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.
Danielle
Guest
The Cattery- haha no im taking sport reporting as an elective, my major is psychology. i wanted to transfer into sport journalism but my marks weren't high enough... :( But i still continue my sport writing, i love it so much.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
This weekend is like a triple dip on season openings: unveiling of GWS last weekend, then we get an invigorated tiges with a chance to beat the blues for the first time this century (possible 75k crowd tomorrow night), and then pies vs hawks the following night - we are talking huge people!!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
A mini uni assignment? Are you studying for a spot on AFL360?? (actually, they could probably use you)
Danielle
Guest
Thanks BigAl!! :) haha :) thanks Aaron
BigAl
Guest
B+
Aaron nassaris
Guest
Fantastic I love it keep it up can't wait to read more of your writing this season
Danielle
Guest
Cheers for the comments and feedback! this isn't my usual writing style (can you see the professional tone in the piece?) it was a mini uni assignment i had to do so i thought i should post it on here too. I think the Hawks will have the upper hand for this game. Tom C- i meant that to be a general statement about the duo but fair enough i can see what you mean!
Swampy
Guest
The real story will be how the live coverage of this game will rate on Fox. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
johno
Guest
Hawks for mine - no Maxwell, no Tarrant, no Neon Leon, No Kraks - thats the difference. Jolly v Macauley will be a win for the pies but I think that the Hawks have upside elsewhere on the park. Plus they are out for revenge for the prelim loss,
TomC
Guest
Possibly a late editing error: you have Roughead as an injury and also as a 'sidekick' to Franklin. One other Hawthorn forward I suspect may be a little bit more than a sidekick is David Hale. He's been in scorching form over the pre-season and Collingwood really don't have a match-up for him. If Reid goes to Franklin (very likely) that leaves Goldsack, O'Brien or maybe Simon Buckley to play on the monster Hawthorn forward. It wouldn't surprise me to see Hale pinch a few goals by parking himself 25m out and making himself a long target when Franklin leads towards half-forward. The Hawks are a team with lots of attacking options all around the ground. I reckon they're a team you need to be just about at full strength to beat. So I'd have them as favourites. Can't wait for it though. Should be a real cracker. If the Hawks win, watch their premiership odds come in sharply over the next week.
Norm
Guest
This is one game I would love to be present at!
piesman2011
Guest
We have a few injuries, my head says Hawks.
Hospital
Guest
Go on... tell me who I should be picking in my AFL tip.. I want some juicy opinion! :D