I found myself at a pub on Saturday the 31st of March thisyear. The butterflies had been happily fluttering about in my stomach for days.This was round one, the day of the first game for my beloved Hawks this season.
I wish I could say that I was confident, but I cannot,because I was not. I had watched my team lose more games than I had watchedthem win in the last three seasons. 18 wins from their last 66 starts to beexact.
I was not confident but I was full of that nervousexcitement one tends to be confronted with on Christmas morning.
That mixed feeling, borne of the expectation of somethingnew, of not knowing what lies concealed under all that gaudy wrapping paper andof the knowledge that what is concealed is all too often another pair of socksor a six-pack of variously coloured underpants.
I was really hoping for more than socks and underpants thisseason.
I left that pub just a few hours later, completelydespondent. Socks and undies would have been good…at least I could have usedthem. Instead I felt as though I had just torn the wrapper off a Collingwoodguernsey. I was very disappointed.
That was 18 weeks ago. The Hawks have since won 11 gamesthis season, ‘Buddy’ Franklinhas kicked 53 goals, Brad Sewell has laid 84 tackles, Sam Mitchell has had 436disposals and the Hawks are sitting third on the ladder.
As they did that Saturday evening, the Hawks will play theLions this weekend. This game promises to be different.
Tale of the tape
This Saturday’s match at the MCG will be the 10th betweenthe two clubs since round 17 of the 2002 season.
Of the nine matches played since then, the Hawks have wonone. That win came at the MCG in round four of 2005. Mark Williams kicked sixgoals that day and Sam Mitchell amassed 37 possessions.
Going into the match this Saturday, the Lions are sittingeighth on the ladder having won their last five matches, including threeagainst other finals contenders.
Somewhat worrying is the fact that the Lions have wonthey’re last five games by an average winning margin of just over 10 goals.
In contrast, the Hawks have won two of their last fivematches.
What has me really worried, however, is the Lions’ ferocityat the ball. The Lions presently lead the league in the number of tacklesapplied per game. They laid a staggering 91 tackles against the Kangaroos lastweekend.
Dean Laidley lamented after the match that the Lions’“attack on the footy was extraordinary”.
As well as they have played this season, the Hawks areranked a lowly 15th in tackles per game. Against Essendon last weekend theyapplied just 41 tackles.
Couple these statistics with another – that the Hawks are ahigh disposal team, currently ranked 3rd in average disposals per game – andwhat you have is a genuine reason for concern.
The Hawks must be quick and very clean in their disposalsthis week if they are to overcome the Lions’ relentless defensive pressure.
Both teams have struggled somewhat with their accuracy thisseason. The Hawks are marginally ahead in this regard having kicked an averageof 13.6 goals per game to the Lions’ 13.2.
All-in-all the tape’s tale is not a particularly encouragingone for the Hawks.
Key match-ups
The biggest problem facing Alastair Clarkson this weekend isJonathan Brown. Early this season, The Age described the 195cm tall forward asbeing “probably the most influential player in the competition when fit”.
If Leigh Matthews is to be believed, Brown is not just fit,he is in career-best form.
Trent Croad will probably be given what is quite possiblythe most difficult job in the AFL at the moment – restricting Jonathan Brown.
Croad will most likely not have the task to himself; Brownwill have to be a collective defensive responsibility.
The most important match-ups this Saturday will be betweensome of the competition’s best midfielders.
The Lions midfield led by 271-game in-form veteran, NigelLappin, will include 2002 Brownlow medallist Simon Black, Luke Power and younggun Jed Adcock.
Charged with limiting the run of this impressive line-upthis Saturday afternoon will be a list of equally impressive Hawks.
Led by its general, Sam Mitchell, the Hawk midfield willinclude 1999 Brownlow medallist and 285-game veteran Shane Crawford, and toughnuts Jordan Lewis and Chance Bateman.
Of equal importance will be the stoppage contests betweenJamie Charman and Hawk duo Simon Taylor and Robert Campbell.
The Hawks go into this game with one distinct and importantadvantage – multiple forward 50 targets – three talls and Ben Dixon. A forwardline which will undoubtedly frustrate opposition coaches for years to come.
In-form Lions defenders Joel Patfull and Robert Copelandwill be joined this week by the highly experienced Chris Johnson in his firstgame back after a prolonged break. Their task this weekend will not be an easyone.
This game should be an intense contest between two footyteams with a great deal to play for and a great deal of talent to play with. Ifor one can barely wait for that final siren this Saturday – I’ve been goodthis year and I’ve asked Santa for a win.
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