Preview Gameday Thread. Hawthorn Vs Swans & Preview & Bartos Report

[grizzlym]

Round 10
Hawthorn vs Swans

Above: Paul Roo's harbourside home.

Where and when: MCG, Sunday, May 30, 1.10pm

Head to head: Hawthorn 79 wins, Sydney Swans 64 wins, two draws

Last time: Hawthorn 12.14 (86) d Sydney Swans 11.9 (75), round 11, 2009 at the MCG

Hawthorn v Sydney, MCG, Sunday, 1.10pm (EST)

Hawthorn
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Campbell Brown
HB: Grant Birchall, Ben Stratton, Thomas Murphy
C: Clinton Young, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis
HF: Cyril Rioli, Lance Franklin, Michael Osborne
F: Shaun Burgoyne, Jarryd Roughead, Rhan Hooper
Foll: Brent Renouf, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C: Xavier Ellis, Carl Peterson, Wayde Skipper, Brendan Whitecross
Emg: Beau Muston, Ryan Schoenmakers, Liam Shiels

Sydney Swans
B: Rhyce Shaw, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Nick Smith
HB: Martin Mattner, Heath Grundy, Nick Malceski
C: Daniel Hannebery, Brett Kirk, Lewis Jetta
HF: Ryan O'Keefe, Adam Goodes, Josh Kennedy
F: Gary Rohan, Henry Playfair, Jarrad McVeigh
Foll: Shane Mumford, Jude Bolton, Kieren Jack
I/C: Campbell Heath, Matt O'Dwyer, Mike Pyke, Jesse White
Emg: Paul Bevan, Trent Dennis-Lane,Ted Richards

In: White, O'Dwyer, Mumford
Out: Tadhg Kennelly (knee), Daniel Bradshaw (knee), Bevan

New: Trent Dennis-Lane (Subiaco)


Form:
Hawthorn: LLLWW
Sydney Swans: WWLLL

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27086873-5018851,00.html

Battle of the Birds

Over the years we've learned never to underestimated Paul Roo's and his bunch of freakin' ugly ducklings. They've troubled us of recent years. But this time around we've got a pretty decent looking side and they don't.

We've speculated on the team changes here.

And discussed the merits of the actual team selected here.

So, if we can pluck the swannies and come away with the points, that'll make it 3 in a row and our season starts to look a bit healthier.

Bring it on!

 

[grizzlym]

We've got Galon and Henry Jr with their thoughts for this week's game. Thanks guys, good job.

The Sticking Point.

There comes a time in any attempt at greatness, where a decision must be made of just how badly the end goal is desired.
Something clicked amongst a group of AFL players 5 days ago, and with that pointed focus a determined and newly devout Hawthorn outfit dispensed with a Carlton side that went into the game with all the momentum and some overplayed individual form.

During the week the media have circled and debated the credentials of our captain, the timing of comments of one of our past greats and the question of just where the 'real' Hawthorn has been hiding. But that matters not, for the season is fast slipping away, and if we're going to take anything from it, well....

This weekend, with fresh ambition, the Hawthorn team meets an old and wiley foe. Forever the keeper of any mojo that's been evident in prior weeks, Sydney, the Bloods, have been the thorn in Hawthorns' side too many times to count.

Any side played on paper is formidable, yet for every instance that any Hawthorn fan has ever gotten ahead of themselves and claimed a certain win against the Swans, the opposite has become true.

On Sunday, Hawthorn will roll out onto the ground with an unchanged line up. This in itself is a minor win, as the club and coaches have sailed some very rocky seas in recent months, and one call that has constantly been heard from the head coach, is the need to stop the continuous turn-style of players coming in and out of the team through injury.
Indeed, our list looks to be in almost the best shape we've seen since the late rounds of 2008, but with this new found stability comes expectation, and for those who have claimed 'All we need is our best players on the park', the time is now.
What we know from our most recent game is that the desire, the hardness, and the intensity amongst the group had returned to the levels that we as supporters had not only expected but demanded from the dreary weeks prior.
The opportunity this week comes in the shape of a respected opposition that is limping slightly. Out are the running and defensive cogs of Bolton, Kennelly, the forward prowess of Bradshaw and a 1st picked ruckman who was amongst the most improved in the league before going down to an ankle injury(Seaby).
The list of outs seems familiar, and so it should, for Hawthorn have dealt with some decent outs in the first 9 rounds of the competition itself.

But enough about the outs, because come Sunday the only players that matter are the ones out on the ground and with a renewed vigour any Hawthorn supporter will tell you that Sydney will still turn up for a hard fought contest.
With Kirk, O'Keefe, Goodes, J.Bolton, Grundy and Malceski, the Swans still have enough talent to cause headaches to any team that does not want to do the hard things.

For Hawthorn, a lot will be made of the intensity on show last week, for that is the desired level of commitment that the coaches, the club and the supporters want to see each and every week. We also saw the return of the Franklin of old, running, bollocking, leading, marking....the strut was back. This was something that we'd all been waiting for, but something else returned, and that was the crop of second tier players who took up the slack, with Ellis, Birchall, Lewis and Osborne finding the level that we all know they are capable of.

The Hawks were up and about, with newly recruited stars in Burgoyne and Hooper playing their part, a dour backline and the ever impressive work of Hodge, Mitchell and Sewell were topped off by the run and the teamwork of group that looked like they'd remembered just what it takes to dominate a contest.

But still, the question remains.

Was last week the re-emergence of the required application to the team ethos? Or was it indeed a chance encounter of a team with nothing left to lose, clicking against an opposition that couldn't find it in themselves to respond?

This week against Sydney, we will find out.

And Henry Jr:

Ah, expectation is a dangerous thing don’t you think? Well, that’s my view anyway.

Now that the team has delivered what we all thought was possible last week against the Blue Baggers, we sit on the tightrope of death. Fail as favourites and its season over. Win as expected and the belief amongst the playing group and us supporters really begins to grow.

And thus it brings us to this weeks clash. Two sides going opposite directions. The Hawks on the way up after a horror start and the Swans seemingly on the way down. Pretty much both teams with the exact mirror image of each other but in one of the weird ass mirrors you see at the show.

Hawthorn coming off a 2 game winning steak going for 3 in a row, which would be the first time since the 08’ GF. Sydney on the other hand, coming off 3 losses in a row hoping to put a stop to the rot so to speak. Hawthorn has typically struggled in the past with the Swans lock-down style with the Swans winning 6 games in a row up until the 2008 Season. 2009 saw both sides split the meetings with a win a piece.

Again I refer back to the ‘mirror images’ scenario when the talk turns to how the teams line up and injuries. Hawks will most likely go in with an unchanged line-up which none of us would/could have thought possible given the form shown for the most part of the season.

With the Swans losing both Kennelly and Bradshaw to knee injuries and already with the important outs of Bolton and our once former loved one in Benny Mac, the Hawks couldn’t have got the Swans at a better time. A cast of thousands on the inclusion list in Richards, White, O'Dwyer, Dennis-Lane and Mumford.

Its often said that games are won in the middle of the ground. I don’t believe this to be the case this week. Hawthorn’s new found belief and a much more attacking game plan should be enough to see us get across the line. Add in the twin towers in Roughead and Franklin to the recipe and they will create havoc with Sydney’s defence and enough to kick a winning score.

Will be interesting to see how Trent Dennis-Lane goes after kicking a bag of goals last week. Big wraps on the kid and he performed well in the NAB Cup. Guess the question that keeps everyone scratching their heads is who goes to Adam Goodes? Will it be Stratton who has shone so far in his rookie year or the heart and soul of the club in Campbell Brown?

I expect the Hawks to win this week by I believe that it will be a much tighter contest than many supporters will be expecting.
Hawks by 19 points…..

 

[grizzlym]

<bartos report>

 

[Jaeger]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/roos-fears-a-big-swan-dive/story-e6frf9jf-1225872771233

Paul Roos has indicated that Goodes play in the forward line.

Will be very interesting to see who goes with him.

 

[Gene Simmons]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/roos-fears-a-big-swan-dive/story-e6frf9jf-1225872771233

Paul Roos has indicated that Goodes play in the forward line.

Will be very interesting to see who goes with him.

Would be a great challenge for Stratton!

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

The Swans made us pay last year early in the year when we were hit by injuries (remember Thorp up against Jolly? ) This time around we must do the same with some of their outs.

If we can commence with the same intensity from last week and hit bodies early, it should set the tone for a very comfortable day and a huge percentage boost. If we start badly and look lethargic, it could be one frustrating day, especially if it rains.

But I expect us to win by at least 8 goals ie minimum 2 goal per quarter better side.

 

[indieswan96]

Good Luck for tomorrow and I hope you lose miserably.

 

[cs61]

They're missing some players in their structure, but we've struggled in the clearances and pressure situations this year, and Sydney have Bolton, Kirk, Kennedy, Jack, Malceski, O'Keefe, Goodes, so anyone thinking we're going to walk all over the swans are kidding themselves. We're gonna have to be seriously on to win well.

If we come with the same sort of pressure we gave Carlton, we are going to be very hard to beat, but given our over-all form this year, there is no way we can go in expecting anything other than a very tough game, that we must try to win, to get some sort of run of form in to the season.

We are good enough to dominate the Swans, but they certainly have enough talent out there to cause us plenty of trouble, so we're gonna have to be on early. Its quite easy to tell from the first few minutes of the game whether we're up for it. Its happened in rounds 1, 2, 3 and 9 this year, and its all about forward pressure.

For us to be a dominant force again, the telling sign is seeing Rioli, Hooper, Osborne, Franklin, Peterson and co, harrass the hell out of the opposition's defence. When that is happening, watch out, because then our zone is working, we're winning more ball, and we're keeping in our area meaning our tall forwards are getting supply which is going to lead to plenty of scoring opportunities.

When its not on, it means our zone is getting picked apart, our defence is getting shown up to be under-sized, and our midfielders are under pump meaning our forward entries break down. So for mine, all you have to do is see if our forward pressure is apparent early to know whether we're a chance.

Our whole game plan is built upon it, and Clarkson instructed Rioli and Stokes in 2008, that all they had to do to keep their spots was harrass the hell out of the oppositions backline, and whatever stats they got were a bonus. Now if that's not an indication on how important it is to us, than some people will never get it.

2 rucks again, Seeing Burgoyne settling in to our midfield structure, Hooper, Peterson, Rioli in the same side again, Stratton finding his feet and starting to settle in to some sort of steady back 6, Hodge finding consistent form due to us playing him where we want rather than where we need him to, and Buddy and Roughead getting decent supply. This is us starting to piece together a team that can compete, and we need a settled structure more than any other serious contender, so its not a surprise that we improved after minimal changes after the Richmond game.

Every game is vital from here on, but many hopefully predict the Carlton game to be the turning point, and not a flash in the pan. Well the guys have to prove it this weekend, and put in a solid 4 quarter performance and win well against the Swans, and suddenly 2010 in alive.

 

[Neville Bartos]

The Bartos Report - Hawthorn v Sydney

The emotional rollercoaster that has been the aftermath of the 2008 Grand Final just keeps running. Somehow the carriage came off the track and was headed for a violent collision with a bunch of bystanders a few weeks ago, but miraculously the carriage found the track on the way down and we went round the cork-screw last week against the Blues. I laughed my way through the win against Richmond, it was like watching two disabled short people attack each other with those novelty baseball bats you find in the Bertie Beatle showbag.

I wandered off to the Dome on Sunday as the alternative was to watch Home Improvement Season 1 for the 4th time and my expectations were pretty low. The blinded optimism of last year where I kept telling myself that "we have talented players who were injured or down on confidence and eventually we'll sort it out" had eventually become "we have injured and low confidence players who are lacking talent and anything under 40 points is a good loss".

After a couple of quick goals, some ripping tackles, a couple of bum slaps and 10-11 Chris Judd clangers, the Hawks were absolutely steamrolling their highly-fancied opponents. Superstars like O'Helpme, Eddie Betts, Eddie Betts II and Eddie Betts III couldn't get anywhere near it. When the ball finally fell lace out for them they couldn't exchange a paper bag full of pineapples for a goal. Meanwhile we got to witness our newest 27 year-old superstar who was gliding across the field, winning the ball when no-one gave him a chance and despite some hamstring troubles his second game for the club was a memorable one after leading the Hawks midfield and forward line to Victory. Obviously I'm talking about Wayde Skipper the 194cm (but runs like he's 204cm) superstar veteran recruit who's addition to the team has undoubtedly been the difference.

As pointed out in an earlier post by myself, Skipper's height doesn't accurately paint the picture of how he dominates a game. Although his "head height" is 194cm (similar to Jonathan Brown, Roughy, Jonah Lomu, Stephen Fry, John Kerry, Tim Robbins and many more) his shoulder height is approximately 168cm (head height of Alicia Keys, Inspector Frost, Denise Richards, Frodo, Hermione, Aria Giovanni and a bunch of other pornstars I've never heard of but plan to google later tonight). As you can see below your head height is grossly irrelevant when you have such a small head like Wayde Skipper:

Admittedly some of the measurements might not be completely accurate but it shows that Wayde certainly stands a chance against some of the taller/more athletic ruckmen in the league despite his shortfall in listed cms.

Another addition to the "Westy parents who were sick of naming their children 'David', 'Richard', 'Stephen' or 'Thomas' Collective" we are developing at Hawthorn was the sparkling and lively forward Rhan Hooper. Despite it only being his 2nd game for the club (I don't know if you can count 5 mins and 0 possessions as a game unless you're Leon Davis in a final), Rhan's tackling, reading of play and pace was supremely beneficial to the team considering Rioli can only move at 3/4 speed of sound now, Stokes can tackle but fears the football, Moss is a character from Dr. Seuss and Carl Peterson simply disappears without stadium lights. The only problem now is apparently Hooper's brilliant contribution is so similar to our other indigenous small forwards that it can be difficult to identify him from the nose bleed section at the MCG. Now don't stress as Neville Bartos is on the case and I emailed Jeff Kennett with a 10 page dossier on ways for Rhan to make himself more noticeable on the field. A few examples from the dossier included:

1. RHAN "SILVERFOX" HOOPER
Everyone loves the silverfox. I imagine there are plenty of members on this forum who just can't win the battle of the greys and trying to hide it. I'm sorry but rocking the silverfox is awesome, it makes you look heaps more mature, more intelligent, welathier and more established. Rhan's whites would no doubtedly be visible from any position of the MCG.

2. RHAN "COACH'S FACE AS A TATTOO" HOOPER
When Sam Mitchell first arrived at Hawthorn, he trained for longer, he trained harder and he was the most disciplined guy at the club in the way he approached his football which lead several of the senior players to call him "Teacher's Pet." I don't expect Rhan to do the same but there are other ways to get in the coach's good books such as declaring your undying love for him but plonking his face on that sleeve you promised yourself when you were hammered. Soon the AFL will be divided into two catagories: 'Players with a sleeve tattoo' and 'Players with two sleeve tattoos' and Rhan will be the only one with Clarko's ugly mug as the main feature on his.

3. RHAN "SUPER MULLET" HOOPER
With a name like Rhan he needs to embrace his roots by growing the greatest mullet of all time. It'll be business at the front for the team photos but Carnivale mixed with Mardi Gras on the back as his sexy mullet temporarily blinds his opponent as Rhan takes off on a lead.

4. DYYYYAAAHN HOOPER
I'm not sure that Adrian Anderson will allow Rhan to take the field with a deadly hook where his left hand used to be but for us fans it'd be pretty difficult to fail to notice the pirate on the field. Were Rhan to do his ACL instead of going through the 12 month rehab we could amputate his leg and give him a wooden one. You'd expect him to be back on the field in a matter of weeks rather than months. Being a pirate would also assist Rhan in plundering Buddy's crumbs, swashbuckling his way through defenders and with an eye patch he'd be a one-eyed Hawk for life.

5. RHAN DEWWWWWWPER
This idea is simple. Get Rhan to eat Xavier Ellis, Beau Dowler or Sam Grimley to pack on a few extra kilos around the waist and we'll have another fat (and seriously noticeable) cult hero running around for the Hawks.

6. RHAN "BROWNLOW" HOOPER
Considering all of our players are well sprouted and folically stable individuals (Guerra as case-in-point), we've been without a bald nut since Adrian "Slim Shady" Cox got delisted a few years back. Some people will tell you that a bloke down at Geelong who's hair was falling out like Paratroopers on D-Day and now rocks the bald nut, is the best player in the league and pretty noticeable out on the field. I understand Rhan might be attached his curly locks but if he ever wants to take a hot sheila to the Brownlow and be recognised as "that Gold Coast player" when he walks around town then he needs to Chrome that dome.


Moving on from the utter literary insanity from above, the Hawks take on the Sydney Swans at the G on Sunday. We'll be wearing our new Camouflage jumper which in itself could spawn a life-time of terrible jokes which I won't go through. I'll leave that to Dennis Commetti.

Sydney have been a very interesting team to watch over the last 6 months. They rid themselves of Barry Hall over the pre-season and quietly recruited some good players in Bradshaw, Mumford, Kennedy and McGlynn (yes I left Seaby out on purpose) and Paul Roos' demeanor and mood has visibly improved out of sight. Despite several big losses, his best friend Tadgh Kennelly's injury, his other new best friend Daniel "Braddy" Bradshaw's injury, the loss of his best defender, Kevin Sheedy trying to sign him up as a GWS member, St Kilda players taking his daughter out and failing to bring her home before 2am, being kicked out of his own coach's box by the evil John Longmire, Tony Lockett refusing to rule out another comeback, Warwick Capper desperately trying to make another comeback, Brett Kirk wanting to boof him and Mark Seaby and Henry Playfair "failing to live up to expectations" you wouldn't blame Roos for looking like this:

... but somehow he sees it all differently to us and to him footy is just a game, it's a bit of fun and when you literally can't get fired from your job because you've promised to leave at the end of the year...You deserve to smile!

Hawks by 15 points.

 

[AG]

lol. Good read.

Our structure will be much better this week with 3 key forwards and 2 ruckmen in the side again. That's what won us games early on so hopefully we go close on Sunday. Obviously Playfair is no Bradshaw but we should improve on our recent form.

 

[Gold Member]

Severe case of the LOL's thanks Nev.

Bring on the "super mullet" Rhan, you know it makes sense. Also you used to be a better kick in 2007 when you had the beautiful mullet Nev...

Glad to see the return of TheBartosReport, must be heaps easier to be a funny far k when we're winning... Looking forward to a gold trimmed edition next week.

 

[Messenger]

As someone who is beginning to "rock the silverfox" you have both entertained and given my self esteem a boost.

This is going to be a very tough game, make no mistake.

 

[illnino]

No late changes according to AFL site. Carn Hawks!

Great read too guys

 

[Baz_hawk]

Great read guys, Go hawks.

Anyone has a stream please PM me.

 

[Noneedforaname]

Not being critical of Stratts, bur calling for him to go with Goodes, and expecting him to come away with the win is asking a bit much. Hes had how many games, and held his own? Thats pinning a whole world of expectation on the guy (and the hopes of the whole team/ season).

Whoever he plays on, I hope he has a good day. As he's still so inexperienced, I would expect him to have off days, or more likely, have the oppostion work him out a bit more and not get away with marks across the backline etc.
Hope (Im sure it won't be) today isnt the day we we find out.

Carn the Hawks!!!!

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Can anyone give info on matchups etc for those who can't watch the game?

 

[mewquietachiever]

stratton on goodes
kirk on mitchell

little lack lustre at the minute..........................

 

[Baz_hawk]

Whitecross is on Goodes atm...

 

[AG]

Can anyone give info on matchups etc for those who can't watch the game?

Gilham v White
LRT v Roughead
Grundy v Franklin
Smith v Hodge
Kennedy v Sewell
Mitchell v Kirk

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

The John Barker forward line is back to cause us havoc. We look putrid going forward

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

All goals have been very lucky as there is nobody in forward 50

 

[mewquietachiever]

buddys got his kicking boots on............................

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Looks like Buddy is ON!

Two quick ones and set up our other goal with some great defensive work.

BANG BANG!

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Hooper has kicked 1.3 so far.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Buddy gone for a week with a stupid trip. Ffs stupid boy