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The Roar

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Hawks for flag, Buddy for Coleman

29th July, 2014
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Expert
29th July, 2014
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Roarers, it’s time to put your name on some end-of-season predictions.

I will tip the minor premiers, flag winners, the grand final sides, the Brownlow medallist, Norm Smith medallist, Coleman medallist and NAB Rising Star winner for the 2014 AFL season.

Then it’s your turn to do the same, after deriding my selections of course.

Minor premiers – Sydney
The Swans will hold onto top spot thanks to a softer closing draw than their main rivals for the minor premiership, Hawthorn. The Hawks might have killed Sydney’s 12-game winning streak on the weekend with a typically accomplished and determined performance at the MCG, but I think they’ll have to win all their remaining five matches to finish in first.

Sydney only have one really tricky game left – against the fading might of Port Power in Adelaide in Round 20. Port may have nearly defeated the Swans at the SCG in Round 13 but they have lost a lot of momentum since then, winning just two of five games with those victories over struggling sides Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.

Hawthorn, meanwhile, have a horror run in the last three rounds, with a trip to Perth against Fremantle, then their bogey team Geelong, followed by Collingwood in Round 23.

Grand final – Hawthorn versus Sydney
These two sides should finish top two and win their first finals ensuring they won’t meet unless it is in the grand final. That’s all I have to say on this really.

Premiers – Hawthorn
It is incredibly hard to tip against Sydney, even after their undoing at the hands of the Hawks on the weekend. But Hawthorn’s effort to be less than one per cent outside first place, despite their poor run with injuries, has me believing they can upset the favourites for the flag.

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Having battled admirably through a tough season in which they even lost their coach to an ailment, the Hawks are peaking at the perfect juncture. They are now close to full strength, with defenders Brian Lake and Matt Spangher to push for returns in the next two rounds.

Perhaps only enigmatic small forward Cyril Rioli would then be missing from their best 22. The Hawks have the personnel and, equally as importantly, the tactical acumen to limit the havoc wreaked by the potent Swans.

I’m tipping Hawks by two goals or less in a grand final thriller.

Norm Smith medallist – Luke Hodge
The man for the moment. The Hawks skipper is building form nicely after an interrupted season. After a muted start to 2014, Hodge has been wonderfully consistent.

He has averaged 27 touches over the past 13 games with his renowned precision footwork a highlight. Hodge loves having the ball in his grip late in the match when the contest is on an even keel.

Aside from his beguiling skills, Hodge also inspires his teammates with courageous, often selfless acts. I would tip him to add a second Norm Smith to his collection this season.

Brownlow Medal – Scott Pendlebury
To be honest I haven’t changed my mind since I wrote this article in the wake of Gary Ablett’s injury. Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury will take home his first Brownlow.

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Coleman Medallist – Lance Franklin
This will be a very tight finish, with Port’s Jay Schulz, Sydney money man Lance Franklin and Geelong behemoth Tom Hawkins all closely grouped with five rounds left.

But Franklin’s form has been so monumental over the past two months that it’s hard not to see him running away from the other two. Franklin isn’t without a chance in the Brownlow race either.

NAB Rising Star – Marcus Bontempelli
This was the toughest prediction. The Bulldogs’ Bontempelli has shone in his emerging side but so has Luke Dunstan at Saint Kilda and Tom Langdon at Collingwood.

The latter was even included in some pundits mid-season All-Australia squad. Dunstan, too, would be a worthy winner having been one of the few pluses for the Saints in a horribly forgettable 2014 season.

But Bontempelli won me over with his two crucial goals to lift the Bulldogs to a thrilling win over Melbourne in Round 15. It was a remarkably cool performance from a 19-year-old footballer.

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