starbux
Team Captain
Garry Lyon - April 15
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23540596-19742,00.html
FOR the sake of the competition, we need a genuine challenger to the mighty Geelong Football Club.
A team that can look the Cats in the eye and truly believe it can defeat them on any day, but especially the day that counts the most.
That team is Hawthorn, and it can win the 2008 premiership.
The Hawks have already gone into games this year without Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Campbell Brown, Shane Crawford, Jordan Lewis and Trent Croad, yet they have not missed a beat.
They sit on top of the ladder after obliterating Melbourne in Round 1, whacking Fremantle at Subiaco, running over the top of North Melbourne - last year's preliminary finalist - when they were down to bare numbers, then dealt with an Adelaide team that many believed was the real deal.
Of course, the Cats remain very warm favourites to go back to back, and any challenger must be stacked up against the imperious machine from Skilled Stadium.
Geelong has not put a foot wrong since hoisting the cup last year, and carries itself like a team comfortable with the title of competition's best.
But if this is a high-stakes game of poker and Mark Thompson is sitting at the table with a royal flush in his hand, Alastair Clarkson is staring him down with a full house. Aces full of kings, too, if you don't mind.
ATTACK
IS THERE a more talented and skilful half-forward in the competition than Norm Smith medallist Steve Johnson?
Amazingly, there is - at Hawthorn. His name is Lance "Buddy" Franklin, and he is the most difficult player to match up on in recent memory.
Cameron Mooney is a physical presence in the Cats' forward line that other teams can only hope to emulate.
Hawk Jarryd Roughead is developing into that role as well as anyone and his development has been somewhat overlooked in the Buddymania.
Paul Chapman is adored among the Cats faithful, and the rest of the football world is slowly catching on as to why.
He kicked 30 goals last year and gave at least that many away; 60 goals is a contribution that is almost impossible to match from a small forward.
Except if your name is Mark Williams, who kicked exactly that many in the 2006 season. Reduced to only four games last year through injury, his timely return makes the Hawks even more potent.
However, by all of the measurements taken this year, the Hawks have been more efficient when going forward than the Cats.
MIDFIELD
GEELONG'S midfield was without peer last year. If you were to rate the Cats' top six onballers and compare them to Hawthorn's top six, it's clear the challenger has arrived.
It is, of course, subjective and the Cats get a half a point here and there because of the premiership, but you get the idea.
They are both incredibly talented groups who have been performing at a consistently high level for a number of years.
DEFENCE
THIS is the area that sets Geelong apart. Matthew Scarlett rarely has his colours lowered and also wins plenty of the ball and has the confidence to run and attack, knowing he will have his back covered.
Darren Milburn is the next most important cog in the Cats' back half. As much as anyone in the game, he has the balance right between playing tight and zoning off his opponent.
His value can never be overstated.
Tom Harley provides great leadership and stability.
But as was evident on Saturday against Nick Riewoldt early, the Cats ideally would have Matthew Egan taking the opposition's most dangerous half-forward and Harley picking up the third forward option.
David Wojcinski provides the dash, Josh Hunt picks up the small forward and Andrew Mackie is as good a Mr Fixit as you could hope for.
Corey Enright is always there if necessary and Harry Taylor illustrates just how well the Cats are served for depth.
The Hawks rely heavily on Trent Croad to pick up opposition "monster" forwards. Stephen Gilham and Tom Murphy are developing and Robert Campbell is capable of doing a job in defence if the match-up is right.
Campbell Brown is probably their only genuine A-grade defender, with Grant Birchall showing every indication he may get there soon..
BRING IT ON
UNBELIEVABLY, we won't get to see these two teams square off against each other until Round 17, on a Friday night at the MCG.
Get yourself a ticket for that match, if you can, right now. By that stage I reckon the Hawthorn boys will be climbing over each other to measure themselves up against the yardstick of the competition.
I fully expect them to face off again at the same venue nine weeks later
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23540596-19742,00.html
FOR the sake of the competition, we need a genuine challenger to the mighty Geelong Football Club.
A team that can look the Cats in the eye and truly believe it can defeat them on any day, but especially the day that counts the most.
That team is Hawthorn, and it can win the 2008 premiership.
The Hawks have already gone into games this year without Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Campbell Brown, Shane Crawford, Jordan Lewis and Trent Croad, yet they have not missed a beat.
They sit on top of the ladder after obliterating Melbourne in Round 1, whacking Fremantle at Subiaco, running over the top of North Melbourne - last year's preliminary finalist - when they were down to bare numbers, then dealt with an Adelaide team that many believed was the real deal.
Of course, the Cats remain very warm favourites to go back to back, and any challenger must be stacked up against the imperious machine from Skilled Stadium.
Geelong has not put a foot wrong since hoisting the cup last year, and carries itself like a team comfortable with the title of competition's best.
But if this is a high-stakes game of poker and Mark Thompson is sitting at the table with a royal flush in his hand, Alastair Clarkson is staring him down with a full house. Aces full of kings, too, if you don't mind.
ATTACK
IS THERE a more talented and skilful half-forward in the competition than Norm Smith medallist Steve Johnson?
Amazingly, there is - at Hawthorn. His name is Lance "Buddy" Franklin, and he is the most difficult player to match up on in recent memory.
Cameron Mooney is a physical presence in the Cats' forward line that other teams can only hope to emulate.
Hawk Jarryd Roughead is developing into that role as well as anyone and his development has been somewhat overlooked in the Buddymania.
Paul Chapman is adored among the Cats faithful, and the rest of the football world is slowly catching on as to why.
He kicked 30 goals last year and gave at least that many away; 60 goals is a contribution that is almost impossible to match from a small forward.
Except if your name is Mark Williams, who kicked exactly that many in the 2006 season. Reduced to only four games last year through injury, his timely return makes the Hawks even more potent.
However, by all of the measurements taken this year, the Hawks have been more efficient when going forward than the Cats.
MIDFIELD
GEELONG'S midfield was without peer last year. If you were to rate the Cats' top six onballers and compare them to Hawthorn's top six, it's clear the challenger has arrived.
It is, of course, subjective and the Cats get a half a point here and there because of the premiership, but you get the idea.
They are both incredibly talented groups who have been performing at a consistently high level for a number of years.
DEFENCE
THIS is the area that sets Geelong apart. Matthew Scarlett rarely has his colours lowered and also wins plenty of the ball and has the confidence to run and attack, knowing he will have his back covered.
Darren Milburn is the next most important cog in the Cats' back half. As much as anyone in the game, he has the balance right between playing tight and zoning off his opponent.
His value can never be overstated.
Tom Harley provides great leadership and stability.
But as was evident on Saturday against Nick Riewoldt early, the Cats ideally would have Matthew Egan taking the opposition's most dangerous half-forward and Harley picking up the third forward option.
David Wojcinski provides the dash, Josh Hunt picks up the small forward and Andrew Mackie is as good a Mr Fixit as you could hope for.
Corey Enright is always there if necessary and Harry Taylor illustrates just how well the Cats are served for depth.
The Hawks rely heavily on Trent Croad to pick up opposition "monster" forwards. Stephen Gilham and Tom Murphy are developing and Robert Campbell is capable of doing a job in defence if the match-up is right.
Campbell Brown is probably their only genuine A-grade defender, with Grant Birchall showing every indication he may get there soon..
BRING IT ON
UNBELIEVABLY, we won't get to see these two teams square off against each other until Round 17, on a Friday night at the MCG.
Get yourself a ticket for that match, if you can, right now. By that stage I reckon the Hawthorn boys will be climbing over each other to measure themselves up against the yardstick of the competition.
I fully expect them to face off again at the same venue nine weeks later
