No 'I' in teamwork
They’ve got two All-Australians in their side, to Geelong’s seven. But Hawthorn captain Sam Mitchell says that fact only strengthens his side’s performance as a team.
"It’s great that we can get two guys in, but in a sense it’s almost a pat on the back that we can go 17 and five for the season and 18 and five if you include our final and we’ve done it without, what most would call, All-Australian years from players," Mitchell said on Tuesday.
Forever optimistic – and fuelling the engine room alongside the likes of Sewell, Lewis and Hodge, why wouldn’t you be? – Mitchell’s Hawks are second after the home and away season and now one win away from playing in a grand final. St Kilda threatens to stand in their way in Saturday’s preliminary match.
Memory burns
Like the Saints, missed opportunities will be spurring the Hawks to learn from past mistakes, including this year’s round 16 defeat by a determined St Kilda unit.
But before that, there was the young Hawks' defeat in the 2007 semi-final against North Melbourne. The memory is still fresh in Luke Hodge’s mind.
"Having the disappointment of last year has made us a little bit more headstrong and we know what to do when we go out to play in a fortnight's time," Hodge said after last week’s 51-point qualifying final win over the Western Bulldogs.
The match-ups
Coach Alastair Clarkson has resisted the temptation of recalling strong ruckman Simon Taylor and has retained the mobile Brent Renouf.
Onballer Chance Bateman created a scare when he rolled an ankle at training on Tuesday, but both he and Trent Croad, who has been battling a foot injury, have been named to take on the Saints.
Cameron Stokes is the unlucky Hawk – he's quadriceps injury creating a space for Xavier Ellis.
Midfield top focus
Versatile defender Campbell Brown has overcome a dislocated thumb, and will provide a possible match-up against Nick Riewoldt, who responded from the Geelong loss to boot five goals against the pies last week and six against the Hawks in round 16.
Mitchell said the Hawks’ 30-point loss in that match after leading at half time was a wake-up call reminding them to bring their A-game against a side like the Saints.
He attributed a perceived weakness in the Hawks’ defence to a lack of midfield pressure.
“If the midfield put enough pressure on the opposition we’re going to give our backs every chance to give us the rebound we need to probably beat the Sainters,” he said.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
