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.
Phil
Guest
Folau has been catching high balls the same way for years; in league his main goal is to bring the ball to ground, so that is what he's used to.
stabpass
Guest
I saw the highlights including folaus couple of marks, and have to say he seems OK, but i would be a bit concerned about how he is landing after his marking attempts, viewing the tape, it appears his legs seem to get a bit tangled up under him, good way to do a knee.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
p. Tah, The idea is the Geriatrics dont need to risk injury - they know what they should be doing. Indeed, it might be more valuable for them to watch the game from tohe coaches box, so they know exactly how this very young side is inclined to stuff up, and they know what to do in game to correct that.
A valid point, but Sheedy need to see every player under him in match conditions, not just his best 22. Also, the season is long, and burnout will be a factor later in the year, so it's understandable.
p.Tah
Guest
Why are they resting them? Pardon my ignorance but as a new team shouldn't they be playing as much together as possible?
Both true comments, but the Giants have got it all to do. No surprises there, but it's a fact.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Cattery, The Giants were also resting a lot of their experience, again. The biggest good sign was Izzy taking contested grabs.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
It starts to get serious for the Giants now, from the little I saw, they were well, well short of the mark
Thanks for joining me today, and if you like, you can see me again in about an hour, as I blog the Collingwood v Melbourne game, which I fancy will make for a decent match.
Best players for Hawthorn were Burgoyne all day, Young early, and Savage and Smith ran hard and posed a threat. Ex-Bulldog Jarrad Boumann caught the eye with some dash from defence, so he may have a role to play this year. For the Giants, Smith and Coniglio let all comers with 27 and 25, Palmer worked hard across the ground, while Darley was the pick of the defenders, and Cameron stood out in attack. But the story will be the improvement of Israel Folau. 4 marks, all of them contested, 6 kicks, 2 handballs, 2 hit outs, and one goal, two behinds was a tidy day, and all of it was in the second half, where he posed a real threat as a marking forward. After looking lost for most of the first half, he was given a run in the ruck, which enabled him to get in tune with the pace of the game. His future looks bright, and the nay-sayers may have to turn their attentions elsewhere.
Hawthorn - Did what they came here to do today. Finetuned their game plan, and got miles into the legs of some players like Luke Hodge who had yet to see some Nab Cup game time. Players on the fringe of the best 22 got their chance to impress, Young was on fire early, and Savage and Breust showed enough to suggest that last year's form wasn't a fluke. David Hale will have enjoyed the chance to take a few grabs, and looked okay with 3.1, although he's still not a natural forward. GWS - Did well in close, winning their share of contested possession, but were exposed out wide, both offensively where they couldn't find a target forward for the majority of the game, and defensively where they couldn't run hard enough to get back when the Hawks broke from defence.
So a convincing victory to the Hawks, as expected. For those who followed my suggested bet, it was a collect that was assured a long way out. After getting the money in all three matches in the Adelaide games last week, i'm now four from four with suggested bets turning into profit every time.
BREAKING NEWS: St Kilda v Essendon at Wangaratta has in fact been cancelled. Points will be split.
FINAL SIREN Haw 108 GWS 34 No 9 pick Adam Tomlinson gets a free 25m out, and kicks truly to finish the match, and the siren goes with the ball in mid air. Final score is: Hawthorn 2.12.18.108 d Greater Western Sydney 0.4.10.34
1 to go fourth quarter Haw 108 GWS 28 Hawk indigenous rookie Amos Frank, a possible future cult figure at Glenferrie, has found a bit of it, but misses on this occassion. Cam Bruce has played more mid-forward today, when he has been more mid-back previously in his career. Another behind to Hawks.
3 to go fourth quarter Haw 106 GWS 28 Gunston finding some easy ball now with the sting out of the game, but he turns it over. GWS try to build an attack, but fail to do so. The Giants have worked okay deep in defence under pressure, although it is only 'Nab Cup' pressure, so we'll see how the youngsters go in the real stuff.
4 to go fourth quarter Haw 106 GWS 28 Palmer misses a set shot, he's been servicable today, and will perform his job this season, winning some hard ball. Disposal been good today. Scully only in the game sporadically, has failed to have the impact of some of his younger teammates. He will come under the media spotlight soon enough if this keeps up. Behind to Savage from long range.
mem mem
Guest
must be ingrossed in the game lol
6 to go fourth quarter Haw 105 GWS 27 Jack Gunston finds the goals, his first of the day. Would have expected more of himself today for mine. Hale has been the more impressive target. Izzie back on the ground.
Just realised that my posts this quarter have had 'third' instead of 'fourth'. Sorry about that! 7 to go fourth quarter Haw 99 GWS 27 Bruce snaps a behind from the boundary. Folau on the bench, a bit of tightness in the hamstring.