This is a huge game in the context of the top four AFL ladder positions, with the Collingwood Magpies taking on the Hawthorn Hawks in Friday night footy. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7.40pm (AEST).
The Hawks are on a roll, winning their last four games. They have now moved into fourth position and want to continue to climb the ladder. In Round 23 last year the Hawks defeated the Magpies by 65 points. Has much changed since then?
As a team stacked full of talent, the Hawks appear to have too much depth for the Pies to cover. They will want to put last week’s poor taste injection jibe by Sam Mitchell behind them and focus on good news and winning football matches.
Brian Lake announced he wants to play on next year which all goes well for their defence. Despite losing James Frawley through injury, their defence has been as strong as ever with consistent performances from Josh Gibson and Taylor Duryea.
At the other end Jack Gunston and Luke Breust are an elusive pair and in charge of kicking a winning score in the absence of Jarryd Roughead who is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with skin cancer mid-week. The Hawks showed last year they can cover absent members of their best line-up and do get Cyril Rioli back.
The Pies were not disgraced in the west last week and we will find out how well they are really going playing the top sides in consecutive rounds. They do catch the Hawks on a six-day break but this is offset by having to travel to and from Perth.
Can they match the unsociable Hawks pressure? This will be the big question Nathan Buckley is seeking an answer to.
hey have included two debutants, in Darcy Moore and Brayden Maynard, a big ask to come up against the Hawks first up.
Tyson Goldsack is out injured and while they don’t have the same depth of talent as the Hawks, the Pies boast some of the very best players in the league.
Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury lead the way with big disposal numbers every game and are responsible for supplying their forwards with plenty of opportunities. Travis Cloke and Jamie Elliott have benefitted most from this supply and it will be a great match up against the Hawks’ defence which could decide the game.
Prediction
The Hawks are improving as each week goes by and they should put the Pies back in their place with a 42-point win.
Will the Pies stand up to the Hawks and announce themselves as contenders or will the Hawks continue their rise up the premiership ladder?
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7.40pm (AEST) on Friday night.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
MATCH REVIEW Hawthorn 15.11.101 def Collingwood 12.19.91 by 10 points. Major Goalkickers; Hawks Rioli 5 Bruest 3 Shiels 2 Gunston 2 PIES Swan 2 White 2 Best HAWKS Lewis, Hodge, Shiels Mitchell PIES Pendlebury, Crisp, Sidebottom, Witts The Hawks and the Pies put on a great game worthy of a final and lifted the spirits of the AFL world. After such a terrible day the game tonight was a welcome relief and the players should be congratulated. The Hawks seemed to always have a 1 or 2 goal break but were headed in the final quarter only to bounce back and get the points. The Pies would feel it was another that got away and their kicking at goal didn't help matters. 2.9 in the third quarter was particularly telling. The Pies strong tackling and pressure kept them in the game all night and the Hawks couldn't shake them but I suppose it was their experience in the end that won out. They always find a way. You would have to be impressed with the youngsters that the PIES have and there was none better than Jack Crisp with 28 disposals. The Hawks engine room went to work through Jordan Lewis (36 disposals)(BOG),Hodge, Shiels and Mitchell and they did enough to thwart each move by the Pies. For the Pies as mentioned Crisp was good along with Pendlebury, Sidebottom and I thought Witts contributed in the Ruck. A valuable 4 points won by Hawthorn and lost by Collingwood.The Hawks now have a real chance of finishing top two whilst the Pies top four hopes are sliding. Next week the Hawks face Fremantle in the match of the round whilst the Pies travel to Adelaide to play Port. At the end of the game the players and coaches came together in a circle in the middle of the ground to pay respect to the passing of Phil Walsh. A gesture seemingly orchestrated by Alistair Clarkson. It was a magnificent end to such a trying day.
AB
Guest
Hawks finally win a close one.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
HAWKS WIN by 10.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Bruest Bruest finishes a counter attack move. Hawks by 9. PIES……….12.19.91 HAWKS …..15.10.100 Q4 1'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Hawks by 3. Q4 3'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Attendance 75880.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Engrossing game Hawks by 4. PIES……….12.18.90 HAWKS …..14.10.94 Q4 4'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Suckling Great long goal by a great kick in Suckling. Hawks back in front by 5 PIES……….12.17.89 HAWKS …..14.10.94 Q4 8′
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Rioli Rioli gets one back after high contact . He has five. Pies by 1. PIES……….12.17.89 HAWKS …..13.10.88 Q4 8'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL PIES Blair Blair goals after a lucky free.Pies by 9. PIES……….12.17.89 HAWKS …..12.8.80 Q4 11'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL PIES Swan Great end to end play sees Swan who has moved forward finish off. PIES in front PIES……….11.17.83 HAWKS …..12.8.80 Q4 13'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Game in the balance. PIES……….10.17.77 HAWKS …..12.8.80 Q4 14'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
SUBS Activated Blair for Moore Suckling for Sphangher
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL PIES White Margin 3 points. White finishes a Pendlebury pass. Game on. PIES……….10.16.76 HAWKS …..12.7.79 Q4 18'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
3 QTR TIME Hawks 12.7.79 lead Pies 9.16.70 by 9. Goals; Rioli 4 Shiels 2 Gunston 2 Bruest 2 Pies kicked 2.9 that quarter and should be closer. Lewis and Mitchell lead the way for the Hawks but it's a great battle with Pendlebury and Crisp. The Hawks just seem to have enough but you never know I'm mightily impressed with the Pies endeavour and this could see them get up in the finish.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Bruest Bruest converts a stoppage for the Hawks and gives them a little breather. PIES……….9.16.70 HAWKS …..12.7.79 Q3 1′
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Pies youngsters are really running over the Hawks but not converting. PIES……….9.16.70 HAWKS …..11.7.73 Q3 1'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL PIES Fasolo Fasolo big mark big goal. Pies stay with them. PIES……….9.13.67 HAWKS …..11.6.72 Q3 5′
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Travis Cloke 1.4 the other way round and the Pies would be in front. PIES………8.13.61 HAWKS …..11.6.72 Q3 5'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL HAWKS Gunston Gunston finishes off Hill pass after Hill broke free down the flank. PIES………8.11.59 HAWKS …..11.6.72 Q3 9'