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AAP
AAP
Shayne Hope

Blue-collar backline to balance the Hollywood Hawks

Blake Hardwick will play an important role in defence for Hawthorn in the AFL preliminary final. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Hawthorn have no shortage of showmen ready to light up the big stage in their AFL preliminary final against Geelong.

Nick Watson has promised to "wind up" fans at the MCG on Friday night, while the same can be expected from Jack Ginnivan and the rest of the so-called rascal pack.

But there is a balance to the 'Hollywood Hawks' that has helped them make it this far, the other side of the coin typified by the comparably blue-collar Blake Hardwick.

A key contributor in Hawthorn's march into their first prelim in a decade, Hardwick is more than comfortable handling the dirty work at the other end of the ground.

"I don't think any of the backline really buy into the 'Hollywood Hawks' stuff," Hardwick told AAP.

Nick Watson
Nick Watson is sure to rev up the crowd in Hawthorn's AFL preliminary final against Geelong. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

"We're more in the trenches and the hard part of the ground trying to get the job done and defend as many inside-50s as we can.

"That's what we pride ourselves on; getting the job done if we are under the pump a bit."

That's not to say Hardwick doesn't get a kick out of seeing Hawthorn's entertainers celebrating their flashy work around goal.

"It's entertaining and it creates an energy," Hardwick said.

"Mitch (coach Sam Mitchell) has been big on it. He loves the energy and that part of the game.

"It shows a bit of character and gets everyone in the team up."

It has a similar effect on Hawthorn fans, who are expected to show up in huge numbers for their side's first final in Melbourne this year after two interstate.

A crowd of more than 90,000 is tipped and Hardwick is bullish that his side will rise to the occasion.

"We've had a few games of evidence now that we do stand up in those big games, so the boys should be pretty confident," he said.

"I'm 10 years into my career and this is my first prelim, so it's very exciting times. The boys are pumped and ready."

Patrick Dangerfield
Patrick Dangerfield is one of a number of Geelong stars Hawthorn will need to contain. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Hardwick has developed a reputation for shutting down some of the competition's most dangerous small forwards and will have an important role against Geelong.

Tyson Stengle, Shaun Mannagh, Gryan Miers and even Patrick Dangerfield are on his radar, with Coleman Medal winner Jeremy Cameron presenting another huge threat.

"They've got one of the better forward lines in the competition and it will be more the smaller, deeper forward for me," Hardwick said.

"Dangerfield is pretty powerful and he's good at ground level.

"He's a challenge to play on because he's so strong and he's got all the attributes."

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