Hawthorn vs Collingwood: AFL live scores, blog
Columnist By Michael DiFabrizio, 30 Mar 2012 Michael DiFabrizio is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- 2012 AFL season, AFL, Buddy Franklin, Collingwood Magpies, Dane Swan, Hawthorn Hawks, live blog, Luke Hodge, Nathan Buckley
11,145 reads
Hawthorn after losing the 2011 preliminary final to Collingwood (Slattery)
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Two premiership favourites go head to head tonight in a tantalising preliminary final replay between Hawthorn and Collingwood. We’ll have live scores and updates from 7.30pm AEDT.
The last time these teams met, Hawthorn’s 2011 campaign came to a heartbreaking end in a classic final.
Collingwood came from 17 points behind at three quarter time to steal victory by three points and book a date with Geelong in the Grand Final.
Now, they meet again.
The Hawks are favourites this time around, thanks in part to the Pies carrying a slightly different look about them. Nathan Buckley is in charge and there have been some notable personnel changes.
But both teams remain highly rated, and the Hawks went 0-5 against the Pies and Cats last year has been a talking point.
Stopping Travis Cloke will be one of the keys for Hawthorn going into this game. Cloke and Chris Dawes combined for six goals in that preliminary final last year, and it will be up to Josh Gibson and Ryan Schoenmakers to contain them again.
The big news in the midfield was Hawk Luke Hodge’s non-selection, out with injury. This is where the balance may swing back to the Pies.
Dane Swan had a quiet preseason, but you suspect it’ll take him about five minutes to silence any doubts over that. With Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas and an in-form Luke Ball, the Pies should win plenty of the footy.
In the ruck, all eyes will be on ex-Brisbane player Broc McCauley, who comes in to replace the injured Max Bailey. Last year he was the No. 4 ruck at the Lions. Now he’s the No. 1 ruck at the premiership favourites. Is this a recipe for disaster?
Lance Franklin has kicked four bags of five goals or more in the nine times he has played Collingwood. With no Chris Tarrant or Nathan Brown, he’s a chance to add another game to that list.
The favouritism may have slowly turned against the Pies over the summer, but to be fair to them, both sides have significant absentees. Stephen Gilham is yet to return to bolster the key defender stocks, Bailey is out and, of course, Hodge is out.
This is looking like a far more even battle than some are predicting.
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Michael DiFabrizio is completing his journalism degree. As an AFL writer, he has been an expert columnist at The Roar since 2009, and appeared in The Age and on ABC television and radio. Follow Michael on twitter @mdifabrizio
The Crowd Says (97) | Page 1 of Comments
The Roar Live Blog: Latest comments displayed at the top of the page | Click here to jump to leave a comment
1:12am
The Cattery said | 1:12am | Report comment
I’m surprised that only 78,464 made it to the game last night, only 200 more than the previous night, you would have thought it would have pushed 85,000 with ease.
The AFL falls short of reaching 200,000 from the first 3 games of the season.
1:18am
Nathan of Perth said | 1:18am | Report comment
Shame, surprised to see such little difference between a thursday and a friday night crowd.
1:18am
Nathan of Perth said | 1:18am | Report comment
Of course, MCC and AFL members reserve may have been at fault.
10:36pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:36pm | Report comment
FULL TIME
Hawthorn 20.17 (137)
Collingwood 16.19 (115)
Well, well, well. What a game. Not really going out on a limb in calling it game of the season (at this stage anyway) but it was a great contest. Fast-paced, frantic, plenty of goals, a ridiculous amount of highlights and, up until very late in the piece, even. For Collingwood, they’ll be wondering what might’ve been had they taken their chances early. I’ve already said this, but Hawthorn made the tough goals look easy, while Collingwood made the easy goals look tough. Pendlebury was comfortably their best. For Hawthorn, it’s their first win over the Pies since Round 22, 2010. They stood up to one of their key rivals and they’ll take plenty of confidence from that. Franklin’s 5 will be talked about, but Rioli stepped up at a really crucial time. Mitchell saw plenty of the pill all night, while Whitecross’s 22 touches and two goals was noteworthy.
MAJOR BALL WINNERS: Hawthorn: Mitchell 31, Birchall 28, Sewell 26, Suckling 25
Collingwood: Pendlebury 33, Swan 31, Sidebottom 23, Ball 21
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Smith 2, Rioli 2, Lewis 2, Whitecross 2, Osborne, Gunston, McCauley, Burgoyne, Birchall, Savage
Collingwood: Blair 3, Pendlebury 2, Cloke 2, Fasolo 2, Jolly 2, Thomas 2, Swan, Shaw, Paine
DREAM TEAM LEADERS: Pendlebury (Coll) 132, Franklin (Haw) 130, Mitchell (Haw) 127, Birchall (Haw) 118
10:32pm
Sibbo said | 10:32pm | Report comment
Top updates tonight, only way of keeping up with it in London!
Hawks!
10:38pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:38pm | Report comment
Thanks Sibbo, enjoy the win.
10:29pm
The Cattery said | 10:29pm | Report comment
good call tonight Michael – let’s a hope a few of the other games come close to this one in quality
10:39pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:39pm | Report comment
Thanks Cattery, was a top game – and to think, next week we could have more of the same considering there’s a Geelong-Hawthorn clash!
10:28pm
The Cattery said | 10:28pm | Report comment
that’s it, hawks have the break now late in the game, pies just couldn’t go with them those last few minutes, but congratulations to both teams for a great game of footy tonight, first round, players out on both sides, and they really served it up
10:27pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:27pm | Report comment
Well if Buddy’s goal wasn’t, THAT was a sealer. Osborne, who’s been lively in this final quarter, gets one.
Hawthorn 20.16 (136)
Collingwood 15.17 (107)
Roughly 4min left, 4th quarter
10:24pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:24pm | Report comment
Buddy Franklin running towards the goal square, gets on the end of it and goals. That’s probably the sealer. (Channel Seven’s countdown clock is having issues, coming and going, so we can only guess how long’s left.)
Hawthorn 19.16 (130)
Collingwood 15.17 (107)
6min left, 4th quarter
10:23pm
The Cattery said | 10:23pm | Report comment
What??!! You gotta be kidding me – big men aren’t allowed to kick goals like that!
Handy break for the Hawks, plenty of time, but there are a lot of tired legs out there.
10:22pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:22pm | Report comment
Jack Gunston with the crucial goal! The Adelaide recruit takes a free from the boundary 45m out.
Hawthorn 18.16 (124)
Collingwood 15.16 (106)
7min left, 4th quarter
10:21pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:21pm | Report comment
Three consecutive behinds for Hawthorn. Could be important points.
Hawthorn 17.16 (118)
Collingwood 15.16 (106)
Roughly 7min left, 4th quarter
10:16pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:16pm | Report comment
Buddy smothers, Osborne picks it up, dishes it to Smith and … two in a row for the Hawks. All of the sudden they’re up by 9.
Hawthorn 17.13 (115)
Collingwood 15.16 (106)
10min left, 4th quarter
10:15pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:15pm | Report comment
Shane Savage with a long bomb, this time the Hawks get a goal. What a game!
Hawthorn 16.13 (109)
Collingwood 15.16 (106)
11min left, 4th quarter
10:14pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:14pm | Report comment
Again Franklin has missed, from a similar distance too. Sewell was on the wing and looked for Osborne, who was pushed out of it by Heath Shaw. Umpire paid the free and Osborne opted for a short kick to Buddy.
Hawthorn 15.13 (103)
Collingwood 15.16 (106)
11min left, 4th quarter
10:12pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:12pm | Report comment
Hawks look for the quick response and find Buddy 50m out. Can’t convert though. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a four-point game.
Hawthorn 15.12 (102)
Collingwood 15.16 (106)
13min left, 4th quarter
10:11pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:11pm | Report comment
Dale Thomas!! Been a quiet night for him but was in the right space at the right time then. Cloke followed up while running across the goal face to set him up.
Hawthorn 15.11 (101)
Collingwood 15.16 (106)
13min left, 4th quarter
10:09pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:09pm | Report comment
Blair gets on the end of the ball in the goal square. Collingwood have been going long but Hawthorn until now have had the numbers, however the Pies’ persistence just paid off.
Hawthorn 15.11 (101)
Collingwood 14.16 (100)
14min left, 4th quarter
10:09pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:09pm | Report comment
Oh, and it’s a one-point game!
10:11pm
The Cattery said | 10:11pm | Report comment
Amazing stuff, pies finally get three straight, both sides have just not let up the whole game
10:07pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:07pm | Report comment
Darren Jolly gets his second with a thumping kick.
Hawthorn 15.11 (101)
Collingwood 13.16 (94)
14min left, 4th quarter
10:09pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 10:09pm | Report comment
Can we just call the season done and have this as the Grannie
10:02pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 10:02pm | Report comment
Buddy Franklin. In the forward pocket at the MCG. Not sure I need to say much more than that, but he sold some nice candy, ran into space and drilled it!
Hawthorn 15.10 (100)
Collingwood 12.16 (86)
18min left, 4th quarter
10:04pm
The Cattery said | 10:04pm | Report comment
Hawthorn have kicked half a dozen goal of the year candidates in the first three quarters of footy for the season! Pies can’t combat that sort of goalkicking!!
9:58pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:58pm | Report comment
THREE QUARTER TIME
For a while in that quarter, you couldn’t help but be amazed by the football being produced. The goals Hawthorn were kicking early on were just freakish. The class of Rioli, Franklin and Burgoyne threatened to tear the game apart. But it was the class of Pendlebury that wrestled things back in Collingwood’s favour. Initially, his efforts went unrewarded by the team’s forwards. Two Pendlebury balls to Sidebottom ended up as behinds, the side’s inaccuracy again being an issue. But the Pies kept coming, bringing the margin to just a goal by the final break and setting up a huge last quarter.
MAJOR BALL WINNERS: Hawthorn: Mitchell 25, Birchall 18, Sewell 17, Whitecross 16
Collingwood: Pendlebury 27, Swan 23, Sidebottom 19, Ball 18
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Rioli 2, Whitecross 2, McCauley, Burgoyne, Smith, Lewis, Birchall, Savage
Collingwood: Pendlebury 2, Cloke 2, Fasolo 2, Blair 2, Jolly, Swan, Shaw, Paine
DREAM TEAM LEADERS: Mitchell (Haw) 109, Pendlebury (Coll) 100, Ball (Coll) 89, Blair (Coll) 82
9:59pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:59pm | Report comment
“How good are you Hawthorn? We’re about to find out” – Garry Lyon on Triple M
12:55am
Nathan of Perth said | 12:55am | Report comment
Turns out it was pretty good.
9:51pm
The Cattery said | 9:51pm | Report comment
this time Pendles misses, hard to be critical, he has been fantastic tonight, but pies have virtually kicked themselves out of it, but some of the one one one contests tonight, and the quick movement of the ball – I’m exhausted watching!
9:50pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:50pm | Report comment
Blair goals to bring the Pies closer going into the final break.
Hawthorn 14.9 (93)
Collingwood 12.16 (88)
1min left, 3rd quarter
9:49pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:49pm | Report comment
Penlebury having an absolute belter of a game, but can’t kick his third from 40m out.
Hawthorn 14.9 (93)
Collingwood 11.16 (82)
1min left, 3rd quarter
9:45pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:45pm | Report comment
And up the other end of the ground, Buddy runs on to it a couple of metres out. Both subs have been activated.
Hawthorn 14.8 (92)
Collingwood 11.15 (81)
5min left, 3rd quarter
9:49pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 9:49pm | Report comment
These teams want to play deep in September, and it shows.
Richmond should make this match compulsory viewing.
9:44pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:44pm | Report comment
Sidebottom does an Alex Terra impersonation (or he tried to anyway, it ended up left of the post).
9:43pm
The Cattery said | 9:43pm | Report comment
Pendles again, pies right back in it, quality of the game has remained right up there
9:42pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:42pm | Report comment
Cloke goes bang from 55m, marked in the goal square but a free kick is awarded instead. It’s Pendlebury who gets it, and he gets a just reward for his efforts in keeping the Pies in this game earlier on in this quarter.
Hawthorn 13.8 (86)
Collingwood 11.14 (80)
7min left, 3rd quarter
9:40pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:40pm | Report comment
Jackson Paine! An unlikely source, but the Pies get a much-needed goal after another missed set shot from Sidebottom. Paine’s a happy boy. Two goals in it.
Hawthorn 13.8 (86)
Collingwood 10.14 (74)
8min left, 3rd quarter
9:40pm
The Cattery said | 9:40pm | Report comment
Much needed goal for pies, but doing their level best to kick themselves out of it, Pendles keeping it altogether for them at the moment
9:36pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:36pm | Report comment
Nice work from Pendlebury and Cloke to set up Sidebottom and Rounds in two separate plays. On both occasions they weren’t quite able to finish. End to end stuff right now.
Hawthorn 13.8 (86)
Collingwood 9.13 (67)
11min left, 3rd quarter
9:32pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:32pm | Report comment
Cloke takes a leaf out of the Tom Hawkins book and soccers one in close to goal. Needed that, the Pies.
Hawthorn 13.6 (84)
Collingwood 9.11 (65)
14min left, 3rd quarter
9:30pm
The Cattery said | 9:30pm | Report comment
Hawthorn kicking goals from anywhere and everywhere now
9:30pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:30pm | Report comment
Whitecross joins the party, kicking across his body from deep. Just tweeted: Hawthorn making the tough goals look easy. Collingwood making the easy goals look tough. Even more apt now.
Hawthorn 13.6 (84)
Collingwood 8.11 (59)
15min left, 3rd quarter
9:31pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 9:31pm | Report comment
Hawthorn are making a statement
9:27pm
The Cattery said | 9:27pm | Report comment
Two unbelievable goals from Hawks – enough to break the spirit of any side.
9:27pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:27pm | Report comment
Hawthorn trying to see which teammate can kick the most impressive goal, Burgoyne off one step from 65m in traffic. Wowee.
Hawthorn 12.6 (78)
Collingwood 8.10 (58)
17min left, 3rd quarter
9:28pm
The Cattery said | 9:28pm | Report comment
I couldn’t believe it when I saw it in real time – and I still I can’t believe it!! Surely they got the markings wrong on the MCG or something??!!
9:25pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:25pm | Report comment
Lewis with a fantastic set shot from the outside of the boot. Tough angle but he pulled it off.
Hawthorn 11.6 (72)
Collingwood 8.10 (58)
18min left, 3rd quarter
9:23pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:23pm | Report comment
Snap from Pendlebury gets Collingwood off to the perfect start.
Hawthorn 10.6 (66)
Collingwood 8.9 (57)
19min left, 3rd quarter
9:22pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:22pm | Report comment
Second half underway.
9:19pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:19pm | Report comment
Kicking efficiency inside 50 (from Triple M) – Collingwood 38% Hawthorn 58%
9:07pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:07pm | Report comment
HALF TIME
Hawthorn 10.6 (66)
Collingwood 7.9 (51)
Just as Collingwood were starting to find their edge in front of goal, momentum swung and Hawthorn started coming. It turned into an absolute goal-fest as the quarter progressed but it was the Hawks doing the most damage. Cyril Rioli has been dominating Harry O’Brien, and has been involved in several important plays including a mark of the year contender. One stat that stands out is Hawthorn leading the tackle count 43-29, and that’s even with a strong lead in the possession count. Mitchell leads the way with 7 tackles. The Pies are winning the ruck battle, however, 20-14, and Jolly has had 18 hitouts to McCauley’s 8.
MAJOR BALL WINNERS: Hawthorn: Mitchell 17, Sewell, Birchall 13
Collingwood: Pendlebury 15, Swan 14, Ball 13
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 2, Rioli 2, McCauley, Whitecross, Smith, Lewis, Birchall, Savage
Collingwood: Fasolo 2, Jolly, Swan, Cloke, Blair, Shaw
DREAM TEAM LEADERS: Mitchell (Haw) 81, Rioli (Haw) 63, Ball (Coll) 63, Birchall (Haw) 62
9:16pm
The Cattery said | 9:16pm | Report comment
I’m surprised Pendles isn’t in there, he’s won some quality ball tonight.
9:16pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 9:16pm | Report comment
I’d have Pendles as the Pies’ best and Cyril as the Hawks’.
9:01pm
The Cattery said | 9:01pm | Report comment
Some great passages of play last few minutes.
8:59pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:59pm | Report comment
Rioli crumbs well, handpass to Lewis, goal from 40m.
Hawthorn 10.6 (66)
Collingwood 7.9 (51)
45sec left, 2nd quarter
8:58pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:58pm | Report comment
Suckling bombs it from 60m and Buddy marks it on the line, with the play sent for video review. Ruled that it was marked over the line for a behind.
Hawthorn 9.6 (60)
Collingwood 7.9 (51)
1min left, 2nd quarter
8:56pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:56pm | Report comment
Isaac Smith kicks the game’s sixth goal in probably four minutes.
Hawthorn 9.5 (59)
Collingwood 7.9 (51)
2min left, 2nd quarter
8:54pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:54pm | Report comment
Oh boy. Buddy hits the scoreboard. How many goals in the last 3-4 minutes??? 12 lead changes already.
Hawthorn 8.5 (53)
Collingwood 7.9 (51)
3min left, 2nd quarter
8:53pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:53pm | Report comment
Fasolo marks this time and gets his second in a row! Goals coming left right and centre. I’m struggling to keep up with them all…
Hawthorn 7.5 (47)
Collingwood 7.9 (51)
4min left, 2nd quarter
8:51pm
The Cattery said | 8:51pm | Report comment
Pies leading contested possessions 76 to 60, if they can straighten up, they’ll win.
8:50pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:50pm | Report comment
And Fasolo provides the Pies with a rapid response, margin back to 2!
Hawthorn 7.5 (47)
Collingwood 6.9 (56)
5min left, 2nd quarter
8:50pm
The Cattery said | 8:50pm | Report comment
We’re definitely seeing two top 3 teams here tonight, fast tempo to the game.
8:49pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:49pm | Report comment
Now McCauley gets on the board. Hawks up by 8!
Hawthorn 7.5 (47)
Collingwood 5.9 (39)
5min left, 2nd quarter
8:48pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:48pm | Report comment
Some more Rioli magic, cutting through traffic quite nicely.
Hawthorn 6.5 (41)
Collingwood 5.9 (39)
6min left, 2nd quarter
8:46pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:46pm | Report comment
Dawes playing as a back-up ruck tonight, interesting to see how that goes. Could very well be a permanent thing given Leigh Brown’s exit.
8:44pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:44pm | Report comment
Jolly marks the ball BETWEEN HIS LEGS! Gets away with it and makes Pie fans happy by drilling it.
Hawthorn 5.5 (35)
Collingwood 5.9 (39)
8min left, 2nd quarter
8:40pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:40pm | Report comment
Now Buddy’s on the board, momentum has swung back to the Hawks. Got himself ahead of Reid and earned the free.
Hawthorn 5.3 (33)
Collingwood 4.9 (33)
10min left, 2nd quarter
8:39pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:39pm | Report comment
Gee, Rioli’s coming alive this quarter. Just had a nice run-down tackle and was unlucky not to win the free. Mitchell misses.
Hawthorn 4.3 (27)
Collingwood 4.9 (33)
12min left, 2nd quarter
8:37pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:37pm | Report comment
Cyril reads the ball well to get on the end of the footy close to goal, ran in and converted.
Hawthorn 4.2 (26)
Collingwood 4.9 (33)
12min left, 2nd quarter
8:33pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:33pm | Report comment
Cloke pushes off Schoenmakers to take a grab 20m out. Sends it home.
Hawthorn 3.2 (20)
Collingwood 4.7 (31)
15min left, 2nd quarter
8:32pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:32pm | Report comment
Sinclair runs inside 50 and goes for goal, only to hit the behind post. Not good.
8:30pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:30pm | Report comment
Daisy Thomas does the lookaway handpass to Swan, who runs to the 50m arc and slots it!
Hawthorn 3.2 (20)
Collingwood 3.7 (25)
17min left, 2nd quarter
8:28pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:28pm | Report comment
Aaand Whitecross converts the eventual set shot from 35m out. Hawks even things up!
Hawthorn 3.1 (19)
Collingwood 2.7 (19)
18min left, 2nd quarter
8:27pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:27pm | Report comment
Cyril Rioli takes a very impressive mark over Heath Shaw. Very good grab. Luke Hodge applauding in the coaches box!
8:22pm
The Cattery said | 8:22pm | Report comment
Pies could just about have put them away by now, missed plenty of gettable shots at goal.
8:21pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:21pm | Report comment
QUARTER TIME
Hawthorn 2.1 (13)
Collingwood 2.7 (19)
Tight contest early on, plenty of pressure. Goal kicking was the issue as far as Collingwood were concerned. Took a defender pushing forward in Shaw to finally get a major. Fasolo on the siren continued the trend by kicking the side’s seventh behind.
MAJOR BALL WINNERS: Hawthorn: Mitchell 8, Suckling, Birchall 7
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Ball, Swan, Sidebottom, Shaw 7
GOALS: Hawthorn: Birchall, Savage
Collingwood: Blair, Shaw
DREAM TEAM LEADERS: Mitchell (Haw) 41, Ball (Coll) 36
8:18pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:18pm | Report comment
Blair gets one for the Pies.
Hawthorn 2.1 (13)
Collingwood 2.6 (18)
45sec left, 1st quarter
8:16pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:16pm | Report comment
Savage grabs it close to goal for the Hawks, outmarking Sidebottom. Slight angle, but he gets it easily.
Hawthorn 2.1 (13)
Collingwood 1.6 (12)
1min left, 1st quarter
8:11pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:11pm | Report comment
Heath Shaw settles the nerves of the Pie forward line by converting from the pocket.
Hawthorn 1.1 (7)
Collingwood 1.5 (11)
4min left, 1st quarter
8:10pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:10pm | Report comment
Free kick to Dawes, against Boumann. Directly in front and MISSES!
Hawthorn 1.1 (7)
Collingwood 0.5 (5)
5min left, 1st quarter
8:07pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:07pm | Report comment
Cloke outmuscles Stratton to earn a set shot closer to goal, but this one goes to the left. Interesting…
Hawthorn 1.1 (7)
Collingwood 0.4 (4)
6min left, 1st quarter
8:06pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:06pm | Report comment
Big moment with Cyril Rioli pressuring Harry O into a trip and then holding the ball. Play ends in a Hawks behind.
Hawthorn 1.1 (7)
Collingwood 0.3 (3)
8min left, 1st quarter
8:03pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:03pm | Report comment
Marty Clarke sends a beautiful kick in Cloke’s direction, giving him a shot 50m out. Puts too much on it and it goes out on the full to the right.
8:00pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 8:00pm | Report comment
Cloke finds Jolly in the forward pocket, who misses to the right.
Hawthorn 1.0 (6)
Collingwood 0.2 (2)
12min left, 1st quarter
7:58pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:58pm | Report comment
Grant Birchall with the first goal of the game. Just threw it on the boot from 50-55m out, monster kick!
Hawthorn 1.0 6
Collingwood 0.1 1
14min left, 1st quarter
7:57pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:57pm | Report comment
Pies again withstand a promising foray forward, Keeffe doing well on Buddy when one on one.
7:56pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:56pm | Report comment
Cyril’s had a couple of touches on the 50m arc in quick succession, unable to convert either chance into a score.
7:55pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:55pm | Report comment
Dawes with the first score of the game, spraying his set shot.
Hawthorn 0.0 0
Collingwood 0.1 1
16min left, 1st quarter
7:52pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:52pm | Report comment
First bounce hits the deck. Jolly wins the tap, with Swan eventually clearing it only for a free kick to go to the Hawks.
7:49pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:49pm | Report comment
National anthem done, coin toss done. Pendlebury wins it and Pies will kick to the right of your internet browser.
Game minutes away.
7:40pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:40pm | Report comment
Paul Seedsman the sub for Collingwood, Jack Gunston for Adelaide.
7:37pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | 7:37pm | Report comment
The last-minute preview
Here we go, what a great match-up we have on our hands tonight, and so early in the season too! MCG should be rocking with 85k+ fans and the action on the field is plenty intriguing.
Eyebrows have been raised over Collingwood playing guys like Paine, Yagmoor, Seedsman, Keeffe, Rounds and Clarke (who’s been out of the game two years). Unfamiliar territory, sure, but Hawthorn will be playing Boumann and McCauley, and are missing Hodge, Shiels, Roughead, Bailey and Gilham. (So that’s their on-field leader, another of their best midfielders, an important part of their forward line, their No. 1 ruckman and a player that makes containing Cloke and Dawes that little bit easier.)
It’s Nathan Buckley’s first game in the home and away season, but in the coaching sense I feel there’s more we can glean from the way the Hawks are coached today (bare with me for a sec). Al Clarkson’s game plan is built around short, crisp kicking. It worked against every team bar two last year, and those two teams played off in the Grand Final. If it doesn’t stand up against a weakened Collingwood, questions will need to be asked.
The Hawks were 0-5 against the Pies and Cats last year. They are 1-8 over the past two years. They are 2-10 over the past three. If we are to take them seriously, they’ll need to change this.
Hawks $1.61 and Pies $2.40 at my usual betting establishment. Unfortunately the line is only 7.5, because the Pies with a bit more of a buffer might’ve been a bit tempting.
Nonetheless, Collingwood might need a little time to ease in their new talent, so I’ll tip a narrow Hawks win.
Hawthorn by a goal.
7:41pm
The Cattery said | 7:41pm | Report comment
Amazing win/loss record between Hawks and last year’s grand finalists, but definitely favourites for today
4:32pm
The Cattery said | 4:32pm | Report comment
This fixture looks likely to go well past last night’s attendance of 78,205, meaning that by the 10:30pm tonight we will have seen over 200,000 go through the gates for the opening three games of the season, and incredibly, one of those games was played in Sydney.
4:44pm
Nathan of Perth said | 4:44pm | Report comment
Stupendous start. At the risk of starting an ugly debate, they could cross the NRL’s aggregate attendance for the last round on the back of two games. Over 150,000 people in two games is phenomenal. Imagine what the AFL could achieve when the 60-70,000 seat future Perth Stadium and the redeveloped Adelaide Oval come online?
5:02pm
The Cattery said | 5:02pm | Report comment
The AFL’s strategic plan is to get to 1 million members, and clearly the redeveloped ovals in Perth and Adelaide are an important part in achieving that.