2012 AFL grandfinal preview

2012 AFL grandfinal preview.

Saturday, September 29

Hawthorn v Sydney at the MCG, 2.30pm (AEST).

Head-to-head: Hawthorn 83 Sydney 66 Drawn 2

Last five meetings:

Rd 22, Aug 2012, SCG: Hawthorn 15.12 (102) bt Sydney 14.11 (95)

Rd 5, Apr 2012, Launceston: Sydney 16.10 (106) bt Hawthorn 10.9 (69)

Semi-final, Sept 2011, MCG: Hawthorn 19.8 (122) bt Sydney 13.8 (86)

Rd 9, May 2011, SCG: Hawthorn 15.16 (106) bt Sydney 8.12 (60)

Rd 19, Aug 2010 SCG: Sydney 19.15 (129) bt Hawthorn 13.7 (85)

Finals head-to-head: Hawthorn 3 Sydney 1

This is the first time the Hawks and Swans have clashed in the grand final. Hawthorn will start slight favourites, but must improve from their below-par preliminary final win over Adelaide. In particular, their goalkicking was woeful and the Swans will make them pay if they do that again. Sydney can take a lot of encouragement from their two matches against the Hawks this season – a thumping second half for a win in round five and then a strong start in round 22, which led to a tight loss. One of the highlights will be Hawthorn’s free-scoring attack against the Swans’ miserly defence. The Hawks should be better for their preliminary final scare and on paper, they are the better side. But the Swans are tough and they will make them earn everything.

Tip: Hawthorn by 10 points

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