A NERVY afternoon looms in Tassie for both clubs. At 4-6, West Coast is teetering and its reputation as the flat-track bullies of the competition has only been amplified by losses to Collingwood and North Melbourne in the last fortnight. Hawthorn scraped home against the Giants last week, but is close to breaking point with a long list of injuries and now the coach on the sidelines. How much longer the Hawks can remain in the top four is debatable. They will need defensive reinforcements to counter the tall Eagle forwards, but will relish being back at their friendly Tasmanian fortress where they rarely lose.





WHERE AND WHEN: Aurora Stadium, Saturday June 7, 1.40pm (AEST)

TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide

LAST FIVE TIMES
R13, 2013, Hawthorn 19.9 (123) d West Coast 16.7 (103) at Etihad Stadium
R2, 2013, Hawthorn 23.10 (148) d West Coast 15.8 (98) at Patersons Stadium
R23, 2012, Hawthorn 14.11 (95) d West Coast 10.10 (70) at the MCG
R4, 2012, West Coast 5.21 (51) d Hawthorn 5.16 (46) at Patersons Stadium
R4, 2011, Hawthorn 10.12 (72) d West Coast 9.11 (65) at Aurora Stadium

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THE SIX POINTS
1. Few teams have been competitive against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium in recent seasons. The Hawks have won their last eight games in Launceston and 15 of their last 16, last losing early in 2012.

2. The Hawks are the No.1 disposal team this season, averaging 408.9 a game, while the Eagles are ranked 12th at 360.5 a game.

3. This will be the 43rd contest between these clubs and West Coast continues to hold the advantage, winning 24 games to 18.

4. Hawthorn remains the No. 1 scoring side this season, averaging 116.2 points a game, while West Coast is seventh at 90.4 a game.

5. This is the second straight round Hawthorn has come up against a team coached by a former assistant coach of the club. Last Sunday it was Leon Cameron, today Adam Simpson, who worked for the club between 2010 and 2013.

6. Nic Naitanui is the top Eagle and top ruckman in the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade, at No.22. Naitanui is the only Eagle in the top 50, while the Hawks have six - Cyril Rioli (No.10), Sam Mitchell (11), Jarryd Roughead (20), Shaun Burgoyne (27), Luke Breust (33) and Luke Hodge (36).

Prediction: Hawthorn by 13 points