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Hawthorn and Fremantle Dockers face off at Aurora Stadium this afternoon. Join our live blog with scores and commentary from 1.45pm AEST.
This match looks to be a cracker between two top four contenders.
Beaten grand finalist Hawthorn has started 2013 in fine form with dominant wins against Collingwood and West Coast, along with the now-customary loss to Geelong.
The Dockers also have a 2-1 record with wins against the Eagles and a professional display against the Western Bulldogs in Melbourne.
However Fremantle will be disappointed with their loss against Essendon last week.
They were dominant in the first half and led by 37 points not long before half-time before the Bombers kicked nine goals to two in the second half.
As with St Kilda under Ross Lyon, the Dockers have shown they can score heavily when they control the game but struggle to kick goals when the opposition starts to get on top.
Compounding this issue is the poor early season form of Matthew Pavlich.
The six-time All-Australian has kicked only two goals in three matches this season after his pre-season was restricted following surgeries to his back, hip and Achilles tendon.
Making matters worse for the key forward is Brian Lake is in line to make his Hawthorn debut after playing two matches for Box Hill.
The defender was recruited to take on big forwards such as Pavlich and Alastair Clarkson will be keen bring Lake in to the team to figure out the team’s best structure.
Hawthorn’s ability to score heavily will be concerning for the Fremantle coaching panel.
The forward line comes in to the match off the back of 22 goals against a traditionally defensively-sound Collingwood.
Buddy Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and David Hale have been well complemented by the likes of Cyril Rioli and Luke Breust at their feet.
The Dockers have been the number one tackling side this season and will need to bring this defensive pressure to protect the back six.
On the other hand Hawthorn’s lack of pace could be an problem. While this concern hasn’t arisen since the Round 1 loss to Geelong, the Dockers do have quality quick players in Stephen Hill and Danyle Pearce.
When the Hawks are playing well speed isn’t an issue but if they can’t find a way to stop those two Fremantle will go a long way to winning the match.
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