunt Egan Milburn
C: Wojcinski Bartel Byrnes
HF: Chapman Mooney Kelly
F: Hawkins N Ablett G Ablett
FOLL: Blake Ling Rover: Corey
I/C: From: D Johnson Tenace King Prismall Selwood Gardiner Stokes
IN: N Ablett Stokes King Gardiner Tenace
OUT: Ottens (hip) Varcoe
Hawthorn have won the past two encounters between these sides by a total of 113 points. In their first match last season, the Hawks surprised the then flag favourites on Geelong's home turf. At the time it was put down to a lapse in concentration, a slip-up and an aberration that would be amended the following week. As it transpired, the Cats would lose their next three and win only one of their next seven matches. The match against Hawthorn was the beginning of the end of Geelong's season.
In Round 22, the two teams met again and the Hawks were only too happy to repeat the dose. Playing for pride only with finals out of the equation, Hawthorn again humiliated Geelong, this time to the tune of 61 points at the Telstra Dome.
And so the upcoming match between the 1989 Grand Final combatants brings with it a strange dynamic. Geelong will enter the match as favourites even though the Hawks have had the upper hand in recent matches. Both sides stand at two wins and a loss but the wins by both teams have been over sides that most would predict won't be taking part in the September action – Melbourne, Carlton and the Kangaroos. The form line going into the match, consequently, is not an easy one to pin down.
At the selection table, Geelong have lost big man Brad Ottens to a hip complaint. His absence is likely to impede the cats, not only in the ruck where he has performed well in the past two matches, but also forward where he has been used in the rotation with Mooney, Nathan Ablett and – the next big thing in town – Tom Hawkins. The injury cloud over Nathan Ablett and Ottens' absence may force the Cats to recall Charlie Gardiner. Steven King's lack of match conditioning and unsuitability to a resting role in the forward line, makes him an imperfect replacement for Ottens.
Geelong have also added speedster Kane Tenace following good form in the VFL, as well as Matthew Stokes who has completed his suspension. Travis Varcoe, who has shown glimpses of flair and strong defensive pressure, has been omitted.
Hawthorn will welcome back Chance Bateman from a thigh injury. Josh Thurgood and Zac Dawson complete the 25-man squad.
Tactically, Hawthorn's two comfortable wins against Geelong in 2006 suggest that Alistair Clarkson and his coaching staff may have the tactical upper hand. Mark Thompson fired the first salvo in the mind games matchup earlier this week, by suggesting that Geelong would have to adjust its gameplan to combat Hawthorn's flooding style. One wonders what Thompson hoped to achieve by making such comments, but one certain result is that Hawthorn will be even keener to prove that they have Geelong's measure, with or without a flood.
Geelong's approach to the game will speak volumes about Thompson's coaching credentials. Often criticised for his one-dimensional game plan and an inability to fight his way out of adversity, the Cats' coach will look to prove that he has more than one string to his bow.
The x-factor in this match is the venue – Aurora Stadium in Launceston. Hawthorn were victorious in their three encounters at the ground in 2006, while the Cats are yet to sight it. This ingredient in the mix makes predicting the outcome between two evenly matched sides even more fraught with danger.
The Cats have been more impressive in the previous two weeks than the Hawks, winning comfortably on both occasions. On the other hand, Hawthorn have only just overcome the Kangaroos and Melbourne. But while this points to a position of strength on Geelong's part, the unfamiliar venue and Hawthorn's strong record in recent meetings, tempers the inclination to tip an easy Geelong win.
Geelong by 12 points
Posted by catempire at April 19, 2007 09:59 PM
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