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Hawks and Cats continue a modern-day AFL rivalry

20th April, 2014
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Expert
20th April, 2014
25
1146 Reads

Rivalries are what makes footy – any footy, any code, anywhere – so wonderfully good.

It’s Queensland versus New South Wales in State of Origin, Carlton against Collingwood (no matter where they sit on the ladder), Manchesters City and United in the English Premier League, or Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain.

Legitimate, not manufactured rivalries, are the ones which incite passion and generally provide us all with enthralling spectacles.

This afternoon at the MCG, we don’t have one of those rivalries which began before colour television. We don’t have one born in the ‘70s out of an ugly incident.

But we have one of the best rivalries in the modern game, one which more often than not produces a finish you need to watch from the edge of your seat.

Some may believe the rivalry came about after the comments of former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, the ex-Hawthorn president who dared to question the mental strength of the Cats when the Hawks beat them in the 2008 grand final.

The reality is that the two clubs have been among the best in the game for the past seven seasons. As the results have demonstrated, there is barely a struck match between them.

Since that amazing 2008 season, it seems almost every time the two clubs meet, they are battling for the upper rungs on the AFL ladder. Today is no different.

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The winner remains undefeated and goes solo on top. The loser will have to get ready for next time.

We all know the stats. There was less than two goals between the teams in their last five games. In the most recent, just five points separated them.

That game was the 2013 preliminary final, where the Hawks snapped their 11-game losing sequence against the Cats dating back to the 2009 season.

So what can we expect today?

It’s easy to say more of the same, but with the Kennett Curse done and dusted (albeit by just a kick) and what I’ve seen from the Hawks so far this season, I’m tipping a blowout – at least three goals to Hawthorn.

They breezed past Brisbane, grafted out a tough win against a hot Essendon outfit, played perhaps one of the best halves of football in many a year against Fremantle, and then last week produced their best four-quarter performance of the season in a 99-point demolition of the Suns.

That would have probably pleased the coach more than the stunning win over Freo a week earlier.

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Another thing to please Alastair Clarkson will be the spread of goal kickers. While his guns – Jarryd Roughhead, Jack Gunston, and Luke Breust – have all been big contributors, twice the Hawks have had 12 individual goal kickers, and 10 in their other two games.

Multiple goal scoring threats is something which will be hugely advantageous against Geelong.

In 2014, the Cats too have beaten what has been put in front of them. My punting pals tell me they are at huge odds ($2.50 or with 10.5 start).

While their midfield, made up of some outstanding young talent and led inspirationally by Joel Selwood, cannot be questioned, it is exactly where the Hawks will get on top.

I can list so many stats from what’s gone on this season already to try and predict the outcome. Facts are, with these two teams, that victory can come down to a single play, a solitary tackle, kick or the bounce of a ball.

While I think the Hawks can win this one and do it a lot easier than the winner has in the recent past, only one thing is for sure – when they AFL decided a few years back to make this clash the annual Easter Monday match, they were the ones who backed a winner.

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