TonyK
CibbuanoKey Hawks set to return
July 8th 2008 06:05
HAWTHORN is set to be bolstered by the return of several key players for Sunday's crucial clash against Sydney at the MCG.
Hard-running midfielder Chance Bateman (corked quad) and ruckman Simon Taylor (gashed knee) are both considered almost certain starters, while veteran Shane Crawford (knee tendonitis), Jordan Lewis (quadriceps) and Brad Sewell, who underwent an appendectomy last week while recovering from shoulder surgery, all trained at Waverley Park on Tuesday and will be assessed later in the week.
The Swans have had the wood over Hawthorn in recent times, winning the past six matches between the two sides but midfielder Tim Clarke said the Hawks would back their game plan to secure the four points.
"We're just going to go out there and play our style of football and just try and focus on what we have to do," he said.
"We've watched what other teams have done when they've played them and we've just got to go out with our own strategies and back ourselves in, play more confident football."
Sydney will welcome back dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes from suspension but will be without spearhead Barry Hall, who was stood down by the Swans indefinitely after receiving a one-match ban for attempting to strike Collingwood defender Shane Wakelin at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Clarke, however, believes the absence of Hall would make little difference given the evenness of the Swans.
"The hard thing when you play Sydney is that they play so well as a team," Clarke said.
"Someone else is going to come in and take his position. We'll prepare now for Sydney without Barry."
"They have some other forwards that will still be there on Sunday and we have to plan for them. They're still going to play the same way, with or without Barry."
"They're just a super disciplined team. We have to match that discipline on Sunday and then also add our natural flair to the game and hopefully we'll go alright."
Hard-running midfielder Chance Bateman (corked quad) and ruckman Simon Taylor (gashed knee) are both considered almost certain starters, while veteran Shane Crawford (knee tendonitis), Jordan Lewis (quadriceps) and Brad Sewell, who underwent an appendectomy last week while recovering from shoulder surgery, all trained at Waverley Park on Tuesday and will be assessed later in the week.
The Swans have had the wood over Hawthorn in recent times, winning the past six matches between the two sides but midfielder Tim Clarke said the Hawks would back their game plan to secure the four points.
"We're just going to go out there and play our style of football and just try and focus on what we have to do," he said.
"We've watched what other teams have done when they've played them and we've just got to go out with our own strategies and back ourselves in, play more confident football."
Sydney will welcome back dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes from suspension but will be without spearhead Barry Hall, who was stood down by the Swans indefinitely after receiving a one-match ban for attempting to strike Collingwood defender Shane Wakelin at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Clarke, however, believes the absence of Hall would make little difference given the evenness of the Swans.
"The hard thing when you play Sydney is that they play so well as a team," Clarke said.
"Someone else is going to come in and take his position. We'll prepare now for Sydney without Barry."
"They have some other forwards that will still be there on Sunday and we have to plan for them. They're still going to play the same way, with or without Barry."
"They're just a super disciplined team. We have to match that discipline on Sunday and then also add our natural flair to the game and hopefully we'll go alright."
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