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The Hawthorn Hawks have bounced back with a win, setting up their victory over North Melbourne with a huge first quarter.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Hawthorn Hawks 14.12.96
North Melbourne Kangaroos 8.9.57
It’s a huge day for the Hawthorn Hawks’ hold on top spot as they face a desperate North Melbourne Kangaroos side out for revenge at the MCG. Join The Roar from 2:10pm (AEST) for all the scores and action for this massive clash.
Hawthorn’s loss last Saturday to the 10th-placed Demons has sent shockwaves through the football world and given hope to a host of other teams tasked with knocking off the goliath club.
Suddenly even their place in the top four is far from guaranteed – with a comparatively poor percentage, one loss could spell disaster and see them tumble to fifth.
North Melbourne are a shadow of the club who began this season with nine straight wins, only winning two of their ten games since.
Injuries to key players have cruelled them over the past few months, while others have struggled with form and consistency during the tough period.
Last week they went down against the Bulldogs in another match they were tipped to win, with injuries to star bookends Ben Brown and Scott Thompson only making things worse.
Replacing Brown and Thompson for the Kangaroos will be Lachie Hansen and Robin Nahas in their only two team changes.
Hawthorn has swung the axe, omitting Kurt Heatherly, Tim O’Brien and Jonathon O’Rourke, while James Sicily has been suspended and Ben Stratton injured.
Some very handy names headline the Hawks’ five inclusions – Paul Puopolo, James Frawley, Liam Shiels and Billy Hartung, while Ryan Burton will make his debut after being selected in the first round in last year’s national draft.
The last meeting between these two was one of the season’s most fiery matches, with North Melbourne choosing a gameplan based on aggression and intimidation, matched in every way by the Hawks.
Hawthorn held on to win, and as soon as the siren sounded it was clear that the Roos were counting down the days until their next chance to ruffle the premier’s feathers – and that chance has arrived.
Luke Bruest needs to improve on last week’s showing – the usually lively Hawk had barely any impact and finished the game scoreless.
Jack Gunston will also be hoping his goalkicking woes have subsided – with Scott Thompson not out there he will be hoping for a big haul.
It’s a big game for Majak Daw. Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite are out, and in circumstances such as these with finals on the line against the best team in the league, there’s no better time to truly arrive.
Todd Goldstein holds the ruck advantage, and if Daniel Wells and Nick Dal Santo can make the most of their touches, there’s no reason the Roos can’t deliver an upset win.
Nothing can be taken for granted anymore this season, and both these sides know it. Do or die, now or never – think of any cliché you can – but with so much on the line this one will no doubt be a belter. Enjoy the show.
Prediction
Too many big names missing for North.
Hawthorn by 10.
Can North Melbourne settle their rocky finals ship or will Hawthorn sink them and hold steady in top spot? Join The Roar from 2:10pm (AEST) for a live blog of the game!
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