The first Friday night game of the 2012 season has put two premiership favorites, Collingwood and Hawthorn, under the microscope very early on.
The Hawks and the Magpies will look to continue their successful finals track record; the two teams last meeting in the preliminary final last in 2011.
Already the punters have the Magpies as flag favorites at $3.50 followed by the Hawks and the Cats at $4.50. In what already seems a three-way race, the Hawks and the Magpies both boast impressive line-ups yet also have injury worries.
While Jarryd Roughead has had some game time after coming back from a ruptured Achilles, he doesn’t seem likely to line-up for the Hawks. Mark Evans, Hawthorn’s football operations manager, hinting Roughead may miss the clash.
“We haven’t got the date fixed on a round one return,” he said. “We are just going to do what is best for him.”
The Hawks are also without main ruckman Max Bailey (wrist) for at least two months.
Collingwood’s injury woes seem high enough to question the side’s strength going into the Friday night blockbuster.
The Magpies have lost Brent Macaffer and Andrew Krakouer to knee injuries. Captain Nick Maxwell is unlikely to be risked after an ankle injury scare, while key defenders Nathan Brown and Chris Tarrant are also underdone and won’t be available for selection until round three.
Veteran Alan Didak, affected by past injuries, will be watched closely this season after his lackluster performances last year. Didak is yet another who will be missing from the playing squad.
Collingwood’s football manager Geoff Walsh confirmed Didak’s absence. “Probably another week for ‘Dids’,” Walsh said.
While Collingwood is hampered by injuries, coach Nathan Buckley has a range of young players to select from and remains optimistic about the season ahead: “There are plenty of other clubs that think they’ve got chances, and that they do, but we’re pretty confident with where we’re at and where we’re going.”
Lance Franklin and Travis Cloke are already amongst the favorites to win the Coleman Medal for season 2012.
The two star forwards are crucial to both teams and with their sidekicks Roughead and Chris Dawes, showcase two of the AFL’s most dangerous forward lines.
Cloke, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has highly improved on his kicking and may be the difference for the Magpies who will lack their preferred defenders against the Hawks.
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Pendles wasn't expecting that!
Diplomatically answered, Darcy!
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Old mate summing it up better than anyone possibly could!
