GWS Giants
29
Match Complete
Hawthorn
85
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| Rushed |  | 26:34 | ||
| 24:16 | | P. Puopolo | ||
| S. Mumford | | 21:36 | ||
| 16:10 | | L. Breust | ||
| B. Daniels | | 9:55 | ||
| 7:15 |  | M. Lewis | ||
| 4:35 | | M. Lewis | ||
| 2:37 | | L. Breust | ||
| 4.2 (26) | Third Quarter [+] | 10.5 (65) | ||
| 26:49 | | P. Puopolo | ||
| 23:16 | | T. O'Brien | ||
| 18:04 | | T. Scully | ||
| 15:44 | | L. Breust | ||
| 13:41 | | J. Worpel | ||
| T. Taranto | | 9:50 | ||
| 6:56 | | Rushed | ||
| 0:29 | | R. Henderson | ||
| 4.1 (25) | Second Quarter [+] | 6.2 (38) | ||
| 25:48 | | Rushed | ||
| B. Deledio | | 22:21 | ||
| J. Cameron | | 18:57 | ||
| 8:15 | | T. O'Brien | ||
| 4:23 | | C. Wingard | ||
| 0:54 | | I. Smith | ||
| 2.1 (13) | First Quarter [+] | 3.1 (19) | ||
| J. Hately | | 21:13 | ||
| A. Kennedy | | 16:08 | ||
| 14:39 | | P. Puopolo | ||
| I. Hill | | 11:04 | ||
| 7:09 | | C. Nash | ||
| 4:05 | | T. O'Brien | ||
| 0:46 | | Rushed | ||
It’s a final roll of the dice for the Hawthorn Hawks when they take on the GWS Giants in Canberra at the University of New South Wales Canberra Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and blog from 7:50pm AEDT.
Finals are still mathematically possible for the Hawks, who sit in 12th spot, two wins and percentage behind the Adelaide Crows in eighth. Two losses in a row, including a demoralising one to North Melbourne last Friday night, have made this match a must-win.
In the background Alistair Clarkson may have given up on 2019 – a year that started shockingly with Tom Mitchell’s knee injury and never really got going after that – but in public he’ll be pressing his men to finish on a high.
Pinching an upset win against the finals-bound Giants in this game would be a huge confidence boost to take into the final two rounds and 2020.
The Giants are in hot form, having won the last three to affirm their finals credentials. A victory over Hawthorn would almost ensure them fifth spot (or a push into fourth) given their massive percentage buffer over the struggling Pies in sixth and unreliable Essendon in seventh.
Last week the Giants clung on in a tight game to defeat cross-town rivals the Swans. Mammoth games from the usually more peripheral (or forward) players Toby Greene (34 disposals), Zac Williams (32) and Jacob Hopper (26 and 3 goals) demonstrated the depth and danger of this Giants squad.
This week they welcome back star Jeremy Cameron to lead the line, while Adam Kennedy and Dawson Simpson come in to add options in defence and the ruck (where Shane Mumford must surely be winding down).
Cameron’s return will offset the loss of effective depth forwards Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg who miss through injury. Connor Idun is omitted.
Hawthorn have had to also make a change in the ruck, with Jon Ceglar coming in for the injured Ben McEvoy. James Cousins also returns and there’s a debut for Changkuoth Jiath, a category B rookie who’s just been elevated to the senior list.
Grant Burchill comes out of the side, injured again, and sadly for the club legend may have played his last game for Hawthorn. He’s joined by Connor Nash who has been dropped.
Prediction
GWS should win this game. They have the talent at every line, as well as the bodies on the ball to get first use and be effective with it.
While Hawthorn have a habit of finding form when it’s needed, it would be a big stretch of the imagination to see them procuring a result in this game.
Certainly, if GWS have ambitions to go deep in September, they should be able to beat teams like Hawthorn, whose squad is being held together by sticky tape and blu-tack at this stage.
GWS by 24 points.
Iambillbob
Roar Rookie
Hahaha pigs fly
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Nope Billy!
Iambillbob
Roar Rookie
Don’t get too chirpy peter
Iambillbob
Roar Rookie
Even better for the tigers....pies will drop this game today...and the four is set
Peter Warrington
Guest
their list is pretty healthy really. if fit. guys like Gunston are only 28. i wouldn't be punting on Coniglio. after last night, I would be chucking the everything at Tony Greene.
Peter Warrington
Guest
rd 23 v the Bombers looms as either a heartbreaker for one, or a dead rubber preview of week 1 of the finals. fascinating!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I told you the Giants would stumble AD. Pies keep winning, eagles beat Richmond next week and top 4 for pies.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I tipped this Birdie. Well done Hawks . Helped the Pies
Jack A
Guest
Fair call. With their list they probably should have finished top 2 and least once and at least made a GF. They looked soft, uncomfortable and out of their depth tonight.
Jack A
Guest
After the WC game Clarko said that the Hawks will be a force next year. I believed him, others scoffed and said “what else would he say”? In your opinion, how much of that is bravado ie instilling belief and how much is fact? I suspect that bravado eg no sleeves in Canberra and the coach wearing shorts gets results on a given day. Transitioning an aged list to contend again is a daunting task but if anyone can do it Clarko, Mitchell, Glass et al can. I think Clarko wants a 5th flag, or at least to set Mitchell up for one. I’m genuinely interested in your thoughts as you seem quite reasoned most of the time.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Did the Hawks win the Coniglio Snowcone Cup tonight?
Birdman
Roar Rookie
That's special, AD.
Brian
Roar Rookie
Melbourne jokes cos it's cooler here? What's yer point?
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Great blogging Lucas.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
That's amazing. Gotta love footy, hey BM?
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Can't see it, doc but it feels like we really are building to something worthwhile in 2020.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
10 mins to 11pm and there are locals having a post game kick to kick on Manuka as the sleet teems down. How bloody good is that?
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
The Suns will help the %, then a warm weather game and travel to Perth. Hawks need Port,Freo,Bulldogs all fail to fire a shot. Not to mention the Crows. Still, while there's breath, there's hope.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Haha. It sure did.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
One out of the box for sure, Lucas.