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This afternoon’s NAB Cup game features Hawthorn and GWS Giants making the trip down to Launceston in what will be the apple isle’s only chance to get a glimpse of the Giants this year. Join us for live scores and blog from 3:40pm AEDT.
The Hawks were widely considered to be one of the most impressive outfits from the first round of NAB Cup matches, despite winning and losing one of each, and this was largely to do with Buddy Franklin dominating both through the midfield and forward line.
Second favourite for the premiership, many pundits are expecting them to go all the way this year, especially in light of Collingwood’s injury woes, but this will be our first look at a Buddy-less Hawthorn for 2012, and we’ll get more insight into what sort of impact ex-Crow Jack Gunston can have.
GWS surprised many with their competitive round one showings against the Bulldogs, which had most of their senior players on the ground, and Collingwood, who didn’t.
The Giants performed admirably, and were desperately unlucky not to snatch one or even both games (memorably, Collingwood’s Dane Swan thought they had, clueless as to the real result when conducting a post-match interview).
It must be remembered that while the Pies had a particularly inexperienced line-up in that match, GWS rested all of their senior players from it as well.
Every Nab Cup match is as much about who isn’t playing as who is, so let’s examine the relative strength of the respective sides ahead of this match-up.
The Hawks are resting eight of what I calculate is their best 22, including three of their best four players, marquee names like Franklin, Sam Mitchell and Cyril Rioli.
Other names missing are Liam Shiels, Jordan Lewis, Jarryd Roughead, Paul Puopolo and Brad Sewell, which gives a chance to the likes of experienced players Xavier Ellis, Clint Young and Cameron Bruce to impress today and begin the dual process of salvaging their careers, and trying to force their way into a premiership-strength team.
The best line-up for GWS is still very much up in the air, but based on information I have been able to gather, I believe that they will be missing nine first choice players, be it through injury to Luke Power Dylan Shiel and Jonathon Patton or rotation in the case of Tim Bugg, Sam Reid, Chad Cornes, Setanta O’hAilpin, Dean Brogan, and co-captain Callan Ward.
Hoping for a big game will be Tom Scully, who struggled in his first outing, and who will be feeling the pressure to perform. With Chance Bateman sure to be tracking his every move, it won’t be easy for the former number one draft pick.
Another chance to see Kevin Sheedy’s men (or boys as the case may be) in action will be the main interest of this match, and the more exposure this club gets to hardened AFL opposition is only going to help them in the long run.
Certainly Supercoach and Dreamteam coaches throughout the country will be paying attention to which of the GWS rookies they are going to fill their bench spots with.
Of course, all eyes will once again be on Israel Folau. Some will be wishing him to fail, others willing him to succeed. Almost all will be wondering if he is worth the millions being transferred to his bank account over the next few years.
With Hawthorn expected to challenge for the premiership and Greater Western Sydney predicted by all to ‘win’ the wooden spoon, there is a vast discrepancy between the two in talent and experience, and regardless of the intensity level of the former, we’ll be seeing the Hawks winning today.
Sheedy’s GWS Giants outfit impressed many in round one of the NAB Cup – can it continue today, or will the Hawks deliver a heavy dose of reality? Find out fro first bounce at 3.40pm AEDT as we cover all of the action with live scores and commentary, and give us your thoughts below if you’re watching.