Hawthorn are heading into the finals as premiership favourites, desperate to go one better than 2012.
They have two of the best power forwards in AFL in Franklin and Roughead who combined for 126 goals this season and their star-studded midfield of Mitchell, Sewell and Hodge can all turn a game on its head within minutes.
So with all this quality, who can halt the Hawks run to the flag?
Geelong
“What they don’t have, I think, is the quality of some of our players, they don’t have the psychological drive we have. We’ve beaten Geelong when it matters”. The words of then Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett before the 2009 season after the Hawks took the 2008 grand final over the Cats.
Words which galvanised Geelong vowing never to lose to Hawthorn again. Since those infamous words the Cats have beaten the Hawks eleven games running. Led by inspirational skipper, Joel Selwood, Geelong are a real chance to secure their fourth premiership in seven seasons.
Fremantle
Goals have been added to Freo’s stingy defence allowing them to blow teams away at times in 2013.
Ballantine’s performance could be key in deciding the Dockers destiny, the pest needs to keep his head if Freo are to impact the finals. To be serious contenders they would need to win in week one and get a week off, a realistic possibility given they had the luxury of resting 12 players last weekend.
If they can do it they’re a real shot at winning their first ever premiership.
Sydney
The reigning premiers are around come finals time despite Kurt Tippett missing the first 12 weeks through suspension and key players Goodes, Jetta and Reid being injured for large parts of the season.
This test of their depth has however allowed the Swans to unearth talented youngsters Mitchell, Parker, Rampe and Brandon Jack.
Like Fremantle, the Swans would need to win in week one to have a chance. Exciting times ahead though for the Swans with Kieren Jack and Dan Hannebery leading the new brigade forward.
Richmond
After coming so close over the past few seasons Richmond finally get a taste of finals footy. If they can get past Carlton in week one they face an interstate trip to Sydney or an MCG blockbuster against Hawthorn.
A task that will prove too great for an inexperienced playing group in their first finals series. The Tigers have a lot of young talent and there is a flag in their future if they can stick together, but it won’t be this season.
Collingwood
On their day Collingwood can be one of the most punishing teams in the league but if they don’t turn up against Port they could be out before you can say Eddie McGuire gaffe.
Their finals hopes could rely on the left foot of Travis Cloke, he was inaccurate this year and still nearly took out the Coleman. Their midfield stars including Swan, Pendlebury, Beams and Sidebottom will provide opportunities for Cloke so it could come down to his conversion rate.
If Collingwood were in the top four they’d be a chance but they won’t challenge the Hawks this year.
Port Adelaide
After a poor showing in 2012 culminating in the sacking of Matthew Primus and the tragic loss of John McCarthy in the off season Port weren’t expected to do much this year other than rebuild. They set up their season winning their first five games but were only able to beat two top eight teams in 2013.
Port thumped Collingwood, their week one opponents, by six goals in Round 14 but despite the career best form of Cornes, Monfries and Westhoff, Port will inevitably fall short this season.
Carlton
Only in the finals after Essendon were kicked out, Carlton’s form has been subpar this season. When they’re good they’re great and when their bad it’s cringe worthy. Betts, Yarran, Garland and Arnfield are electric but have gone missing this year.
Judd is a legend, but is having his worst season and captain Murphy has failed to fill that void. One positive is Tuohy who has taken to AFL like an Irishman to Guinness. Carlton will be out in week one, expect a cleanout.
Will the Kennett curse continue? Can Sydney pull off another September miracle? Can the Dockers win their first ever flag? These are all questions that will be answered in the coming weeks. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be fun finding out.
Enjoy your finals footy!
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
They still won. Also kick to kick you are an idiot, and yep Kennett is a knob Pope Paul.
Cat
Roar Guru
Rioli did not train today, may miss.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Considering no one rated the Swans last year and they are still barely rated outside the harbour city, I reckon they are a fair shot of adding to Kennett's curse. That's the first time I've read Kennett's quote. What a knob.
Cat
Roar Guru
Hawks to win through to the GF but lose to Geelong.
Stewart
Guest
That's funny New York Hawk, scared much? Clarko's comment is relevant to the Swans too and Swans supporters aren't delusional, they are confident for exactly the same reasons as Geelong supporters. Really if the Hawks didn't play all their cards (that's an excuse by the way), Clarko is an idiot. The last thing he should have done was give an understrength Swans side a confidence boost when they are getting 3 of their most important players back this week. If Swan supporters are delusional, so are you.
Mango Jack
Guest
NYH, I watched last Friday and saw a distracted Hathorn team with loose disposals and aimless kicks, which is so uncharacteristic. It was only in Q4 that they turned it on, and when they did, they dominated. Last year, they suffered from goal kicking accuracy, defensive weakness and over-reliance on 1 forward. All these problems have been fixed. If they can't do it this year, it may be a long time in the wilderbess.
JohnD
Guest
Please let it be so.
Connor
Guest
older- and still very reliable and a balanced list. the only playing player with an injury is Hawkins- and thats been well publicised.
Winston
Guest
Agree with all that. A lot has been written about how even though the Swans had players out, Hawks also did, so that's not an important factor. But if you look at the replacements for the Swans last week, you will see Biggs making his debut, Cunningham and Brandon Jack all playing. Whereas I don't think the Hawks replacements last Friday were nearly as inexperienced. So whilst bringing back Max Bailey and Rioli will obviously strengthen the Hawks, I think for the Swans it's not just about who they're going to bring in but also the fact that they will lose the inexperience as well. Eg Biggs was good, he got the ball heaps, but for a debutant at halfback to get the ball heaps against fierce pressure from the Hawks also meant he turned over the ball heaps. I'm not blaming the young man, but I'm just saying it's not just about Nick Smith being a better player than him (I'm assuming that's a straight swap there), but you will also lose those turnovers as well. This Friday is going to be a completely different game and Swans are in with a big chance.
Hawker
Guest
I wouldn't read too much into last week. It was all about getting ready for this week. Max Bailey back will make a difference in the ruck
New York Hawk
Guest
Kick to kick - and yet we won both games. Just remember that the whole season for the Hawks has been geared towards performing in September. This is very different to 2012. This year we have won while playing poorly - a benefit and a sign of quality. It really doesn't matter that we went 19-3. The only thing that matters is how we perform in September. This should be painfully obvious to anyone who heard Clarko speak after the GF loss last year. If you think the Hawks played all their cards with the Swans on Friday, all the more power to you. You probably also believe in Santa. We may win on Friday, we may lose on Friday. We may win the flag, we may not. But please, do not make deluded comments about us not being able to match it with the Swans this week because according to you they put their cue in the rack on Friday night. Even if they did, it doesn't mean a thing. Keep making posts though if it makes you feel better. It makes me feel better Swans supporters need to keep making excuses and in the process providing incomplete analysis, as you know your team better than me. Hawks vs Cats GF for mine, beyond that, I dare not predict.
Nomonous
Guest
I think he meant Hawkins and the stars are older which is the point. I think some of the players are carrying injuries...
Stewart
Guest
Well said kick to kick, not enough was made of the realities of the game against the Swans last week. As good as Hawthorn's midfield is, it is slow and they don't have a great ruck combination. You can stop them getting the ball. The Swans blew them away and if not for a lot of wasted forward entries, which can be attributed in large part to the inexperienced kids, they would have been too far in front to catch before putting the cue in the rack. All of the top 4 are fallible, but I like the Swans. Finals aren't slick games of football, game plans fall over under the manic intensity and the Swans are proven performers in that environment. Nice safe article, but I suppose anyone saying that the Swans unearthed Parker because their depth was tested this year can't really be listened to - he is a premiership player after all.
Cat
Roar Guru
Geelong old and injured? Laughable, they have one of the shortest injury lists and have played more young kids then any team other then the 2 expansion clubs.
kick to kick
Guest
Personally I won't be surprised if the Hawks fall short. They haven't played that well for weeks - except against Collingwood. Richmond trounced them, Sydney outplayed them last Friday with an understrength team and it was only because Longmire put the cue in the rack in the last quarter that Hawthorn won (Sydney moved Jack out of the midfield - largely rested McGlynn and took off Malceski). They were nearly undone by the Kangaroos , look sluggish at times and suceptible to pressure. If they lose on Friday to the Swans, they will probably face the Tigers in week two which could see a straight sets exit. Mind you all the other contenders are vulnerable as well with Sydney lacking gamebreakers Goodes and Jetta, Geelong inconsistent and Freemantle not yet tested in big finals. Collingwood is dangerous but only if some-one else eliminates Hawthorn for them. For my money Geelong looks the strongest, but it could go a number of ways.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Defence is the Hawks biggest Achilles heel, especially against a big forward line with some blistering smalls, but then again who doesn't. Hawkins injury may just help the "Curse" to become history.
Nomad
Guest
The Swans at full strength but alas that is not to be... Geelong are looking old and injured so if the hawks dont win it this year it will be a big chance lost// Still as a aresult Buddy may stay - is that a good thing??
Andrew
Guest
Hawks will win the flag.
Berrlins
Guest
It seems the only thing stopping hawthorn may be themselves. They have the best forward line in the AFL combined with a midfield that's all class and a defence with the likes of Gibson and lake to name a few not much can get in their way bar their own yips when it counts. Although when it comes down to it, the only team to have the wood well and truly over them in recent times is Geelong. Could this finals series be the conclusion to the curse?