vs Collingwood

[bunyip]

Many Collingwood supporters have said that they did not want to play Hawthorn untill the GF, and not in a knock out final. So, they obviously see something in the Hawks that they are afraid of.
After watching them against Sydney, I don't doubt that they can beat the Pies. Buddy won't be the critical factor though, they will need a contibution from all over the ground. Buddy will be important of course, and will have to play at least as well as Cloke.

[Fletch74]

For me, the game will be won in the midfield. If the Hawks let the Pies dominate the midfield like they let the Cats dominate, then they will have absolutely no chance.

If they can shut down the Pies midfield and restrict the Inside 50 entries to players like Cloke, Krakour, etc then they have a chance.The Hawks defence is good, but they won't be able to withhold constant attack after attack.

[8-6 Suited]

Buddy slooked very proppy for the first half yesterday. Hopefully he pulls up sore, but its no real big concern anyway as we have better defenders I believe than Sydney. He will be made accountable.

But the game will be won in the midfield for sure.

[hawk_88]

More specifically I think the game will be won in the stoppages. Both sides press very well so getting the ball into your 50 will be key. Jolly's average form and our tendency to go 3rd man up gives us a decent chance.

Pies will obviously go in favourites. They earned that over the season. Should be a good close match though.

[2 large cokes]

need to stop atleast 1 of pendles or swan from getting 30+ and goals. I would like to say stop both but that is almost impossible. can't let their mids get ontop and keep bombing into cloke, dawes and brown or we have no chance. apart from probably cloke those 2 players are easily their most damaging for me. of course u have daisy, ball and others to stop but definitely need to put some work into swan and pendles. can't wait for next Friday!

[roo boys!]

Gonna be an awesome game. Hoping that Hawk's gun midfielders (Mitchell, Hodge) can win the stoppages for them, because I believe their forward line is more than capable of kicking a winning score if the ball gets kicked in there enough. I know it sounds obvious, that's why they came 3rd on the ladder, but that's how teams struggle against Collingwood, they manage to get extra defenders across to every contest. If the Hawks forwards can get 1 on 1 as much as possible it can expose the backline a bit more.

[bunyip]

Absolutely, the key is get the ball in the forward line as quickly as possible so they can't get numbers back. Geelong had twice as many kicks as handpasses last time we played and it had an effect.
Of course, to do that you have to win more clearances than them, THAT may be a problem. I think the Hawks can do it though. I reckon the Hawks mids are as good as Collingwoods. One thing for sure, the Hawks won't be intimidated by the Pies.
From a Geelong point of view it is irrelevant who wins, if we beat WC on Saturday either team will be a nightmare in a GF. That's how it should be though. If we make the GF, we won't be a pushover either.

[RiOtChEsS]

i think it should be a titanic struggle, if the pies get out to a quick start tho it will be game over...

[ossie85]

I'm very stressed about this game, and will be spending a lot of money getting updates as I go through Germany to Holland! My poor phone bill.


But a nice stat which I pretty sure is unprecedented in Collingwood history. If teams named as expected, there will be 11 All-Australian players in the Collingwood line up.

Luke Ball (2007)
Travis Cloke (2011)
Leon Davis (2009, 2011)
Alan Didak (2006, 2010)
Nick Maxwell (2009)
Harry O'Brien (2010)
Scott Pendlebury (2010, 2011)
Ben Reid (2011)
Dane Swan (2009, 2010, 2011)
Chris Tarrant (2003)
Dale Thomas (2011)

With Heath Shaw and Darren Jolly among those not All-Aus!

Against Hawthorn's 4 (which seems very low)

Shaun Burgoyne (2006)
Lance Franklin (2008, 2010, 2011)
Luke Hodge (2005, 2008, 2010)
Sam Mitchell (2011)

But geez, I've very, very wary of this match

[bunyip]

I would be to oss. The hawks are the LAST team I would want to play in a knock out final, especially a pre-lim. It will be like 2 ferrel cats fighting in a back alley. it should be beautiful ;D

[PowerBug]

I would be to oss. The hawks are the LAST team I would want to play in a knock out final, especially a pre-lim. It will be like 2 ferrel cats fighting in a back alley. it should be beautiful ;D

Might sound silly, but Which team would you want to play in the GF bunyip, as your a Cats fan?

[hawk_88]

I would be to oss. The hawks are the LAST team I would want to play in a knock out final, especially a pre-lim. It will be like 2 ferrel cats fighting in a back alley. it should be beautiful ;D

Might sound silly, but Which team would you want to play in the GF bunyip, as your a Cats fan?

Good question. I have wondered that myself. They other question is why.

Do you want to play the team that will be easier to beat, and if so which one? Or do you feel that the most satisfying win in the Grand Final you must play the better side?

Do you want to play the Hawks for revenge of 2008? Or do you feel like having beaten the Hawks every game since 2008, they might be due for a win.

[RiOtChEsS]

Hawthorn Vs Geelong Grand Final would be epic, especially given the history since 2008... and throw in a pinch of 89 :P

[MajorLazer]

I'm going tomorrow night. ;D

Anyone else?

[BGK]

I'm going tomorrow night. ;D

Anyone else?

I'm extremely jealous. I would love to go to a big Collingwood final. I will have to make a trip next year.