Hawks v Blues - A Critical Match

[Tay_]

WE'VE already had a supposed elimination final in June this year. Now get set for a de facto qualifying final in August.

Hawthorn and Carlton's round 22 clash at Etihad Stadium 11 days from now looms as perhaps the most critical match of the season, not only for the composition of the lower half of the eight, but for the premiership plans of top dogs Collingwood and Geelong.

If the Hawks and Blues both finish top four, the flag race inevitably becomes an all-Victorian affair. If either misses out and allows West Coast in, the finals complexion changes completely; the Eagles' eventual reward either a home preliminary final or a knockout semi-final at Patersons Stadium in week two

art-svFINISH-420x0.jpg


With the Eagles hardly the bunnies they used to be in Melbourne, having won two of their three games here this season, that's plenty of food for thought, even for the Pies and Cats.

Hawthorn could still finish top four should it lose to Carlton. But not the Blues, who have played a game more than either the Hawks or Eagles, and first need to negotiate Fremantle in Perth next weekend.

Carlton chief executive Greg Swann seems to have grasped the irony of his club possibly turning in a 16½-win season, good enough to have topped the AFL ladder in 1998 or finish second twice in the past decade, yet potentially still not good enough for a double chance.

The Blues don't deserve such a cruel fate. Their progress this season has been obvious, their midfield a machine, their attack always threatening, and their defence full of steel.

Not that Hawthorn and West Coast don't have similarly heart-warming tales to tell. The Eagles' resurgence from a wooden spoon has been remarkable. So, too, the Hawks' effort in pushing through a ridiculously long injury list, thereby turning up a handful of exciting kids who have actually helped make them a more threatening proposition.

This year's model has a remarkable capacity to find something at the critical moment, as it did again yesterday in Launceston after North Melbourne had sensationally snatched the lead late in the piece.

That last little burst probably killed off the plucky Kangaroos for this year. And whoever does end up finishing eighth will know that in an elimination final against any of Hawthorn, Carlton or West Coast, they'll be facing a huge task.

But even the eyes of those above them will be focused on Etihad Stadium on Friday week. The Hawks and Blues will be carrying not just their own, but the finals hopes of several rivals

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz1UNQMgS3K

[Tay_]

ETIHAD Stadium boss Ian Collins has announced a ticket buyback scheme that could enable the venue to attract more than 50,000 supporters on Friday night.

Collins told the Herald Sun the stadium was disappointed with recent sold-out crowds, including last Friday's attendance, after patrons with reserved seats failed to show.

The AFL said Channel 7 had shown no inclination to the broadcast Friday night's Carlton-Hawthorn game live.

Earlier this season Carlton had attempted to have the game shifted to the MCG but was rebuffed by the AFL.

Now the stadium will buy back tickets often bought in 11-game packages, and on-sell them to fans eager to attend the blockbuster clash.

The seating capacity of Etihad Stadium is 53,500, with about 3000 standing room tickets.

But Collins said last Friday's crowd of 46,505 for the Collingwood-St Kilda clash was disappointing

"We believe this will allow more supporters to attend the game," he said.

"In theory we should be able to get 56,000 supporters but the only time we got that was for the British Lions v Australia rugby union Test.

"There were very few no-shows that night. Our problem is that people buy 10 or 11-game packages and then don't turn up.

"We will refund the price of the ticket, cancel the barcodes of the ticket for that match, and then on-sell that seat so people can come to the game. We don't want people to be denied."

There are still some tickets available for the fully designated ticket event, but it is expected to be a sellout.

The AFL confirmed yesterday the "house full" sign was guaranteed, but it had received no indication from Channel 7 that it would opt for a live telecast.

"Channel 7 has the right already to go live for this match, if they wish to, as they have the right for this current contract to broadcast every match on a Friday night live," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.

"At this point, they've given no indication to us they are changing their broadcast time from 8.30pm."

The league releases the television and radio schedule every Monday. Yesterday it had the usual 8.30pm delayed telecast listed.

Channel 7 failed to respond to inquiries from the Herald Sun about a possible live telecast

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1226115497651

[Tay_]

HAWTHORN captain Luke Hodge declared Carlton's midfield the best in the AFL.

And Hodge said the Hawks would have no problem getting themselves up for tomorrow night's crunch game against such a star-studded team.

"You always get up for a team that's got the likes of (Chris) Judd, (Marc) Murphy and (Bryce) Gibbs going through the midfield," Hodge said.

"They've got an outstanding midfield, and that's where the game's going to be won."

A win in tomorrow night's showdown at Etihad Stadium will guarantee Hawthorn's hold on third place and book a qualifying final match-up with either Geelong or Collingwood.

But Hodge said success was far from certain given the calibre of a Blues midfield the Hawks have not faced since Round 9 last year

"You'd have to rate them right at the top," he said.

"With the performance that Judd's had this year, and also Murphy's been matching him, and then you throw in different guys.

"(Andrew) Carrazzo's come back in to do a bit of a tagging role and then you've got (Mitch) Robinson, who's in there and has had a good year as well. I rate that midfield as high as any."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1226116993066

[SuBMiSSioN]

It's going to be a very exciting match me thinks. My brother has already started giving it to me. Little does he realise that his cockyness is going to come back and haunt him if the hawks lose. Bwahahahaha.

[Sammi]

Go Carlton for this game...lol.

[Tay_]

CARLTON

B: Jeremy Laidler, Michael Jamison, Christopher Yarran
HB: Bryce Gibbs, Lachlan Henderson, Nick Duigan
C: Heath Scotland, David Ellard, Kade Simpson
HF: Jeffrey Garlett, Bret Thornton, Dennis Armfield
F: Andrew Walker, Matthew Kreuzer, Eddie Betts
Foll: Robert Warnock, Chris Judd, Marc Murphy
I/C: Andrew Carrazzo, Aaron Joseph, Mitch Robinson, Marcus Davies

Emg: Setanta O'hAilpin, Jordan Russell, Zach Tuohy

In: Michael Jamison
Out: Zach Tuohy

HAWTHORN

B: Paul Puopolo, Josh Gibson, Thomas Murphy
HB: Brent Guerra, Ryan Schoenmakers, Grant Birchall
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Isaac Smith
HF: Chance Bateman, Lance Franklin, Shaun Burgoyne
F: Cyril Rioli, David Hale, Luke Breust
Foll: Max Bailey, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C: Brendan Whitecross, Liam Shiels, Matt Suckling, Cameron Bruce
Emg: Michael Osborne, Jordan Lisle, Kyle Cheney

[Khaled]

Where's submission

[SuBMiSSioN]

Hiding lol

[Khaled]

You're looking very BLUE. You must be depressed.. Or a Carlton supporter

[SuBMiSSioN]

Lol you wanna know what's funny? Mum's been trying to hack into my FB account all night so that she can leave a status about the hawks being the best team ever, but she doesn't know my phone pin bahaha.

Anyway, it's still too soon lol

[Khaled]

You wanna know whats funnier? You actually believed they had a chance!!

[SuBMiSSioN]

We did have a chance. Almost ran over them too in the end. It's all good though. Bring on the finals series!

[SammerTX]

I think Hawthorn's in Carlton's head.

That's 9 straight wins now over them.

But if you want the best entertainment ever, go read the comments on Carlton's FB page - LOL!

[Tay_]

It was a great contest to watch between the clubs; shame the umpiring was terrible. Judd was beaten comprehensively by Lewis and was yet again given special treatment. Should have been gone holding the ball early in the 3rd quarter, the ump called play on. Mitchell had his head taken off in the forward pocket, which was also missed, and that's just a couple of examples. Other than that a terrific performance by the Hawks to play the way they did (in the first half) and to hold Carlton off in the end

another interesting stat just mentioned. The last time the Hawks won 16 games in the regular season they won the flag the same year...

[Tay_]

Bad news for Hawthorn is that Gibson has done his left hamstring which means another injury to another player in defence. Injuries have crucified the Hawks this year, but somehow they have found a way to win.

[carol_au]

Go the Eagles!!!!!

[caller]

you know in roman times the bread and circus was free! now you gotta pay to eat and see, what times we live! the plebeians pay for their own appeasement, while the emporer laughs all the way to the bank with the wealth produced by the subjects collective labour!

[Sammi]

Judd is ALWAYS given special treatment its enough to make u sick. He better not win the Brownlow this year because if he does its purely for being umpires pet.

[falah]

you know in roman times the bread and circus was free! now you gotta pay to eat and see, what times we live! the plebeians pay for their own appeasement, while the emporer laughs all the way to the bank with the wealth produced by the subjects collective labour!

I can't help that there are more important matches being played elsewhere. The Taliban have kicked a few goals lately, and a premiership victory is within the grasp of coach Mohammed Omar. The US has gone through a few coaches in the last few years without much success. After McNeill, McKiernan, McChrystal, Petraeus, and now Allen, ISAF forces in Afghanistan are on their 5th coach in 4 and a half years.

[Tay_]

Judd is ALWAYS given special treatment its enough to make u sick. He better not win the Brownlow this year because if he does its purely for being umpires pet.

Is there a reason why Sam Mitchell can't win it? Did he get suspended this year? I was overseas for a few weeks so lost track of things. He has had an outstanding year without the burden of captaincy.