The Final Analysis
The Eagles just suffocated the Hawks tonight, harranguing them into errors and never allowing them run and carry. They ended up +10 for I50s, +7 for marks inside 50, and +8 for contested possessions.
Their best performers were Luke Shuey, who had 25 possessions and really tore the game open when it was there to be won, plus Elliott Yeo, Mark Hutchings, Shannon Hurn and Andrew Gaff. Of the forwards, Josh Kennedy (4 goals) and Mark LeCras (2) were everywhere and Josh Hill (3 goals) bobbed up with his patented moments of genius. This win came without linchpin Matt Priddis, too.
Luke Hodge (29 possessions), Sam Mitchell (35), Jarryd Roughead (20 and 2 goals) and Cyril Rioli (21) all fought hard, but it wasn’t enough. Too many passengers, too few winners.
So that’s that. The Hawks are in strife, short on momentum and needing to play four finals to pull off a three-peat, while West Coast are absolutely flying after claiming a major finals scalp. Thanks for joining us tonight and make sure to stop by for more live action on the Guardian goal-by-goal live blog.
The Eagles are home - 32 point winners with a home preliminary final coming
West Coast 14.12 (96) defeat Hawthorn 9.10 (64)
Well, the West Coast Eagles were a shambles in 2014. This year, recalibrated and playing an inspired brand of football under Adam Simpson, they’re preliminary finalists and by the end of the weekend, possibly Premiership favourites to boot.
Hawthorn’s fate is highlighted by the sight of Jack Gunstan limping away from Domain Stadium with an ice pack on his knee. They were punished tonight, only really hitting their straps for a brief period when the game was already gone. The rain is now tumbling down in Perth and it was a wet performance for the visitors. Now they’ll face either Adelaide or the Bulldogs in a Friday night semi-final at the MCG. To say they were outplayed tonight is a rank understatement.
Reader Ian Swan has a decent appraisal of the game: “Tonight’s game is largely in keeping with the disappointment thrown up by Friday night football in 2015, mixed with the absence of a star actor from a performance. Ladies and Gentleman, tonight, the part of Carlton will be played by Hawthorn.”
I’ll be back with a final analysis of all the relevant numbers.
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (0:39 remaining) West Coast 14.12 (96) vs Hawthorn 9.9 (63)
With a Mexican wave sweeping the ground, Luke Hodge goals to utter indifference from the crowd. I think you’d call that a fizzer.
Eagles goal! 4th quarter (3:31 remaining) West Coast 14.12 (96) vs Hawthorn 8.9 (57)
If you were worried that this would peter out into junk time, Josh Hill arrives with a ridicu-goal - a flying volley from 15 metres out off the back of a ruck duel. The crowd is loving it and so is Matt Priddis up in the coaches box.
Eagles goal! 4th quarter (5:14 remaining) West Coast 13.12 (90) vs Hawthorn 8.9 (57)
Pat McGinnity gets his first run of the night when he emerges from the sub’s vest to replace Will Schofield. Moments later Mark Hutchings - excellent all night and much the same for weeks - seals the win with a goal of his own. He deserved that. The Eagles will hold on now.
Last team to win the flag after losing the first final was West Coast in 2006. Sydney did the same in 2005.
— Luke D'Anello (@LukeDAnello) September 11, 2015
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (8:49 remaining) West Coast 12.12 (84) vs Hawthorn 8.9 (57)
The Eagles have sort of just stopped here but Kennedy flicks a pass wide for Sheed to mark 48 metres from goal and within range. His kick drops short and ping-pongs around the goal square but the Hawks hold firm. As that’s going on the rain is starting to tumble, which certainly doesn’t favour a Hawks goal avalanche, especially when Gunston also goes down clutching a twisted leg.
Sharrod Wellingham has been understated star tonight and no moment is better than the tackle he effects here to halt a Hawthorn surge, but the Hawks actually get another through Smith, who dobs one from 30 metres out to bring the margin under 5 goals. I’ll say it again: they couldn’t, could they?
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (13:01 remaining) West Coast 12.12 (84) vs Hawthorn 7.9 (51)
Perhaps Josh Kennedy is just keeping things interesting when he massacres an open goal on the run but the crowd atmosphere has moved from that of a victory parade to one of mild concern, especially when Burgoyne goals again from the rebound. They couldn’t, could they?
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (14:38 remaining) West Coast 12.11 (83) vs Hawthorn 6.9 (45)
I don’t think you could call it a comeback, but the Hawks are at least giving an honest account of themselves here. Now Burgoyne goals after chances to Lake and Lewis. I think Eagles fans can still start queuing for Preliminary Final tickets.
A preliminary final double header in Perth now looking likely. Accountant @MCG currently weeping into their cognac.... #AFLEaglesHawks
— Francis Leach (@SaintFrankly) September 11, 2015
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (18:40 remaining) West Coast 12.11 (83) vs Hawthorn 5.9 (39)
The final term gets under way with a very soft 50-metre penalty and goal to Roughead, who was impeded by Schofield. Seven more quick ones and we’re back in business guys.
West Coast’s dominance in numbers
The Eagles are +13 for I50s, +14 for marks I50 and +11 for contested possession. It’s a real thrashing now. Mark LeCras has 17 touches and 2 goals (he should have five) after causing all sorts of trouble in that term. Matt Rosa (24, Luke Shuey (23) and Shannon Hurn (21) have been the other ball magnets, while Kennedy (3 goals), Hill (2), Cripps (2) and co have done the job on the scoreboard. This has been a blistering display by the Eagles.
A goal on the siren stretches West Coast's lead to 50 points
West Coast 12.11 (83) vs Hawthorn 4.9 (33)
Cripps kicks a gimme on the siren and the Eagles are just showing off now. “They’ve dismembered the Hawks tonight” screams Bruce, who is back on board. Reader Ian Swan is becoming maudlin. “Well, for those of us on Hawthorn this is very sad indeed,” he says. “Where is the rain I factored into my tipping? And all thoughts of the three-peat can now be abandoned.”
I’ll be back with some stats but the scoreboard is the only one that matters. Hawthorn are getting a touch-up here. The final term will be intriguing. They need to show some endeavour. A blow-out would be less than ideal.
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (2:03 remaining) West Coast 11.11 (77) vs Hawthorn 4.8 (32)
Josh Kennedy has a chance to nail the door shut from 35 metres out, directly in front, but the Fremantle Doctor (or not? I’m no weatherman but there’s wind at play) forces his shot into a vicious outswing of which Terry Alderman would be proud. He misses accordinly and so does Cripps with an attempted miracle goal from the boundary. It’s blowing a gale out there and if it starts raining as well, you sense it’ll be curtains for Hawthorn.
Who am I kidding? It’s curtains anyway. Jack Darling leads Josh Gibson to the ball to mark strongly and then strokes through a neat set shot to make it a 45-point margin. Lights out. The telling stat: West Coast have taken 14 marks inside 50 and the Hawks just 2. This is O-V-E-R.
You want to boo West Coast, and then you see West Coast #nextlevel #AFLEaglesHawks
— Jack Kerr (@jckkrr) September 11, 2015
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (5:25 remaining) West Coast 10.9 (69) vs Hawthorn 4.8 (32)
LeCras is everywhere right now and after a brief period of congestion, the Eagles run in waves to force the ball forward, where Cripps capitalizes on a Hawthorn error to pivot, swivel and screw a delightful snap across the line for a goal. That could be lights out for Hawthorn. The Domain Stadium crowd is going berserk!
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (8:01 remaining) West Coast 9.9 (63) vs Hawthorn 4.7 (31)
David Hale is rewarded for his goal by being thrown the sub vest (Taylor Duryea is on) and he looks filthy with that decision as he takes a swig of Gatorade. LeCras falls short with a long set shot in the aftermath and misses again after marking 40 metres out moments later.
I’m tempted to say LeCras is misfiring tonight but he’s a ball magnet right at the moment and it’s a case of third time lucky when he marks on the boundary, runs around the mark and snaps beautifully from a tight angle. It’s hard to see the Eagles losing when they’re potting goals like that. Superb.
Hawks goal! 3rd quarter (9:59 remaining) West Coast 8.7 (55) vs Hawthorn 4.7 (31)
The Eagles have weathered the storm somewhat but with each ticking minute you wonder how much impact this Hawthorn charge can actually have. In the best part of 3 quarters they’ve only kicked 3 goals. They’d need at least 7 or 8 more to win this and they get one here through David Hale, who has been muted tonight but boots a goal from 35 metres out on the run. Game...on?
Eagles goal! 3rd quarter (11:53 remaining) West Coast 8.7 (55) vs Hawthorn 3.7 (25)
Perhaps I jumped the gun on that Darling-Hodge confrontation because the latter is really driving the Hawks now but there’s nothing much he can do when Jamie Cripps streams forward in space and arrows a pass onto the chest of Mark LeCras. LeCras is 35 metres from goal on a slight angle but pushes it across the face for no score. “They needed that” says Bruce McAvaney, for whom a single Hawthorn goal has been enough to jump off the West Coast bandwagon.
If you were a real pessimist - and the Hawks have won about a billion flags in the last 40 years so their fans really aren’t - you’d say that Jordan Lewis’ struggles tonight (two turnovers so far this term) are a bad sign. Normally he’s leading the charge. Then both Rioli and Shiels miss gettable chances. There’s been a momentum shift but the Hawks can’t quite nail it. The West Coast miss a few gilt-edged chances. It’s comedy capers.
But Josh Hill! Josh flippin Hill! He gathers 2o metres from goal, spins onto his left and loops a high, tantalizing snap through the middle. It’s a goal!
Hawks goal! 3rd quarter (17:41 remaining) West Coast 7.6 (48) vs Hawthorn 3.5 (23)
Well, Hawthorn barely looked like scoring in the second term so it’s no surprise to see a shake-up in this third term. Brian Lake has been sent forward in the hope of a few goals but also, perhaps, because he’s not curently much use down back.
Sam Mitchell wins the first clearance of the half and it’s a brighter start by the Hawks when Rioli gets involved deep inside 50 but the Eagles clear and there’s a moment that feels a little symbolic when Jack Darling unceremoniously bowls Luke Hodge over - conceding a free kick but winning the contest on a philosophical level. The Hawks are rattled here but not entirely out of it when Hodge wins a 50-metre penalty (Kennedy overstepped the mark), thumps a long pass to Roughead and the latter finally finds his kicking boots to get Hawthorn the much-needed opener.
Some stats from the first half
Surprisingly, Hawthorn is +9 for clearances but the Eagles are +8 on inside-50s, and+7 for marks inside 50 (Hawthorn have had only one!) as their midfielders have taken control. Hawthorn is +15 on tackles but only because they’re chasing tail.
The game-breakers have been Luke Shuey (18 possessions), Josh Kennedy (3 goals) and Elliot Yeo (12 touches and a goal). Sam Mitchell (19 touches) and Cyril Rioli (11) have been Hawthorn’s best, though Rioli didn’t get near it in the second term. That was the story of the quarter, really.
Half-time - West Coast leads by 32 points after a blistering second term
West Coast 7.6 (48) vs Hawthorn 2.4 (16)
Well, that was a nightmare second quarter for the Hawks. They’ve managed just a single behind as West Coast scooted off to a 32-point lead. Is it an insurmountable one? It looks so at the moment.
“One of the great quarters in West Coast football,” says Dennis Cometti, who has seen his fare share. Luke Shuey has been huge in this term, racking up nine disposals (seven of them contested) to drive this Priddis-less Eagles midfield. Somebody needed to stand up and he’s done it in spades. I’ll be back shortly with some stats but it’s safe to say the Eagles blitzed it in that term.
Half time motivational punches in the face from Clarkson
— Cam Manning (@cmrnmnning) September 11, 2015
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (2:35 remaining) West Coast 7.6 (48) vs Hawthorn 2.4 (16)
None other than Wayne Carey is waxing lyrical about Kennedy’s impact (“he’s the best forward in the game by far now”). Star forwards move up a notch when they tear apart finals games and that is precisely what the big Eagle is doing.
So are the Eagles. Luke Shuey does a power of work in the middle to win possession and then Josh Hill bombs long to Elliott Yeo to kick a....point. Gargh. Another Eagles goal would make it very, very tough for the Hawks in the second half. And what do you know, they get it through LeCras! It was a classic opportunists goal - plucked out of a contest and snapped from 40 metres out. The Hawks are officially under seige.
Shuey on yer boot! #AFLEaglesHawks
— Steve Smith (@stevesmithffx) September 11, 2015
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (6:40 remaining) West Coast 6.5 (41) vs Hawthorn 2.4 (16)
The Hawks need a few heroes here. They’re really struggling. Even Rioli is wasting ball across half forward so the Eagles rebound again and that man Kennedy ends up juggling an uncontested mark right on the 50-metre paint. It’s a huge kick in the context of this game and he nails it! This feels significant. What have the Hawks got in reserve here? There’s still plenty of time in this match but the signs are not good.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (8:44 remaining) West Coast 5.5 (35) vs Hawthorn 2.4 (16)
The Eagles’ pressure is stifling at the moment and it tells on Liam Shiels when he’s pinged for running the ball out of bounds where the boundary meets the 50. Sheed fancies himself from there but his shot on goal indicates he probably should have done the team thing and centered it.
Hawthorn rebound but again they’re undone by an awful kick from Roughead - this one a pass - so the Coasters swing it back and would have scored if not for a desperate lunge by Lake to spoil Kennedy in the goal square. Not long after Sam Mitchell errs, kicking in danger but Shuey spurns an easy chance to convert from the free. West Coast trap it forward again but you feel a little nervous for them here; they’re not quite capitalizing on their many chances.
The Hawks? They’ve resorted to bombing it long and it’s not working. The Eagles are more methodical, edging it around the wing before Hutchings hits Kennedy 30 metres from goal on a 45-degree angle. He hammers through his second! You can’t keep Josh Kennedy down doe long. This is a decent lead for the Weagles.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (13:56 remaining) West Coast 4.3 (27) vs Hawthorn 2.4 (16)
Jarryd Roughead’s goal-kicking radar is still a little skewiff when he thumps a 40-metre snap towards goal and otherwise, the Eagles have been the ascendant side in the early stages of this term, none more so than when Cripps marks in the centre, assesses the situation quickly and spears a pass onto Josh Kennedy’s chest. Kennedy’s shot on goal makes Steve Kernahan look like Tony Lockett (hey, you know what I mean) but somehow it tumbles through. Lake gave Kennedy acres of space there. Hopeless.
Eagles goal! 2nd quarter (17:23 remaining) West Coast 3.3 (21) vs Hawthorn 2.3 (15)
There’s a sensational start to the second term when Naitanui flattens McEvoy in the opening ruck contest - entirely fairly - splattering him in the middle of the ground with a strategic leg across the chest. Ouchie. Naitanui also could have gotten on the scoreboard when he looks to have marked close to goal but the umpire keeps the whistle away from his lips.
No matter, a 50-metre penalty (a tardy throw by Liam Shiels) brings Brad Sheppard up to point blank range and he kicks truly to win back the Eagles lead.
Some stats from that first term
The Eagles are -1 on clearances, +3 on stoppages without Matt Priddis burrowing away, and only slightly down on contested ball (-1) and tackles (-3). Crucially, the Hawks have curbed the influence of Nic Naitanui around the ground but Shannon Hurn had 10 possessions setting up play across half back.
For the Hawks, Cyril Rioli has been pivotal with 9 possessions, 3 tackles, a goal and oodles of pressure. Sam Mitchell also has 11 touches. West Coast’s forward haven’t had a sniff so far. I call that a big win to the Hawks. In other news, Jeremy McGovern is back on the ground for a speculative run. He’s had a jab in that troublesome shoulder.
Quarter time - Hawthorn leads by 1 point
West Coast 2.2 (14) vs Hawthorn 2.3 (15)
The Hawks have steadied well since Yeo’s goal, setting up sturdily across half back and going inside 50 often enough to pose a constant scoring threat. It’s Rioli’s paddock at the moment and with the little dynamo sprinting towards an open goal not long before the break, Ellis dis his job a little more effectively here, sticking with him and preventing a score.
Roughead has an absolute ‘mare of a ten-second patch when he drops a sitter, misses a handball option and blazes a point from a standing start with a minute left on the clock. That would have been a handy goal. But that’s that. West Coast go forward one last time but can’t pull off a late score. The score is a reasonable indication of the momentum swings and the Hawks have worked their way into the game well.
Hawks goal! 1st quarter (5:13 remaining) West Coast 2.2 (14) vs Hawthorn 2.1 (13)
There’s a lovely, classically Subiaco round of boos when Luke Hodge finally gets a touch but more genuinely worthy of scorn is Xavier Ellis, who artlessly barrels through Cyril Rioli in the middle of the ground. He coughs up a 50-metre penalty in the process and from 25 metres out, Rioli strokes it through the middle. Ellis will be scrutinized for that one, you’d think.
Oh please.. "He was going for the ball..." #AFLEaglesHawks
— Francis Leach (@SaintFrankly) September 11, 2015
Updated
Eagles goal! 1st quarter (6:10 remaining) West Coast 2.2 (14) vs Hawthorn 1.1 (7)
Oof, McEvoy really could have pressed home the advantage for the Hawks with a set shot from close range but to say he’s butchered it is an insult to an honourable profession. It’s even worse than the Kennedy one earlier and flies out on the full.
West Coast’s tackling is brutal at the moment and their forward entries plentiful, but their pressure is not quite telling on the scoreboard until Yeo sprints forward into an open forward arc and with speed wobbles his only real concern, tucks a neat snap through for a goal.
Hawks goal! 1st quarter (8:41 remaining) West Coast 1.2 (8) vs Hawthorn 1.1 (7)
The Eagles have settled far better here, it has to be said. Langford bombs Hawthorn forward with only one aim - to hit the boundary. When he does so he’s rightly penalized but the Eagles have some concerns because key defender Jeremy McGovern is laboring under some kind of injury concern.
Worse, Hawthorn swing it forward against the run of play and Wellingham is one out with Jack Gunston, which doesn’t end well. Gunston is held without it in the goal square and promptly hammers through the Hawks’ first. McGovern, meanwhile, is off to the rooms for treatment. That is not good for the Eagles. It’s a shoulder complaint.
Eagles goal! 1st quarter (12:16 remaining) West Coast 1.2 (8) vs Hawthorn 0.1 (1)
Aaaaand the 2015 finals are under way! Natanui knocks it clear of the middle for the Eagles and then gets them going with an early possession as well. Sam Mitchell pumps the Hawks forward early and though he’s got an acre of space to move into, Luke Breust wastes an early opportunity by snapping straight into the post from close range. He normally snaffles those.
The Eagles swing it forward but Brian Lake clears well from Jack Darling before Roughead uses Sam Butler as a step ladder to reel in a screamer on the wing. Has he hurt himself in the process though? He’s comes straight from the ground and is hobbling noticeably. Both sides are just kind of hacking it forward at the moment until Rosa pops a neat pass inside 50 and Elliott Yeo marks 35 metres from goal on a slight angle but misses a sitter.
It’s frantic stuff, as expected. Josh Kennedy misses everything from a 35 metres set shot that slides off the side of his boot and also somehow conspires to miss an open goal the falls into his lap in the goal square, but Josh Hill effects his second intercept of the game from Suckling’s lazy kick-in and snaps a cheeky, crowd-lifting goal. That took a while but we’re off the mark!
Great mark Roughead - bad knee landing!
— Dr Peter Larkins (@doclarkins) September 11, 2015
Some final words from Eagles coach Adam Simpson before the bounce
“It just didn’t recover,” he says of that Matt Priddis injury. “We gave him until the last minute but it’s not to be.”
“We’re just going to replace him with another player,” he adds quite helpfully. With that searing insight taken aboard, let’s get ready to rumble.
I know it’s a cheap gag at this point
...but you can’t have a West Coast-Hawthorn final without reliving the splendour of Angry Anderson’s ‘Bound for Glory’. Rev up the Batmobile, we’re ready to go. While I’m at it, I’d just like to give Yobes Ondieki his first and last live blog shout-out for the season.
The teams are now out on Domain Stadium
The Eagles are greeted with an expectedly raucous cheer from the crowd but also, it must be said, a comically small banner from their cheer squad. Is there a shortage of crepe paper out west? For the Hawks, Isaac Smith is bouncing about and looking relaxed. Hawthorn are wearing their much-maligned ‘Power Rangers’ clash strip, in case you missed the news. It looks as terrible as ever. To be honest, I’ve long thought that comparison is offensive to the Power Rangers.
Could be worst finals jumper ever
— Cam Manning (@cmrnmnning) September 11, 2015
Grant Thomas update
I have no idea what he’s referring to here but I hope he live tweets the entire game. The Hawks, meanwhile, are going through their final preparations in the sheds - tackling each other, back slapping, and generally geeing themselves up. West Coast are a little more relaxed, pacing through some old school handball drills and keeping things simple.
Scissor move! Pleaseeee
— Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) September 11, 2015
Let us know where you’re taking in the game
If I’m being honest, I wish I was watching it with Shane Heal. How could you possibly resist the urge to get instigate a shooting competition to fire empties into the recycling bin from long range? He’s a Cats supporter, The Hammer. A good man otherwise.
Hawks/ roosters double for Friday night footy...and a few beers to cheers them on....
— Shane Heal (@ShaneHeal) September 11, 2015
A little more on Priddis
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson steps forward and tries to hide his delight that the Eagles No. 1 midfielder is missing tonight. “He’s a good player but we’re also mindful of [Scott] Selwood” he says, probably stifling a grin. I think Eagles fans might be lining up for an extra drink right now.
The Hawks had their own injury concerns heading in. “It wasn’t probably until this morning that we confirmed that he was going to play,” Clarkson has just said of Isaac Smith, who retains his spot tonight despite speculation he’d miss. He also says he’s wary of West Coast’s youthful “exuberance”, much like that possessed by the Hawks themselves back in 2008.
I’m sure there’s a huge line for this:
Roll up, roll up 🏉 HawksNest now open at Gate 8 #PlayYourRole pic.twitter.com/bFsbTH2oie
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) September 11, 2015
Our teams tonight
The Hawks welcome back skipper Luke Hodge from a two-week suspension, plus Cyril Rioli and Luke Breust. That means they can afford to leave out the likes of Billy Hartung and Jon Ceglar, who’d be automatic starters at most clubs. Hawks veteran Shaun Burgoyne, meanwhile, plays in his 28th final tonight. Will the experience of he and other senior Hawks tell?
The Coasters welcome back key defender Will Schofield from a 3-week injury layoff and on-baller Scott Selwood, who hasn’t had much rest on the back of a WAFL run. But the biggest news is the absence of Matt Priddis. That’s a huge blow.
West Coast
Shannon Hurn, Will Schofield, Sharrod Wellingham, Elliot Yeo, Jeremy McGovern, Xavier Ellis, Brad Sheppard, Pat McGinnity, Andrew Gaff, Mark Hutchings, Jack Darling, Mark LeCras, Josh Hill, Josh J. Kennedy, Jamie Cripps, Nic Naitanui, Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey, Sam Butler, Dom Sheed, Matt Rosa, Callum Sinclair, SUB: Pat McGinnity
Hawthorn
Ben Stratton, Brian Lake, Grant Birchall, Josh Gibson, Shaun Burgoyne, Isaac Smith, Luke Hodge, Bradley Hill, Jack Gunston, James Frawley, Cyril Rioli, David Hale, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust, Ben McEvoy, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, Paul Puopolo, Matthew Suckling, Will Langford, Liam Shiels, SUB: Taylor Duryea
Preamble
Hello all. It is indeed I, Russell Jackson, here to give you a blow by blow account of every goal, behind, free kick, clanger and jaunty bounce of Matt Priddis’ 1980s hair metal poodle perm in this first qualifying final between West Coast and Hawthorn at Domain Stadium. Oh hang on, I’ll do nothing of the sort. PRIDDIS IS OUT! Yes, you heard me folks. Priddis out, McGinnity in. How will West Coast cope without their Brownlow-winning on-ball star?
I don’t know about you but I can’t wait for this game to get under way. In the preview I tipped Hawthorn. The I leaned towards the home side. Now? With the Priddis news? I’m back on the Hawks. What about you? Shoot me an email on russell.jackson@theguardian.com (or via twitter: @rustyjacko ) with not only your tip for tonight, but a description of your snack and beverage arsenal for the next few hours. No detail is too trivial. At Live Blog HQ I’m packing half a box of pizza shapes, some Pepsi Max and by the time these two sides hit the home straight, I might even reach for a Lamington. Lunacy, I know.
This game should be a belter between the two highest-scoring sides in the competition. Our only fear? The Perth weather, which hasn’t been great in the past few days. I’ll have more on that and also full team line-ups shortly.
Hi hi. Well, the wait is finally over and finals time is back upon us - four weekends in September, and all that.
Our man with the plan for tonight’s first qualifying final is Russell Jackson - he’s probably presently at Young & Jacksons (boom boom) but assures me he’ll be sober come first bounce.
In the interim check out his match preview:
This might well prove the match of greatest intensity, physicality and scoring density in week one of the finals and the Eagles enter it with genuine belief that they could win their first qualifier since the glory days of 2006. Hawks skipper Luke Hodge returns after an eventful fortnight on the sidelines, livewire Isaac Smith will be given every chance to play and their side enters the game close to full strength, but West Coast can’t say the same with industrious midfielder Chris Masten missing, Will Schofield only just hobbling back from a 3-week hamstring injury and his fellow key defender Jeremy McGovern still to hit his straps. That’ll be music to the ears of Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston and Luke Breust.
We’re left with many tantalizing questions. Can Hawthorn curb explosive ruckman Nic Naitanui’s influence? Could Josh Kennedy tear a big final apart the way he has some regular season games when he’s faced with a Frawley-Lake tag team? Will the Hawks become entangled in the Weagles Web or be overrun late? Or will Alastair Clarkson’s men show that finals experience is what really counts? Those and more will be answered tonight and with no disrespect to Fremantle’s efficiency, the victor here might move into outright Premiership favouritism.
You can read the rest of Russell’s first week of finals preview, here.
