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Western Bulldogs
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Welcome to the MCG for the Round 2 clash between the mighty fighting Hawthorn Hawks, and the sons of the west, the Western Bulldogs. Join The Roar from 3:20pm (AEDT) for live scores and blog of the game.
Tom Scully is the man for Hawthorn, who has made by all reports a miraculous recovery to not only play this season, but play as early as Round 2, when his return this year was not guaranteed by the Hawks media outfit.
While the Round 1 upsets were rightly topped off by the Lions’ destruction of the reigning premier, the Hawks victory at a hostile Adelaide Oval was probably the next biggest surprise of the round.
While it was easy to put that result down to stage fright and a tactical lack of awareness by the Crows, it was yet again another reminder that Alistair Clarkson continues to find ways to adapt and mould his side to at least compete against each opponent on their merits.
The injection of Scully to assist the hard-running Isaac Smith is that twin-attack of speed that the Hawks have lacked since their three-peat days, and the hope is that Hawthorn will finally be able to compete with the faster teams in the comp.
But where Hawthorn will want to remain tight is that defensive unit, led by captain Ben Stratton.
For all the talk of the tactical victories of the Hawks in Adelaide, they won that match before Adelaide remained impotent in front of goal.
Hawthorn last week were in a lot of ways outplayed in the mids, but seemed happy to let that happen because they choked the Crows of real opportunities up front.
How Luke Beveridge contends with the oppressive nature of Hawthorn’s backline will be the difference here.
The Bulldogs were at their best against the Swans last week when their midfield were tough on the ball, and their forwards were clinical up front.
When they let the Swans back into the game, the midfield dominance dropped, and suddenly, goals were on offer.
But for a Buddy Franklin brain fade, the Dogs could be coming into this match looking for a first-up win to start the season.
Instead, they have a chance to go 2-0, so if that Bontempelli smoothness and all round accurate kicking method can hold strong, the Dogs can enjoy a day out.
The Dogs relied upon Aaron Naughton kicking true up front last week, and there is no reason why the young man can’t deliver again. How he comes up against a much hardened Hawks’ defence may be key to his outcome.
Beveridge is backing his Round 1 charges though, going into this match up with no changes, which in this day and age is a night position to be in.
The Hawks curiously have had the wood over the Bulldogs for the last few years, with the Bulldogs’ last win coming in 2016 in that semi-final on the way to a premiership.
That win was on the back of relentless pressure that belted the Hawks out of the game, and they may need to do that again today to knock the disciplined Hawks’ outfit off their perch.
Prediction
The Hawks looked calm and even across the board for four quarters in Adelaide last week, while the Bulldogs looked spectacular at times, but vulnerable at others.
I’m backing consistency of the spectacular, at least this early in the season.
Hawthorn by 20.
Join The Roar from 3:20pm (AEDT) for live scores and blog of the game, and don’t forget to leave a comment in the comment section below.
When: Sunday, 31 March 2019, at 3:20 PM
Where: MCG, Melbourne
TV: Channel 7, Fox Sports channel 503, AFL app live streaming
Betting: Hawks $1.39, Bulldogs $3.00, Line 18.5 $1.90
Hawthorn Hawks
B Blake Hardwick, James Frawley, Jack Scrimshaw
HB Shaun Burgoyne, James Sicily, Ben Stratton
C Harry Morrison, Liam Shiels, Jarman Impey
HF Jarryd Roughead, Conor Nash, Isaac Smith
F Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Paul Puopolo
FOL Ben McEvoy, James Worpel, Jaeger O’Meara
I/C James Cousins, Jonathon Ceglar, Ricky Henderson, Tom Scully
EMG David Mirra, Dylan Moore, Mitchell Lewis, Kaiden Brand
Western Bulldogs
B Taylor Duryea, Zaine Cordy, Hayden Crozier
HB Caleb Daniel, Easton Wood, Matthew Suckling
C Lachie Hunter, Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae
HF Billy Gowers, Josh Schache, Josh Dunkley
F Toby McLean, Aaron Naughton, Sam Lloyd
FOL Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Mitch Wallis
I/C Bailey Smith, Ed Richards, Tory Dickson, Bailey Williams
EMG Lewis Young, Jackson Trengove, Patrick Lipinski, Fergus Greene
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