All AFL finals aren’t created equal. While the stakes are always high in September, Friday night’s qualifying final between Hawthorn and Collingwood is a monster.
Unless Geelong set up a preliminary final against the Hawks, it will be the biggest match this month outside the premiership decider.
Consider what’s at stake:
* Hawthorn have never been better-placed at the start of a finals series since Alastair Clarkson became coach in 2005. They finished top for the first time since 1989 – a Hawthorn premiership season.
Only a flag will do for the one club that has won premierships in each of the previous four decades.
* The alarm bells are ringing for Collingwood, who have made the last six finals series, lost last year’s grand final and won the premiership two years ago.
They lost to North Melbourne and West Coast in the last three weeks and the Magpie machine has spluttered, not surged into the finals.
* After all the controversy about the coaching succession plan at Collingwood that ended Mick Malthouse’s tenure last year, the expectations are high for Nathan Buckley in his first finals series as a senior coach.
* The last premiership team to lose their qualifying final was West Coast in 2006.
* It’s Collingwood. It’s Hawthorn. It’s Friday night at the MCG and the opening match of the finals series.
Buckley went onto the front foot this week, saying critics were asking many questions of his team.
Rather than take a cautious public approach, Buckley was bullish about his team’s chances.
“I have absolute belief in their ability to execute a game plan, to attack an opposition with absolute endeavour and (ferocity),” Buckley said.
“We can beat any opposition at any time and we’re pretty confident about our ability to do that on Friday.”
Clarkson will never make a big public statement unless he has to and the Hawks coach has been predictably circumspect ahead of Friday night.
“You’re probably better off going to Bucks’ press conference and asking all the Collingwood questions of them, because really in finals we can’t control anything about them except in the manner we play on Friday night,” he said.
“We’ll need to play at our best to win the game of footy and Collingwood need to do the same to beat us, too – it promises to be a cracker.”
Hawthorn and Collingwood are complete teams who fulfil all the criteria for modern AFL success – midfield class and depth, defensive stability and the capacity to switch their game style quickly if the situation demands.
Then there’s Buddy and Trav.
Hawthorn key forward Lance Franklin has returned from a six-week break to hit ominous form ahead of the finals, kicking four goals against Sydney and four goals in the first quarter against West Coast.
At the other end of the ground, Collingwood’s Travis Cloke had struggled for several weeks before he ripped Essendon apart last weekend with 16 marks and five goals.
One defender cannot stop Franklin or Cloke. They require faultless backline teamwork, with no lapses in concentration.
They will be fascinating sub-plots in a clash that has all the ingredients for a classic final.
Peter Dearing-lee
Guest
Hi roger, correction to the article the mighty hawks have one at least one premiership in the last "five decades" 61,71,76,78 83,86,88,89,91,08. Which one did you forget regards peter
winp
Guest
go hawks tonight and all the way in the grand final,best of luck.
Matt
Guest
The problem for Hawthorn will be the match up with Geelong in the Prelim if results go as expected ... Talk about a bogey match up at the wrong time of year.
Hoby57
Guest
ie Each and every Hawthorn player....
Mango Jack
Guest
Don't expect too much from Rioli. He only played about 15 mins last week. And Buddy's match fitness must be questioned. He has faded in his last 2 matches after blistering starts. But these are the games where champion players step up.
Hoby57
Guest
Hawk's will win "very" comfortably tonight, rain, hail, wind, or all three....!!!!
piesman2011
Guest
With wet and windy weather, the pies should be in for a 5 goal win. I believe that we are the best wet weather side going around at the moment. Who knows this could create a Geelong V Hawks GF. With fine conditions the Hawks should win comfortably tonight.
Redb
Roar Guru
These are great games for the neutral. Last years Prelim between these two sides was the game of the year, even better than the GF. As is often the case first use in the midfield will be the key. The conditions tonight will be fairly ordinary with strong winds expected. Several radio commentators beleive the Hawks great asset of accurate kicking will be tested under such conditions. So the battle has to be in the clinches on the ground, it will be torrid. A tough nut like Swan could really excel in these conditions and he alone might provide Collingwood's main hope of winning. Cloke's effectiveness in contested marks will be at the mercy of the winds. I am despite a long term loathing of all things Hawthorn since the 1980s just relishing the chance to see Buddy and Rioli perform some magic. Go Hawks !