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- Sep 7, 2009
- 24,285
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WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday March 10, 5.40pm AEST
LAST TIME: Hawthorn 20.12 (132) d Melbourne 12.6 (78), round 18, 2011, at the MCG.
THE FOUR POINTS
Melbourne
1. The Demons might just have the best rookie list going around. Dan Nicholson and Michael Evans have already shown a bit at AFL level, and mature-age recruits James Magner and Thomas Couch have been super in the NAB Cup. Evans is out indefinitely with a back injury, and since Melbourne has three senior upgrade spots available, the others could all be in line for a round one call up.
2. Potting Jack Watts has become so popular it's being considered as a demonstration sport at the London Olympics. Mick Malthouse would be the gold medal favourite. He thinks young Jack should be sent to the backline. Could we see Watts versus Buddy?
3. Mercifully, the Demons' injury list has been slashed to eight, after it peaked at 13 last week. One of the five to become available is Jack Trengove, who will make his captaincy debut on Saturday night. Trengove's co-captain Jack Grimes is still a week or two away with his shoulder injury.
4. It's hard to know where Melbourne stands in the competition pecking order this season. Some have them as top eight contenders, particularly after getting over Collingwood last week. Others think they'll be also-rans again. A win against highly fancied Hawthorn would convince a few critics.
Hawthorn
1. The Hawks will make the NAB Cup Grand Final if they win and either Adelaide or West Coast lose. But Alastair Clarkson says he's "none too fussed" about whether his team gets there or not. "The whole focus is about round one and preparing as well as we can," Clarkson said after last week's win over Greater Western Sydney.
2. Hawthorn has won its last 10 matches against Melbourne, counting two NAB Cup and eight home and away games dating back to round 8, 2006. A win on Saturday night will make it 11 straight.
3. Competition for spots in Hawthorn's early season line-up is fierce. All 22 of last year's beaten preliminary final team are fit, with players the calibre of Luke Breust, Cameron Bruce, Kyle Cheney, Xavier Ellis, Jack Gunston, Shane Savage and Clinton Young all desperate to break in. Add Stephen Gilham and Jarryd Roughead, who aren't too far away in their return from injury, and it's a good problem for Clarkson to have.
4. Recruit Jarrad Boumann might have also played himself into the selection mix. The mature-age key defender was impressive against the Giants, and looks the type of tall stopper the Hawks could use down back. The last two weeks of the NAB Cup will be crucial for the former Box Hill Hawk.
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/18551/Default.aspx#fixtureid=7891&tab=Preview
LAST TIME: Hawthorn 20.12 (132) d Melbourne 12.6 (78), round 18, 2011, at the MCG.
THE FOUR POINTS
Melbourne
1. The Demons might just have the best rookie list going around. Dan Nicholson and Michael Evans have already shown a bit at AFL level, and mature-age recruits James Magner and Thomas Couch have been super in the NAB Cup. Evans is out indefinitely with a back injury, and since Melbourne has three senior upgrade spots available, the others could all be in line for a round one call up.
2. Potting Jack Watts has become so popular it's being considered as a demonstration sport at the London Olympics. Mick Malthouse would be the gold medal favourite. He thinks young Jack should be sent to the backline. Could we see Watts versus Buddy?
3. Mercifully, the Demons' injury list has been slashed to eight, after it peaked at 13 last week. One of the five to become available is Jack Trengove, who will make his captaincy debut on Saturday night. Trengove's co-captain Jack Grimes is still a week or two away with his shoulder injury.
4. It's hard to know where Melbourne stands in the competition pecking order this season. Some have them as top eight contenders, particularly after getting over Collingwood last week. Others think they'll be also-rans again. A win against highly fancied Hawthorn would convince a few critics.
Hawthorn
1. The Hawks will make the NAB Cup Grand Final if they win and either Adelaide or West Coast lose. But Alastair Clarkson says he's "none too fussed" about whether his team gets there or not. "The whole focus is about round one and preparing as well as we can," Clarkson said after last week's win over Greater Western Sydney.
2. Hawthorn has won its last 10 matches against Melbourne, counting two NAB Cup and eight home and away games dating back to round 8, 2006. A win on Saturday night will make it 11 straight.
3. Competition for spots in Hawthorn's early season line-up is fierce. All 22 of last year's beaten preliminary final team are fit, with players the calibre of Luke Breust, Cameron Bruce, Kyle Cheney, Xavier Ellis, Jack Gunston, Shane Savage and Clinton Young all desperate to break in. Add Stephen Gilham and Jarryd Roughead, who aren't too far away in their return from injury, and it's a good problem for Clarkson to have.
4. Recruit Jarrad Boumann might have also played himself into the selection mix. The mature-age key defender was impressive against the Giants, and looks the type of tall stopper the Hawks could use down back. The last two weeks of the NAB Cup will be crucial for the former Box Hill Hawk.
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/18551/Default.aspx#fixtureid=7891&tab=Preview
