Questions to ponder ahead of Round 3: Can the Pies be re-heated, Are Port the real deal, Can Jezza's form last for the Cats?
Collingwood look far off the conquering team of 2023 and one aspect of real concern is their struggles in defence.
Have the footy gods finally decided enough is enough?
Hawthorn’s bid for a fifth premiership in nine years has been made a lot harder with star Jarryd Roughead recently going down to injury.
The Hawks star is set to have reconstructive surgery to fix a posterior cruciate ligament problem that will keep him out for five months.
It’s not the footy gods’ first attempt to derail a Hawks premiership campaign, with the departure of Lance Franklin, injuries to key players and even a stretch without master coach Alastair Clarkson thrown at them over the last couple of years.
Yet the champs have always found a way.
Roughead is one of Hawthorn’s key players, not just for his goal-kicking, but his versatility to go into the middle when required. He is one of the Hawks’ major weapons.
His injury, an ageing list and rival clubs just waiting to storm the castle are all big obstacles in the Hawks’ bid for a fourth premiership in a row.
But this is no ordinary team. Its evenness, versatility and self-confidence have rarely been seen in the history of the AFL.
Hawthorn will use the return of Roughead midway through the season to propel themselves towards another top-four finish and from there the big-game specialists will be hard to beat.
No team will be confident playing the Hawks in a big final such is the aura around this team.
Legendary coach Clarkson will already be in the lab concocting plan after plan to cover for the loss of the key Hawthorn big man and any other obstacle that might get in the way of this champion team adding to its dynasty.
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Collingwood look far off the conquering team of 2023 and one aspect of real concern is their struggles in defence.
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