Collingwood vs Hawthorn: Match Preview
B: Clement, Prestigiacomo, Wakelin.
HB: Johnson, J.Cloke, Cole.
C: Lonie, Buckley, Woewodin.
HF: Lockyer, Rocca, C.Cloke.
F: Fraser, Tarrant, Holland.
R: Richards, Burns, Licuria.
INTER: Swan, Shackleton, Maxwell, McGough.
EMERG: Didak, R.Shaw, B.Shaw.
IN: Tarrant, Maxwell, Shackleton, Swan.
OUT: Davis, Lokan, R.Shaw, Didak.
After its season ending loss last week against Sydney, Collingood will be
out to regain some pride with a win against the lowly Hawthorn on Saturday.
The Hawks have been dismal all season and Saturday should be no different.
With Tarrant and Rocca staring, nothing the Hawks through at the Pies will
be able to stop them.
In defence, Mark Williams has been the Hawks only shining forwrad in 2004,
with his quick thinking and accurate goal kicking. As the Hawks key forward,
Collingwood have to watch him. James Clement is the ideal man for the job.
Clement is fast and strong overhead and will know when to run off Williams.
The rest of the Hawks forwards are mixed bags. Nick Holland and John Barker
haven't fired a shot in 2004 and have the last nine weeks to prove
themselves. Both have to be paid respect, as they know their carears are on
the line. Prestigiacomo will be assigned to Holland whilst Barker will be
opposed by Shane Wakelin. For the Pies,Ben Johnson provides the run from
the backline, while Richard Cole should continue his good form, creating
drive from defence. Nick Maxwell will match up on the struggling Nathan
Thompson, who will be eager to prove to his coach that he is still a
valuable AFL player. Jason Cloke will be played as the loose man across
half back, a role that he has played effectivly over his carear.
In the middle, without Shane Crawford, Richard Vandenberg and Sam Mitchel,
the Hawks are undermanned. Nick Ries and Luke Hodge have done good jobs in
recent weeks and will again be called upon for leadership. Magpie skipper
Nathan Buckley and his fellow midfielders Scott Burns, Paul Licuria,
Shane Woewodin, Mark McGough and Luke Shackleton should have a field day.
Shackleton, a former Tasmainian, will be selected for his first AFL match
following some good performances at Williamstown. In a surprise match up,
Buckley could be tagged by defender Joel Smith. Smith has been excillent
all year for the struggling Hawks and may be the man to counter the Magpie
captain. In thr ruck, the Hawks have the definite advantage with Peter
Everitt having one of his best seasons at AFL level. In a dismal year for
the Hawks. Everitt is one player who can hold his head high. Everitt will
be up against young Guy Richards and Josh Fraser. It will be interesting to
see how Richards copes against one of the games finest.
Up forward, the return of Chris Tarrant will help bolster the Pies attack,
which again looked lackluster against Sydney on Saturday night. Tarrant will
be manned up by Trent Croad. Both players came from the 1997 National Draft,
and will be eager to win the battle. Croad was good in round 12 against Nick
Riewoldt and will look to add Tarrant to his list of scalps. Jonathan Hay
has been restricted by injury all season but is now finding his feet. The
former All-Australian defender will match up on Magpie Anthony Rocca, who
has been down on form in recent weeks. Cameron Cloke has been a real find
for Collingwood in 2004, with his strong hands and stong body standing out.
Cloke will be followed by former Don Danny Jacobs, who has been one Hawks to
hold his own this season. Josh Fraser will switch between ruck and forward
all day, but when forward Simon Beaumont will be his shadow. In the absence
of Alan Didak and Leon Davis, Brodie Holland will be forced to play the
afternoon as a small forward. His opponant will be Michael Osborne, who has
tried hard all season.
In the wash-up, Collingwood should win easily, as they will be eager to
atone for last weeks loss against the Swans, which took away their finals
aspirations. The Pies forwards are too strong and their midfield too
powerful. With Buckley and Tarrant firing, the Magpies will win well.
COLLINGWOOD BY 32 POINTS.
Collingwood vs Hawthorn: Match Preview
Moderator: bbmods