Match Preview and Team Selection - Semi Final

[GCDee 3,200]

Burgoyne more than likely will play bulk midfield minutes with JOM going out. 

I'd like to see harmes to to him. Let Mitchell pick up 40 shitty touches. That or unleash viney onto him to the point where he crap him self going anywhere near Jack's ball.

[Docs Demons 1,798]

Bring the effort, pressure, tackling from last week and kick a bit better at goals and we should win but under estimate this mob at your peril.

[BigFez 1,466]

43 minutes ago, Copuchas said:

Good call @BigFez

Yep really nailed that one!

[BigFez 1,466]

35 minutes ago, Copuchas said:

Good call @BigFez

Probably the first call I’ve made on here too. Might stick to not making calls, I think I’m better at it. 

[rjay 25,383]

7 minutes ago, GCDee said:

Burgoyne more than likely will play bulk midfield minutes with JOM going out. 

Going to be interesting, he struggled last week and looked his age. Gone one game too many???

...but you never write off a champion, he might have one punch left.

We need to give him the Ablett treatment early and make sure he goes to ground.

The older you get the harder it is to get back up.

Edited September 13, 2018 by rjay

[Lucifers Hero 40,622]

3 hours ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Clarko will almost concede the clearances and try to set up their scoring from the back half.  The game will be played in our half.

Composure and lowering the eyes is going to be key.

Not sure Clarkson will concede the clearances!!  Concede the hitouts, yes.  Concede the clearances, no.

In round 4 they thrashed us in clearances.  Max won the hitouts hands down (72 to 34) but it was the Hawks who waltzed off with the ball - 56 clearances to 38.  They thrashed us with uncontested possessions by kicking/marking rather than handballing so no opportunity for us to tackle/contest.  It is the same formula most of the top sides used to beat us during the H&A games. 

Clarkson knows they can't compete once the ball hits the deck and will do everything possible to control the ball (targetted kicks/mark) and control the tempo.  He doesn't want to be dragged into what is being called a 'chaos' style of play.  That starts with clearances and he will have a plan to neutralise Max again.

We are not the team that lost in round 4 and our coaches won't be experimenting with tricky maneuvers eg no wingmen (a crazy idea that thankfully was ditched after one try), players in unfamiliar positions, Harmes in the ruck, aggressive high press etc.  And, Goodwin will be ready for the 'neutralise Max' strategy. 

So my view is it will be won in the middle.  We just need to make sure that if we tag and contain Mitchell the likes of Shiels, Breust and Isaacs don't run rampant and dominate the clearances.  If we stop their midfield we win!! 

 

Edit:  Just saw this article https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-360-the-loss-of-injured-hawk-jaeger-omeara-leaves-a-big-whole-in-hawthorns-midfield/news-story/38d58764dc8e2a2feb5c765669031fa5

Folks here may not rate Brereton but this comment is worth noting:  “When Hawthorn play O’Meara and Mitchell — if they get 15 or more clearances, they’re 7-2 in their terms of win-loss ratio in the back half of the year,”

Hawks rely on winning the clearances which will be very difficult without O'Meara and Mitchell tagged.

Edited September 13, 2018 by Lucifer's Hero

[Dirts 429]

On 9/11/2018 at 5:58 PM, monoccular said:

ALERT!!

Showers only,  and remove the plugs!

Finished top four because they had an easy draw. 

[pineapple dee 2,892]

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Yep that's right. Before last week Lewis had 23, Jones the two from 2016, and Hibberd/Melksham one each (vs North Melbourne in 2014).

Call him Clayton Sam Oscar Max Uranus. 

Sounds goo to me

[Adam The God 30,645]

Hang on, hang on, hang on. When was it announced that O'Meara was missing? That is a massive, massive out for the Hawks. Wowza. I feel more confident now. And that's slightly worrying as Clarkson is a genius.

[Adam The God 30,645]

4 hours ago, Stretch Johnson said:

Clarko will almost concede the clearances and try to set up their scoring from the back half.  The game will be played in our half.

Composure and lowering the eyes is going to be key.

This is where Stratton out helps us big time. 

[Demon Disciple 12,507]

Clarkson is simply too clever to concede anything. It may appear he is conceding, but that's only because he's distracting you with his right hand, and his left hand is about to pull a rabbit out of thin air.

[McQueen 17,867]

Just boarded the red eye. 

Pumped. 

[WERRIDEE 5,606]

No changes is big. We are an inform side playing with plenty of confidence while the Hawks had a shattering loss and have lost Stratton and O'Meara if we can't beat them now we will never beat them. I predict that we will win by 24 points. 

[DubDee 26,472]

At the airport about to fly home. I’ll arrive 5am on Sat morning not knowing if we are in a prelim or not.

Torture!!!

the mrs is taping the game so a media/phone etc ban will be in place. I might have to put a blindfold on to be safe

[Skuit 10,031]

6 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Was feeling pretty nervous since the teams came out but a caller to SEN from Thailand of all places calmed me down a tad a short time ago. 

Would be highly amusing if it turned out it was @Sir Why You Little who had calmed your nerves. Did the caller happen to mention our loss to Collingwood in the final round of last year? 

[Deemania since 56 6,775]

7 hours ago, grey wolf said:

Came to me in a smoke that we would win by 7 goals just on ability and system but with Stratton and OMeara out make that 13.... dare to dream Dees... we are the REAL thing ... oooommmaa

With so many errant misses at goal against Geelong last week, and with a kicking practice focus at training yesterday, you'd have to think that accuracy, eyes-up delivery and good snaps will be strongly in mind against the Whoreform team - and it will need to be - as another great surprise to an overconfident opposition. Really, we could have won by ten goals last week such was the inaccuracy. So this week, if we get a 50 per cent increase in scoring accuracy, it could be a Dees win by 43-50 points! 

[Deemania since 56 6,775]

4 hours ago, A F said:

Hang on, hang on, hang on. When was it announced that O'Meara was missing? That is a massive, massive out for the Hawks. Wowza. I feel more confident now. And that's slightly worrying as Clarkson is a genius.

Half of Clarkson's genius is to have good relationships with the umpires. His team benefits from influential decisions across a game and when the heat is on, allowing him to make and encourage plays that might otherwise be penalised - particularly holding and pushing - and like behaviours from opposition sides are seldom tolerated. It is as if Whoreform have a one-way street for the game - particularly in big games - so acts of recklessness or forgetfulness by the MFC must be contained. We have the personnel to achieve this. Just the same, I'd like to see a few key Squarks' big men run into Vanders and limp off into the distance somewhat retarded.

[Sir Why You Little 37,372]

4 hours ago, Skuit said:

Would be highly amusing if it turned out it was @Sir Why You Little who had calmed your nerves. Did the caller happen to mention our loss to Collingwood in the final round of last year? 

Not me. Back in Melbs for 3 weeks

[Wollongong Demon 182]

Got  feeling that they may go after Harmes. There may be a few reports in this one.

[Jaded No More 68,976]

12 hours ago, deanox said:

Schoenmakers might get a nod for the emergency list but the other two wouldn't. 

 

But footy is a funny game.

Correct.

I bet the Geelong fan forum last week was saying the same about Weideman.

Never underestimate anyone. 

It's a do or die for them. I would not be surprised if they come out and try to take out a few players physically. It's a very Hawthorn thing to do. I hope we stay calm and focused like last week, and don't let old bullies try to derail us. 

Edited September 13, 2018 by Jaded

[Superunknown 4,243]

13 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

 

Everything about that is awesome. The footy. Kids jumping the fence to move across to other seats. The goal umpire shooing kids back over the fence. The commentary is champagne.

[Deemania since 56 6,775]

4 hours ago, Wollongong Demon said:

Got  feeling that they may go after Harmes. There may be a few reports in this one.

After Harmes they will go ... anything to earn a free kick. It will be a 'free kick in front of goal' kind of game for the Hawks, and will include the umpires going 'missing'  for observed illegal tackles and tripping of MFC players if we get ahead of them on the scoreboard. We will win this game but we must simultaneously realise that we are not supposed to win this game.

 

[Guest]

17 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Not sure Clarkson will concede the clearances!!  Concede the hitouts, yes.  Concede the clearances, no.

In round 4 they thrashed us in clearances.  Max won the hitouts hands down (72 to 34) but it was the Hawks who waltzed off with the ball - 56 clearances to 38.  They thrashed us with uncontested possessions by kicking/marking rather than handballing so no opportunity for us to tackle/contest.  It is the same formula most of the top sides used to beat us during the H&A games. 

Clarkson knows they can't compete once the ball hits the deck and will do everything possible to control the ball (targetted kicks/mark) and control the tempo.  He doesn't want to be dragged into what is being called a 'chaos' style of play.  That starts with clearances and he will have a plan to neutralise Max again.

We are not the team that lost in round 4 and our coaches won't be experimenting with tricky maneuvers eg no wingmen (a crazy idea that thankfully was ditched after one try), players in unfamiliar positions, Harmes in the ruck, aggressive high press etc.  And, Goodwin will be ready for the 'neutralise Max' strategy. 

So my view is it will be won in the middle.  We just need to make sure that if we tag and contain Mitchell the likes of Shiels, Breust and Isaacs don't run rampant and dominate the clearances.  If we stop their midfield we win!! 

 

Edit:  Just saw this article https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-360-the-loss-of-injured-hawk-jaeger-omeara-leaves-a-big-whole-in-hawthorns-midfield/news-story/38d58764dc8e2a2feb5c765669031fa5

Folks here may not rate Brereton but this comment is worth noting:  “When Hawthorn play O’Meara and Mitchell — if they get 15 or more clearances, they’re 7-2 in their terms of win-loss ratio in the back half of the year,”

Hawks rely on winning the clearances which will be very difficult without O'Meara and Mitchell tagged.

Pedantic.  Have no doubt that his contingency will be based on us winning the clearances and reacting.

[Devil In Disguise 2,278]

Effing Nichols ruins games. NOT AFL standard.