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The final hurdle before the big dance: Hawks v Crows

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In Melbourne at the moment you can feel it in the air; finals footy is upon us and there is something to be excited about other than the weather getting warmer. This weekend’s game in Melbourne sees Hawthorn hosting Adelaide in a twilight game at the MCG on Saturday. Yes, we could get sidetracked by the hoo-ha that the Hawks deserve the Friday night game but instead I’m going to keep this preview all about the match.

 

 

We have a big game of footy on our hands with the Hawks coming off a week’s break and the Crows gaining a preliminary final berth after a ten point win against an impressive Fremantle. Hawthorn’s last game, a convincing 38 point win against Collingwood in the qualifying final, shot them into clear finals favouritism and gave them the coveted week’s break. Adelaide, despite finishing second on the ladder at the end of the home and away season, lost at home to Sydney in the qualifying final and looked shaky early on against Fremantle in last week’s semi-final. With a great second half from forward Taylor Walker the Crows got past Fremantle and will throw everything they can at the Hawks in an effort to qualify for their first Grand Final since 1998.

 

While Adelaide has the ‘Tex’ factor, the Hawks can trump it with the ‘Buddy’ factor so it will be a question of which club’s key forward is going to fire. Ins and outs could also be a turning point with Hawks Jordan Lewis and Clinton Young set to return this week while a question mark remains over Adelaide’s Jared Petrenko who dislocated his shoulder last weekend. It’s going to be a hard fought four quarters with the Hawks eager to live up to their favourites tag and Adelaide keen to prove you can finish 14th one year and make the Grand Final the next.

 

For as many updates as possible from the MCG on Saturday before, during and after the 5.15pm match follow me, @PlayUp_Hawthorn, and join the conversation by downloading app.playup.com.

 

By Gen Simmons, @PlayUp_Hawthorn

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Swans v Adelaide Preview

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The Adelaide Crows come into the game as outright favourites, and rightly so as the Swans enter the finals losing three out of their last four games, with close losses to Collingwood and Hawthorn, and a touch-up from the Cats at Skilled Stadium in Round 23. This has forced the Swans to travel in Round 1 of the finals, which hasn’t been a problem for them in season 2012. The Swans have won 8 out of their 11 games on the road this year, including big wins against West Coast and Hawthorn.

The Swans have lost 12 out of their past 14 encounters with the Crows, including their first loss for the year in Round Six at the SCG, by just 5 points. Taylor Walker proved to be the difference and finished with six majors. If the Swans are any chance to win this week, shutting down Tex Walker is crucial, and Teddy Richards should get the task. Heath Grundy was unable to get off his one-week suspension and will miss the clash with the Crows, which seriously disrupts the structure of the Swans backline. In an ideal world, Teddy and Grundy would line-up on the big forwards in Walker and Tippett, but this weekend it will be up to the likes of Mattner and Smith to stand up and cover the hole left in Grundy’s absence.

The Swans were bolstered by the return of Jude Bolton last week, who will play his 21st finals game this weekend along with co-captain Adam Goodes. Sam Reid should also slot straight back into the side after missing last week’s game against the Cats. Reid is pivotal to the forward-line structure, and adds contested marking and height which frees up the likes of Goodes, Mcglynn and Roberts-Thomson. Daniel Talia could well line up on Reid, and the 2012 Rising Star will have his work cut out for him.

It’s no hidden secret that an integral part of both Sanderson and Longmire’s game plan is contested footy, and the game could well be decided by the winner of the contested possession count. Sam Jacobs should be the All-Australian ruckman after a very consistent season, although he is competing against an in-form ruck combination with Mumford and Pyke proving to be dangerous in both the ruck, and up forward. It then comes down to a battle between the midfielders. The Swans are led by All Australian squad members Kennedy and Jack, who have both had stellar seasons, although the Crows focal point has also been in the middle of the ground, with Thompson having another astounding season and Dangerfield playing the best footy of his career.

-        Blake Gray – Follow me on twitter @PlayUp_Swans

 

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Finals Fever: Hawks v Pies

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Well, well well… what a game we have on our hands on Friday night! Minor premiers Hawthorn will meet Collingwood in the first qualifying final of the 2012 finals series and both teams will be putting everything on the line.

 

While the Hawks have comfortably beat Collingwood in both of their encounters earlier this year, it must be said that finals footy is a different ball game. The Pies have a habit of being able to rise to the occasion and having played in the grand final the previous two years, their playing group have had a taste of what’s to come. However the Hawks will be keen to make amends for last year’s heart breaking three-point loss to the Pies in the preliminary final which subsequently knocked them out of the finals race.

 

 

Hawthorn’s form coming into the finals make them the favourite for this game, with two tough wins against finals fancies Sydney and West Coast. The Pies form coming into finals has not been as impressive, only one win against Essendon of their last three games of the season. Positives for both clubs are that their key forwards have hot their straps: Buddy Franklin had an inspired four goal first quarter last week against the Eagles, while Travis Cloke kicked five majors against the Bombers.

 

Team selection will be a critical factor in seeing who the Hawks bring into the side to replace the injured Brent Guerra; some of the names thrown round have been Xavier Ellis, Shane Savage and Kyle Cheney. Similarly at Collingwood, a question mark remains over Chris Dawes head after he was omitted last week but may be recalled to provide some experience in the Pies ruck division.

Whomever both clubs choose to play there are sure to be some fantastic match-ups and an extremely hard-fought game of footy. The winner of this final will receive a week’s break while the loser will face a semi-final against either West Coast or North Melbourne.

 

For all the action from the MCG, follow @PlayUp_Hawthorn from 7.50pm on Friday and join the conversation and give us your opinion by downloading app.playup.com.

 

By Gen Simmons (@PlayUp_Hawthorn)

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What Kind Of Day Has It Been?

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On Saturday afternoon, Gold Coast will visit AAMI stadium, attempting
their second big scalp in two weeks when they take on Adelaide. In
theory, it should be a walk for the Crows, who need a win to have any
chance of that top two finish and home final they desparately crave.
Of course, the same theory applied to Carlton last Saturday, and
Adelaide themselves two weeks ago when they capitulated to the Lions.
So, while it would take bravery to not back the Crows, stranger things
have happened.

The Suns, meanwhile, will have begun their review of 2012, and what
they can work on for next season. A lot of ink has already been spilt
praising those that rose in 2012 (Charlie Dixon, Harley Bennell,
Steven May) and questioning those that should have done better (Zac
Smith, Jared Brennan) but there hasn’t been much talk of the future of
coach Guy ‘Bluey’ McKenna

Up until round 15 this year, McKenna’s position was beginning to look
shakey. Being the coach of a startup isn’t about wins or ladder
position, but Blueys boys were dead last, with 14 straight losses,
including multiple losses of 90+ points, and a loss to this year’s
young cub the Giants. Perhaps even worse, they had yet to provide a
win to their long-suffering Metricon home crowd. Coming off three wins
last year, it looked like McKenna hadn’t figured out how to keep his
young guns improving.

Then, the club’s biggest publicity drawcard Karmichael Hunt slotted
one home after the siren to give the Suns their second win against
Richmond in Cairns in two years. Suddenly, there was a glimmer of
something, a twinkle in the eye that said the Suns 2012 story wasn’t
over. Back-to-back losses at Metricon to Brisbane and Sydney followed
by a schlacking from lowly Melbourne had them back on the line again.
McKenna’s constant refrain of “it’s not about winning, it’s about
experience” was starting to sound tired, even though it was absolutely
true.

Round 20 presented the Suns with a must-win: the Giants, at Metricon.
Surely the Suns had to get across the line this time for their home
fans, and avoid losing the double to the Giants in their first season.
It was the game that might well have decided McKenna’s coaching fate.
And as if they knew what was at stake, the Suns duly delivered,
notching up their biggest victory to date, and chose to sing the team
song out with the crowd, rewarding their patience.

And so, most thought, the Suns season would be over. Mixed results,
with less wins than last season, but with an injury list nearly long
enough to field a completely injured team, it would be on to 2013 to
see if the Suns could finally figure out their strongest 22. But the
Suns still had a role to play in the 2012 finals race, as Carlton came
to bolster their percentage, and walked away with a loss that puts
paid to their season, and Brett Ratten’s coaching career at the Blues.

Eight weeks ago they were staring down the wooden spoon and a worse
result than their startup year, but in the last third of the season
McKenna’s troops have shown some glimpses of what they’ll be capable
of down the line. No longer are pundits talking about whether or not
it was a mistake to have a club on the Gold Coast at all. Instead, all
the talk is on how long it will take for the Suns to become finals
contenders (reports vary, although anyone pushing for next season is
optimistic).

It will be an interesting break for the club – some of their younger
players will no doubt have caught the eye of opposing coaches, and it
will be up to the Suns (and their players) to decide if they stick
with the youngsters theyve blooded, or take advantage of trades to
bring in some more experienced players. One thing seems certain – Guy
McKenna’s position at the helm is as secure as it can be. He’s got
them this far – let’s see what he can do next.

Join me on Saturday afternoon to chat about Crows V Suns on PlayUp.

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Plenty to play for: Hawks v West Coast

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Friday night at the MCG is going to be a big one. The top-of-the-table Hawks will take on the West Coast Eagles who are coming off a great win against Collingwood last week in Perth. Both teams have plenty to play for with top four finals spots and the illusive double-chance up for grabs. On last week’s form, both teams will be going into the clash with confidence after the Hawks 7 point win over Sydney at the SCG and the Eagles 49 point demolition of the Pies.

The Hawks could be bolstered by the return of Cyril Rioli who has been nursing a shoulder injury the past two weeks. The Hawks may also look at calling up beleaguered ruckman Max Bailey to add some height to match up on Eagles big men Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui. This match will be the second time the Hawks and Eagles have met in 2012, with West Coast the victors winning by 5 points in a low-scoring tussle. The results of this Friday’s game will dictate much of the top four; if Hawthorn win they will almost certainly claim the minor premiership and a home final, whereas West Coast need to win to secure the double-chance and remain in the top four.

 

It should be a great match to kick off the final home and away round of the 2012 season. Join me, @PlayUp_Hawthorn, and @PlayUp_WCEagles for match updates from 7.50pm on Friday and join the conversation by downloading app.playup.com!

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The biggest test of all; West Coast vs Hawthorn

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West Coast gave Collingwood a midfield lesson last week with Kerr, Priddis and Shuey having a field day with the ball hand delivered practically with a bow around it from ruck duo Cox and Naitanui. It was a timely reminder of just how strong West Coast can be at the Paterson’s fortress when they are in form. 4 weeks ago, sitting outside the 8 it seemed that West Coast had been written off but the solid win against genuine competition has provided a glimmer of hope.

It is perhaps fitting that the biggest test of the season is in this final round; against arguably the best team in the competition and at a ground that needs to be conquered if the term ‘finals contenders’ is to be believed. A win could snare a top 4 position with the coveted double chance whilst a loss would place us outside the 4 with the potential of a home-ground advantage negating elimination final against ‘that other’ WA team (Fremantle).

Key forward Josh Kennedy returned to the side last week for the first time since round 5 and whilst he looked a bit shaky, he improved as the game went on. Jack Darling would be relieved at Kennedy’s return, the 19 year old in his second year of footy has been brilliant but as the long season lags on, the poor kid just needs a hand up forward. The return of Embley has lifted the midfield and a fit Beau Waters has strengthened the backline along with the brick wall that is the Eagles fearless leader, Darren Glass.

Glass in the backline needs to stop a Buddy goal-kicking bonanza. Kennedy or Darling need to stand up in the forward line and kick goals and Cox needs to just keep doing what he’s been doing all year. It’s clear from the Eagles losses that when the midfield play well, West Coast win. Kerr, Priddis and Shuey need to be on top of their game at clearances if they have any chance of coming close to the ladder leaders. And as far as I’m concerned, Nic Naitanui can pretty much do whatever he likes. While he can be sometimes be hit and miss, when he pulls off that spectacular moment, who even remembers the misses?

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Swans v Geelong Preview

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The Swans were gallant in defeat last week against the premiership favourites in Hawthorn, although they will have to put a four-quarter effort in this week if they are any chance to knock of the cats at Simmonds Stadium. After getting out to an early lead, the Swans allowed Hawthorn to come back into the game too easily, and their big name players like Franklin and Lewis started getting on top of their opponents late in the second quarter. The second half was goal-for-goal, and after a controversial last quarter, the Swans were unable to claim the four points, and have finally been knocked off top spot.

The Swans success in 2012 was unexpected, although looking at the statistics it’s easy to tell why. The Swans have the lowest score against in the league, and unlike the premiership side of ’05, they are also kicking big scores, averaging over 105 points per game. The Swans ruthless attack on the footy has been a key part of John Longmire’s game plan as they lead the league in tackles per game and contested possessions. This focus on contested footy is led by Josh Kennedy, who leads the league in contested possessions and is a real chance for the Brownlow Medal. He isn’t alone though, with Keiren Jack, Ryan O’Keefe, Jarrad McVeigh, Lewis Jetta and Jude Bolton (before getting injured) all having stellar seasons in the midfield.

Coming into round 23 the Swans must be confident they have a chance to knock off the reigning premiers, after being the first team to win at Simmonds Stadium in four years in round 23 last year, ending the Cats 29-game winning streak at home. The Swans currently sit second, equal points with Hawthorn on top, and are still a chance to take home the minor premiership. The Swans have now lost two out of their last 3, with close finishes against quality opposition in Collingwood and Hawthorn. Another loss this week could put doubts in the minds of the players, and having some momentum coming into the finals can do wonders for a team’s confidence. A win this week would secure a home qualifying final, and could set the Swans up nicely for a successful finals campaign.

If the Swans are a chance, they are going to have to do a good job of keeping Tom Hawkins quiet, and I’d imagine Ted Richards would get the job after having an outstanding season down back, which should see him in the All-Australian Team. Hawkins has been in good form recently, and proved to be the difference in several games this season, particularly against Hawthorn in round 19 with his 55m kick after the siren. Another key to this game is exploiting their limited ruck stocks. The ruck/forward combination of Pyke and Mumford has been working well in recent weeks as they cause problems for defenders with height and contested marking ability, and have been impacting the scoreboard. Another key match-up for the Swans will be managing Steve Johnson. Nick Smith will probably get the job although ‘Stevey J’ is a talented player, and will be hard to stop. Limiting his impact on the game will give the Swans a good chance to win, and secure that home qualifying final.

Blake Gray

Blake Gray is a first year Bachelor of Journalism (Sport) student at La Trobe University.

Follow him on Twitter @Playup_Swans and join the conversation at PlayUp this Saturday from 1.30pm.

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Battle for the minor premiership: Swans v Hawks

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This weekend’s most tantalising clash sees the top of the ladder Swans take on the second placed Hawks. Sydney sit a game clear of Hawthorn, Adelaide and Collingwood but with the Hawks impressive percentage they stand to move to top of the table if they can win. The match will take place at 4.40pm on Saturday at the SCG and Sydney will go into the match as favourites after a big win over the Bulldogs. The Hawks lacklustre effort against the Gold Coast will certainly need to be improved upon if they wish to topple Sydney on their turf.

 

 

The Hawks have the luxury of being able to recall some big name players for this weekend’s match. Buddy Franklin should make his return after being sidelined for 5 weeks with a hamstring injury and a late withdrawal last week with illness. The Hawks are also on track to include Sam Mitchell and Josh Gibson in their line-up. The Swans may look at bringing back Jude Bolton who hyper-extended his knee in round 19 although it’s more likely that he’ll return in round 23 when the Swans take on the Cats.

 

This Saturday’s twilight clash is set to be a fantastic battle between two great sides; it could even be a Grand Final preview! Make sure you follow me, @PlayUp_Hawthorn, and @PlayUp_Swans for match updates this Saturday from 4.40pm and join the conversation by downloading app.playup.com.

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Saturday at the Dome: Demons vs. North

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At Etihad this saturday we will see an old rivalry being played out again. In Melbourne vs. North Melbourne, there’s been some great matches here with a lot on the line. While this may not be as great as some of the matches that these two teams have had in the past, both teams are still playing for a lot. North currently sitting in the eight, a big win over the dees would almost cement their spot in September. While Melbourne, are still chasing that 3rd win for the season, hoping to maybe make up for the lack of wins up until now, and try to get closer to a partial pass mark for the season.

Being at Etihad, this game gives North an immediate advantage, with Melbourne not winning there (in the regular season) since 2007, and most recently getting knocked off by Fremantle there; a side that does not play well in Melbourne in recent history. Both teams have come out of hard fought matches in the previous week. With Melbourne having to travel to Darwin and brave the humidity in a close game (for all but the final term), this game has to have been taxing, and the travel will sure not help any fatigue setting into the young legs this late in the season. North are coming out of a top game against Richmond, almost a battle for the eight, with a close game that really was anyones until the siren went. We could see this game being simply about who can run out four quarters better.

North are going in heavy favorites over the Dees, and with good reason, Melbourne’s form of late, while being better, is definitely not one to run with the top sides. While North have seen some great form since their loss to Hawthorn and are looking on a roll to September, it is difficult to see many teams derailing them right now.

Drew Petrie in great form will be someone who needs to be watched closely, we can assume ‘Chip’ Frawley will match up on him. If Frawley wants to shut Petrie down, he’s going to need to find some of that All-Australian form. Frawley hasn’t had a stand-out year this year, maybe due to him having to take Rivers spot as a backline general in a lot of games, and the pure amount of inside 50s that are going against him, but if Frawley can hit some form he can really will be able to shut Petrie down.
Can Chip shut down Petrie this week? Or will Petrie break away with another bag?

Melbourne may have some big ins this week, and this could give us the run we need. Watts, Sellar, and Mckenzie would be big inclusions. Providing us with another tall option out of the backline in Sellar, a good amount of run out of the backline in Watts, and a tagger, who in my opinion, is going to be one of the best in the league in Mckenzie. These ins could be the boost we need. Throw Howe, Garland and Riv into the forward line, with the returned Jetta and Petterd and we start having a decent looking forward line, with a bit of speed and size involved.

Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/PlayUp_Demons or download the PlayUp app (app.playup.com) and join the Dees Talk room for great updates, convo and discussion on the game. And if you can try and get to the game and cheer on the boys at 2:10pm Saturday.

Go Dees!

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“It is Saturday Afternoon football as North Melbourne takes on Melbourne”

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North Melbourne were impressive in their 4 point win over the Tigers while Melbourne who were competitive yet disappointing against Port Adelaide. Melbourne has never beaten the Kangaroos since Round 20, 2006 and the Kangaroos has won 9 games since. North Melbourne are in hot form at the moment they have won 6/7 games since that loss in Tassie 2 months ago. It will be a great challenge for Melbourne as they try to overcome their Eithad Stadium and nullify Drew Petrie who is in red hot form, having kicked 14 goals in the last two weeks. The last time these two sides met was back in Round 8, 2011 and the Kangaroos were victorious by 41 points despite trailing by 30 points in the first quarter. North Melbourne will looking forward to make it three on the trot as they continue to make a charge for the finals, while Melbourne cannot wait for the season to end as they continue to put more game time in their younger players and looking to stay competitive against the Roos!

Join me on the PlayUp app on Saturday at 2.10pm to discuss the game and follow me on Twitter @PlayUp_NM

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