Hawks supporter Joshua Brindle previews the clash between Hawthorn and Port Adelaide.
Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, second and third on the AFL ladder respectively, are looking to cement a top four position by season’s end. Their first step to that goal will be this Sunday when they do battle at the Hawks’ ‘home away from home’ ground at Aurora Stadium in Launceston
Hawthorn has had their name smeared in the media recently. Campbell Brown was dealt a $15,000 fine for lying at the tribunal; Along with the Hawks copping a $50,000 fine for unofficial footage taken at a Western Bulldogs match. Hawks fans would like to hope that this will not faze our boys in anyway. Hopefully the club will set their sights on the one important thing this weekend, earning the 4 points.
Port Adelaide will be entering this game with all the confidence in the world, having won four out of their last five games, where their sole loss was only by 8 points, against Adelaide back in Round 18. A win this Sunday is vital for Port Adelaide’s top-4 chances, not to mention staying in final eight. With vital matches coming up to end the Premiership season, in Geelong and Fremantle, they will be doing everything in their power (pardon the pun) to topple the Hawks at their ‘Tasmanian Fortress’
However, one would think that the Hawks have the upper hand going into this match. While Port can point to the history books to reveal 11 wins to the Hawks 5 in all of their outings, it’s the Hawks that can enter this game, knowing that they toppled Port Adelaide, at their home ground, by 34 points back in Round 10. A win is also vital for the Hawks, in determining where they finish on the ladder by season’s end. With the Bulldogs and Swans coming up in the final two rounds, it would be handy for Hawthorn to make sure they have a guarantee to play finals for the first time since 2001
One man that will be looking forward to this week’s game will be Grant Birchall. His last visit to Tasmania was not a good one, with the Hawks going down to the Kangaroos by 37 points. He will be determined to ensure that Port is limited in the number of goals scored against the Hawks this Sunday.
Key match ups
Brad Sewell v Kane Cornes
When any opposition has a midfielder that poses a threat to the Hawks, the club turns to the one man who can shut them down, Brad Sewell. He has been outstanding this season, holding back some of the greats of the modern day competition — Cameron Bruce (Melbourne), Paul Chapman (Geelong), Chris Judd (West Coast), just to name a few. This week he will be taking on the number one disposal king of the competition, Kane Cornes, who sits on 512 disposals so far in 2007
Trent Croad v Brett Ebert
‘The man with the glistening thighs’, as named by Brian Taylor, is in All Australian form. He has taken on the heavyweights of the competition throughout the year and has been triumphant in most of these ‘clashes of the titans’. Round 11, he left Barry Hall goalless and in Round 18, he kept Essendon spearhead, Matthew Lloyd to just two goals the entire game. This week he takes on Port Adelaide’s leading goal kicker, Brett Ebert. Providing Warren Tredrea doesn’t return for this match, the Hawks will be sending their number one defender to isolate Ebert. Hopefully ‘Croady’ can soar through the clouds again this week with another, fantastic speccie, as he did on Jonathan Brown last week.
Hawks Forward Line v Port Defenders
Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Tim Boyle, Ben Dixon. These four players have shown to the AFL community that they can get the task done week in, week out. ‘Buddy’ Franklin has impressed everyone, scoring bags of goals on numerous occasions (most notably, his 9 goal haul against Essendon in Round 6). However, it doesn’t stop with him. Jarryd Roughead has been impressive this season, improving more and more with each game he plays in. Tim Boyle has been outstanding, having scored 30 goals, 17 behinds so far this season. His extraordinary speed and strength has proven to us that he is the future Full Forward for the next decade.
Port Adelaide will need to pull out all the stops if they’re to stop this forward line. Every man in their backline will have to be alert throughout the entire game and ensure that their man is covered. All it will take is a single moment’s lapse of concentration to result in a goal for Hawthorn.
Let’s hope that the Hawks can cement a place in the finals for the first time since 2001. A tough match will be on display this Sunday afternoon; however I’m sure that every single Hawthorn supporter will be hoping that the Power gets a flogging down in Tasmania. I know I will be.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Hawthorn Football Club. hawthornfc.com.au would like to acknowledge the contribution of supporters to the Official Club website. If you would like to sign up to write for hawthornfc.com.au click here for more details.
Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, second and third on the AFL ladder respectively, are looking to cement a top four position by season’s end. Their first step to that goal will be this Sunday when they do battle at the Hawks’ ‘home away from home’ ground at Aurora Stadium in Launceston
Hawthorn has had their name smeared in the media recently. Campbell Brown was dealt a $15,000 fine for lying at the tribunal; Along with the Hawks copping a $50,000 fine for unofficial footage taken at a Western Bulldogs match. Hawks fans would like to hope that this will not faze our boys in anyway. Hopefully the club will set their sights on the one important thing this weekend, earning the 4 points.
Port Adelaide will be entering this game with all the confidence in the world, having won four out of their last five games, where their sole loss was only by 8 points, against Adelaide back in Round 18. A win this Sunday is vital for Port Adelaide’s top-4 chances, not to mention staying in final eight. With vital matches coming up to end the Premiership season, in Geelong and Fremantle, they will be doing everything in their power (pardon the pun) to topple the Hawks at their ‘Tasmanian Fortress’
However, one would think that the Hawks have the upper hand going into this match. While Port can point to the history books to reveal 11 wins to the Hawks 5 in all of their outings, it’s the Hawks that can enter this game, knowing that they toppled Port Adelaide, at their home ground, by 34 points back in Round 10. A win is also vital for the Hawks, in determining where they finish on the ladder by season’s end. With the Bulldogs and Swans coming up in the final two rounds, it would be handy for Hawthorn to make sure they have a guarantee to play finals for the first time since 2001
One man that will be looking forward to this week’s game will be Grant Birchall. His last visit to Tasmania was not a good one, with the Hawks going down to the Kangaroos by 37 points. He will be determined to ensure that Port is limited in the number of goals scored against the Hawks this Sunday.
Key match ups
Brad Sewell v Kane Cornes
When any opposition has a midfielder that poses a threat to the Hawks, the club turns to the one man who can shut them down, Brad Sewell. He has been outstanding this season, holding back some of the greats of the modern day competition — Cameron Bruce (Melbourne), Paul Chapman (Geelong), Chris Judd (West Coast), just to name a few. This week he will be taking on the number one disposal king of the competition, Kane Cornes, who sits on 512 disposals so far in 2007
Trent Croad v Brett Ebert
‘The man with the glistening thighs’, as named by Brian Taylor, is in All Australian form. He has taken on the heavyweights of the competition throughout the year and has been triumphant in most of these ‘clashes of the titans’. Round 11, he left Barry Hall goalless and in Round 18, he kept Essendon spearhead, Matthew Lloyd to just two goals the entire game. This week he takes on Port Adelaide’s leading goal kicker, Brett Ebert. Providing Warren Tredrea doesn’t return for this match, the Hawks will be sending their number one defender to isolate Ebert. Hopefully ‘Croady’ can soar through the clouds again this week with another, fantastic speccie, as he did on Jonathan Brown last week.
Hawks Forward Line v Port Defenders
Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, Tim Boyle, Ben Dixon. These four players have shown to the AFL community that they can get the task done week in, week out. ‘Buddy’ Franklin has impressed everyone, scoring bags of goals on numerous occasions (most notably, his 9 goal haul against Essendon in Round 6). However, it doesn’t stop with him. Jarryd Roughead has been impressive this season, improving more and more with each game he plays in. Tim Boyle has been outstanding, having scored 30 goals, 17 behinds so far this season. His extraordinary speed and strength has proven to us that he is the future Full Forward for the next decade.
Port Adelaide will need to pull out all the stops if they’re to stop this forward line. Every man in their backline will have to be alert throughout the entire game and ensure that their man is covered. All it will take is a single moment’s lapse of concentration to result in a goal for Hawthorn.
Let’s hope that the Hawks can cement a place in the finals for the first time since 2001. A tough match will be on display this Sunday afternoon; however I’m sure that every single Hawthorn supporter will be hoping that the Power gets a flogging down in Tasmania. I know I will be.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Hawthorn Football Club. hawthornfc.com.au would like to acknowledge the contribution of supporters to the Official Club website. If you would like to sign up to write for hawthornfc.com.au click here for more details.
