PRESEASON RD 4: Kangas v Hawks Discussion

[Ricochet]

BLUES vs BRIS   -   SK vs GWS   -   PORT vs SYD   -   NM vs HAW   -   RICH vs WB   -   MEL vs GC   -   COL vs GEE

Kangas Squad 1. Daniel Currie 2. Brad McKenzie 3. Ryan Bastinac 4. Liam Anthony 5. Ben Jacobs 6. Lachlan Hansen 9. Andrew Swallow 10. Ben Cunnington 11. Michael Firrito 13. Leigh Adams 14. Jordan Gysberts 17. Nathan Grima 19. Sam Wright 20. Drew Petrie 22. Todd Goldstein 23. Kieran Harper 24. Levi Greenwood 25. Robbie Tarrant 26. Taylor Hine 28. Will Sierakowski 29. Brent Harvey 31. Cam Delaney 34. Jamie Macmillan 35. Aaron Black 36. Ayden Kennedy 38. Majak Daw 41. Aaron Mullett In: Brad McKenzie, Todd Goldstein, Robbie Tarrant, Taylor Hine, Cam Delaney, Ayden Kennedy, Nathan Grima Out: Jack Ziebell, Daniel Wells, Lindsay Thomas, Scott Thompson, Shaun Atley, Scott McMahon, Sam Gibson

Hawks Squad 2          Roughead, Jarryd 3          Lewis, Jordan 5          Mitchell, Sam 6          Gibson, Josh 8          Ellis, Xavier 9          Burgoyne, Shaun 10        Hill, Bradley 12        Sewell, Brad 13        Cheney, Kyle 14        Birchall, Grant 16        Smith, Isaac 18        Guerra, Brent 19        Gunston, Jack 20        Hale, David 21        Savage, Shane 22        Breust, Luke 23        Franklin, Lance 24        Stratton, Benjamin 25        Schoenmakers, Ryan 26        Shiels, Liam 27        Spangher, Matthew 28        Puopolo, Paul 32        Simpkin, Jonathan 35        Grimley, Sam 37        Anderson, Jed 39        Bailey, Max 41        Duryea, Taylor

KANGAS
http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2013-03-14/kennedy-leads-inclusions-for-north.workstation

Ayden Kennedy will have his first game in North Melbourne colours since the 2011 pre-season on Saturday against Hawthorn.

An ACL tear, suffered in the last game of the pre-season two years ago, set back Kennedy's development. After a long road back, his good form in the VFL has Brad Scott intrigued by his potential.

"We think he has some genuine AFL attributes and some great athleticism so we want to see how he grabs this opportunity," Scott told NMFC.com.au.

"It's a huge one for him. He's worked pretty hard to get back and fit. He's played well the last two weeks for Werribee and now he gets his chance.

"We'd really like to see him play on a good Hawthorn key-forward. The tasks don't come much tougher than (Lance) Franklin and (Jarryd) Roughead."

It will be in the defensive end of the ground where North fans will focus their attention. To add to Kennedy's inclusion, Taylor Hine, Nathan Grima and Cam Delaney have all been selected in the 27-man squad.

Scott McMahon's absence has left a vacant spot in the backline and while Grima is a relative lock depending on his fitness, the remaining three have a big chance to put their best foot forward against what the coach hopes is a strong Hawthorn team.

"Hopefully Franklin and Roughead play up forward, and (Jack) Gunston and Luke Breust, and the back-half if (Brian) Lake, (Josh) Gibson and (Ryan) Schoenmakers play, we'll get a good chance to see some young players play on some genuinely good opposition.

"That will give us more information, help their development."

Treating Saturday as 'a genuine scratch match', the main aim is to get game time into select players according to Scott.

"The AFL has given us the option not to play at all. We've chosen to play because we want to get some game-time and expose some young players against a very good Hawthorn side.

"This game will absolutely be about giving young guys an opportunity, giving guys who are pushing and on the cusp of our Round 1 side a chance to impress, but that's our priority; it's not to field about our best side, or a dress rehearsal for Round 1.

"The priority is to get some game-time into select players, but also to give the guys on the fringe a chance."

The rested best-22 players have all played a large role in North's NAB Cup campaign and from an individual perspective, the approach is to make sure their preparation is 'as good as we can get it'.

"(Jack) Ziebell, (Daniel) Wells, (Lindsay) Thomas, (Scott) Thompson, (Shaun) Atley, (Scott) McMahon and (Sam) Gibson have played most of the games, if not all of the games to this point. We feel their preparation's been really good.

"McMahon will miss through suspension (in Round 1), but all the others we feel are in our best side. We know that, and it's now about getting them individually ready to play.

Todd Goldstein is back in after stepping aside for Daniel Currie while Robbie Tarrant also returns after a rest.


HAWKS
http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2013-03-14/full-strength-for-final-hit-out

HAWTHORN will take a near full strength side into Saturday's final practice match against North Melbourne in Cragieburn on Saturday afternoon.

It appears Coach Alastair Clarkson will use the final competitive hit out before Round 1 as a full dress rehearsal for the Club's blockbuster opening to the home-and-away season against Geelong on Easter Monday.

The named squad for Saturday is the strongest the Club has fielded throughout the pre-season competition.

Lance Franklin heads a list of players included in the side who didn't play in week three of the pre-season, along with senior regulars Brad Sewell, Brent Guerra, Jack Gunston, David Hale and Luke Breust.

Midfielder Liam Shiels has also been named for his first match of the pre-season, while the Hawks will of course be without defender Matt Suckling who ruptured his ACL against Richmond in Tasmania last weekend.

Cyril Rioli and Luke Hodge have not been named in the side to take on the Kangaroos.

Hawthorn take on North Melbourne at Highgate Recreation Reserve at 2pm on Saturday.

[Mr.Craig]

Here's the Hawks team if you'd like to add it Rico.

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2013-03-14/full-strength-for-final-hit-out

[Ricochet]

Here's the Hawks team if you'd like to add it Rico.

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2013-03-14/full-strength-for-final-hit-out

Thanks mate

[Holz]

Goldy Currie and Daw all in the squad as predcited. now is the time for goldy to shine.

I wonder if he pumps out a big score he will be in favour again

[tbagrocks]

Goldy Currie and Daw all in the squad as predcited. now is the time for goldy to shine.

I wonder if he pumps out a big score he will be in favour again

Quicker than you can say Daniel Currie ;)

[Hagebear]

Goldy Currie and Daw all in the squad as predcited. now is the time for goldy to shine.

I wonder if he pumps out a big score he will be in favour again

Boy am I hoping Goldy fails and Currie plays well again. Would save me the luenberger headache for the first few rounds.

[Mr.Craig]

If Jed has another good game it's gonna cause me some headaches.

[Ricochet]

http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2013-03-16/hawks-shine-in-craigieburn

HAWTHORN has finished its pre-season campaign with a commanding 81-point over North Melbourne in Craigieburn on Saturday afternoon.

After failing to register a win during the NAB Cup, the Hawks were much improved in their final hit out before Round 1, displaying great intensity and attack on the man and the ball.

Despite a slow start, where the Kangaroos controlled the footy for the opening 10 minutes of the game, the Hawks flicked the switch mid-way through the term, led by star forward Lance Franklin.

Franklin was everywhere in the opening term, looking a refreshed player after enjoying the week off last weekend, pushing further up the ground and impacting the contest.

The Hawks, led by Franklin, midfielder Jordan Lewis and utility David Hale, opened an 11-point advantage at quarter time before dominating the second term at Highgate Recreation Reserve.

As the rain began to fall, so did the goals at the Hawthorn scoring end, booting four goals to one in a dominant second term. Lewis, Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell were prominent in the middle as Josh Gibson, Ryan Schoenmakers and Grant Birchall patrolled the backline, restricting North Melbourne’s ability to make any impact up forward.

It was a commanding display by the Hawthorn engine room who dominated a North Melbourne midfield missing star players Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell and Daniel Wells.

The Kangaroos were also missing key defender Scott Thompson, meaning Nathan Grima and then forward Lachie Hansen were forced to defend a towering Hawthorn forward line consisting of Franklin, Hale, Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston.

With the Hawthorn midfield supplying the Hawthorn forwards with a number of opportunities, there was never a shortage of scoring chances for the Hawks. A pleasing stat for Coach Alastair Clarkson would have been the accuracy of his forwards in blustery conditions, booting 19.8 for the game.

The second half was all Hawthorn as they built an insurmountable lead, booting 11 goals to two for the half.
The Hawks dominated the clearances, seeing the game played almost exclusively in the Hawthorn forward half. Max Bailey was impressive in the ruck and when young ruckman Sam Grimley entered  the fray, the Hawks forward line looked even more dangerous.

It was in the third term where the Hawks asserted their authority on the game, kicking nine goals to one in an impressive display. Franklin booted two for the quarter and defenders Birchall and Ben Stratton also found their way into the forward line, making an impact on the scoreboard.

The margin could have been worse for North Melbourne had the game not been called off by the AFL in conjunction with the two sides, due to torrential downpour in a final term that lasted just 13 minutes and 55 seconds.
With both teams playing with an eight-man bench, Clarkson chose to rest Roughead, Gibson and Xavier Ellis for the second half.
It was an impressive final tune up for the Hawks who take on the Cats in a blockbuster Round 1 clash on Easter Monday.

FINAL SCORE
North Melbourne 2.4 3.8 4.9 5.11 (41)
Hawthorn 4.3 8.5 17.7 19.8 (122)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Petrie 2, Harvey 2, Tarrant,
Hawthorn: Hale 4, Franklin 3, Gunston 3, Grimley 3, Duryea, Smith, Breust, Roughead, Birchall, Stratton
BEST
North Melbourne: Grima, Cunnington, Adams, Harvey
Hawthorn â€" Franklin, Mitchell, Lewis, Hale, Gunston, Birchall
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Hawthorn: Gibson, Ellis (leg)

Reports:
David Hale (Hawthorn) for making forceful front-on contact with Leigh Adams (North) in the first quarter
Taylor Hine (North) for making forceful front-on contact with Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) in the third quarter