TonyK
CibbuanoRound nine preview: Hawthorn v Melbourne
May 23rd 2009 15:36
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Sunday May 24, 4.40pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 149, Hawthorn 75, Melbourne 74
LAST TIME: Hawthorn 14.13 (97) def Melbourne 12.6 (78), Round 9 2008 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Hawthorn has won four of its past five against Melbourne.
FORM: Hawthorn bounced back from the disappointing loss to Essendon with a hard-fought 22-point win over Fremantle at Subiaco Oval last weekend. The Hawks are yet to string two wins together this season. Melbourne has been competitive this season and could have easily won their last two matches against West Coast and the Western Bulldogs but their lack of composure has proven to be costly.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Hawks welcome back Cameron Stokes from a hamstring injury but are still without Trent Croad (foot), Luke Hodge (groin), Stephen Gilham (knee), Clinton Young (hamstring), Rick Ladson (knee), Xavier Ellis (back) and Max Bailey (knee). For the Demons, defenders Jared Rivers and James Frawley return after missing last weekend’s loss to the Bulldogs with ankle and hip injuries respectively while Brad Green has recovered from a fractured jaw and will play against the reigning premiers. Paul Wheatley will miss at least another week with a quad injury while promising young defender Colin Garland is sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury. Lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (knee) won’t play his first game of the year until the second half of the season while ruckman John Meesen (foot) and youngster Sam Blease (fractured leg) are out for the year.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brad Sewell vs. Aaron Davey
Davey continued his scintillating start to the season with 28 possessions, one goal, three goals assists and four inside 50’s against the Western Bulldogs.
The 25-year-old is arguably one of the best users of the football in the AFL.
The Hawks will be keen to keep him quiet as Melbourne’s forwards will struggle to receive enough quality supply to kick a winning score without him having an influence through the middle.
Sewell is Hawthorn’s best stopper in the middle and will most likely be given the task of tagging Davey on Sunday.
Expect Sewell, who is ranked second in the AFL for tackles per game and averages 26 possessions, to deny Davey any time or space at the stoppages and also try and hurt him going the other way.
James McDonald vs. Sam Mitchell
The last time these two sides met in round nine last year Mitchell starred, racking up a game-high 33 disposals in a performance that earned him the three Brownlow medal votes.
Mitchell is damaging with his ability to win the football in close and use it cleanly by hand to find his teammates in space.
If the Demons are going to be any hope of containing the Hawks talent-laden forward line they will need to quell the influence of Mitchell.
With their first-choice midfield stopper in Bartram out of the side the Demons may opt to give McDonald the task of negating the Hawthorn skipper.
Like Mitchell, McDonald is highly effective at winning the contested football.
While it is vital that McDonald pays close attention to Mitchell at the stoppages he also needs to be proactive and force the 26-year-old to worry about his direct opponent.
Thomas Murphy vs. Matthew Bate
Bate was among his side’s best in the loss to the Dogs with 16 disposals, eight marks and four goals.
Melbourne will need a similar performance from him on Sunday if they are going to have any hope of causing a massive upset.
Murphy has filled a key role in defence given the continued absence of Croad and Gilham and will most likely be given first crack at Bate.
Bate is a leading forward - he isn’t capable of taking pack marks - so the Demons will need to be quick and clean with their use of the football through the corridor to give him the best chance of having an impact otherwise they will be punished on the rebound.
Stefan Martin vs. Lance Franklin
Franklin looms as the main danger man for Melbourne given that he booted nine goals in two games against Dean Bailey’s men last season.
Last year’s Coleman medallist is yet to put in a really dominant display and could well explode against the bottom-placed Demons.
Martin has the height and mobility to match Franklin and looms as the obvious candidate to line-up on the Hawthorn star.
Don’t be surprised if Bailey uses Jared Rivers as a loose man in defence to clog up the space in which Franklin leads into.
VERDICT: When these two sides met in round one last year Hawthorn cruised to a convincing 104-point win. It will be a lot closer this time around as the Demons are a much-improved side while the Hawks are yet to hit top form. However, Melbourne’s poor skills and inability to play four quarters of consistent football will prevent them from recording just their second win of the season. Hawks by 28 points.
HAWTHORN v MELBOURNE
Hawthorn
B: Brendan Whitecross, Thomas Murphy, Brent Guerra
HB: Beau Dowler, Campbell Brown, Grant Birchall
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Beau Muston
HF: Mark Williams, Lance Franklin, Michael Osborne
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Garry Moss
Foll: Simon Taylor, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman
I/C: Robert Campbell, Cameron Stokes, Ben McGlynn, Jarryd Morton
Emg: Stuart Dew, Brent Renouf, Travis Tuck
In: Muston, Stokes
Out: Stuart Dew, Travis Tuck
New: Beau Muston (Murray U18)
Melbourne
B: Matthew Whelan, Matthew Warnock, Jared Rivers
HB: James Frawley, Stefan Martin, Aaron Davey
C: Jack Grimes, Colin Sylvia, Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton, Brad Miller, Russell Robertson
F: Brad Green, Matthew Bate, Cameron Bruce
Foll: Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, James McDonald
I/C: Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric, Nathan Jones, Jamie Bennell
Emg: Mark Jamar, Kyle Cheney, Clint Bartram
In: Rivers, Frawley, Green, Bennell
Out: Lynden Dunn, Shane Valenti, Clint Bartram, Kyle Cheney
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 149, Hawthorn 75, Melbourne 74
LAST TIME: Hawthorn 14.13 (97) def Melbourne 12.6 (78), Round 9 2008 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Hawthorn has won four of its past five against Melbourne.
FORM: Hawthorn bounced back from the disappointing loss to Essendon with a hard-fought 22-point win over Fremantle at Subiaco Oval last weekend. The Hawks are yet to string two wins together this season. Melbourne has been competitive this season and could have easily won their last two matches against West Coast and the Western Bulldogs but their lack of composure has proven to be costly.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Hawks welcome back Cameron Stokes from a hamstring injury but are still without Trent Croad (foot), Luke Hodge (groin), Stephen Gilham (knee), Clinton Young (hamstring), Rick Ladson (knee), Xavier Ellis (back) and Max Bailey (knee). For the Demons, defenders Jared Rivers and James Frawley return after missing last weekend’s loss to the Bulldogs with ankle and hip injuries respectively while Brad Green has recovered from a fractured jaw and will play against the reigning premiers. Paul Wheatley will miss at least another week with a quad injury while promising young defender Colin Garland is sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury. Lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (knee) won’t play his first game of the year until the second half of the season while ruckman John Meesen (foot) and youngster Sam Blease (fractured leg) are out for the year.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brad Sewell vs. Aaron Davey
Davey continued his scintillating start to the season with 28 possessions, one goal, three goals assists and four inside 50’s against the Western Bulldogs.
The 25-year-old is arguably one of the best users of the football in the AFL.
The Hawks will be keen to keep him quiet as Melbourne’s forwards will struggle to receive enough quality supply to kick a winning score without him having an influence through the middle.
Sewell is Hawthorn’s best stopper in the middle and will most likely be given the task of tagging Davey on Sunday.
Expect Sewell, who is ranked second in the AFL for tackles per game and averages 26 possessions, to deny Davey any time or space at the stoppages and also try and hurt him going the other way.
James McDonald vs. Sam Mitchell
The last time these two sides met in round nine last year Mitchell starred, racking up a game-high 33 disposals in a performance that earned him the three Brownlow medal votes.
Mitchell is damaging with his ability to win the football in close and use it cleanly by hand to find his teammates in space.
If the Demons are going to be any hope of containing the Hawks talent-laden forward line they will need to quell the influence of Mitchell.
With their first-choice midfield stopper in Bartram out of the side the Demons may opt to give McDonald the task of negating the Hawthorn skipper.
Like Mitchell, McDonald is highly effective at winning the contested football.
While it is vital that McDonald pays close attention to Mitchell at the stoppages he also needs to be proactive and force the 26-year-old to worry about his direct opponent.
Thomas Murphy vs. Matthew Bate
Bate was among his side’s best in the loss to the Dogs with 16 disposals, eight marks and four goals.
Melbourne will need a similar performance from him on Sunday if they are going to have any hope of causing a massive upset.
Murphy has filled a key role in defence given the continued absence of Croad and Gilham and will most likely be given first crack at Bate.
Bate is a leading forward - he isn’t capable of taking pack marks - so the Demons will need to be quick and clean with their use of the football through the corridor to give him the best chance of having an impact otherwise they will be punished on the rebound.
Stefan Martin vs. Lance Franklin
Franklin looms as the main danger man for Melbourne given that he booted nine goals in two games against Dean Bailey’s men last season.
Last year’s Coleman medallist is yet to put in a really dominant display and could well explode against the bottom-placed Demons.
Martin has the height and mobility to match Franklin and looms as the obvious candidate to line-up on the Hawthorn star.
Don’t be surprised if Bailey uses Jared Rivers as a loose man in defence to clog up the space in which Franklin leads into.
VERDICT: When these two sides met in round one last year Hawthorn cruised to a convincing 104-point win. It will be a lot closer this time around as the Demons are a much-improved side while the Hawks are yet to hit top form. However, Melbourne’s poor skills and inability to play four quarters of consistent football will prevent them from recording just their second win of the season. Hawks by 28 points.
HAWTHORN v MELBOURNE
Hawthorn
B: Brendan Whitecross, Thomas Murphy, Brent Guerra
HB: Beau Dowler, Campbell Brown, Grant Birchall
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Beau Muston
HF: Mark Williams, Lance Franklin, Michael Osborne
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Garry Moss
Foll: Simon Taylor, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman
I/C: Robert Campbell, Cameron Stokes, Ben McGlynn, Jarryd Morton
Emg: Stuart Dew, Brent Renouf, Travis Tuck
In: Muston, Stokes
Out: Stuart Dew, Travis Tuck
New: Beau Muston (Murray U18)
Melbourne
B: Matthew Whelan, Matthew Warnock, Jared Rivers
HB: James Frawley, Stefan Martin, Aaron Davey
C: Jack Grimes, Colin Sylvia, Brock McLean
HF: Cale Morton, Brad Miller, Russell Robertson
F: Brad Green, Matthew Bate, Cameron Bruce
Foll: Paul Johnson, Brent Moloney, James McDonald
I/C: Ricky Petterd, Addam Maric, Nathan Jones, Jamie Bennell
Emg: Mark Jamar, Kyle Cheney, Clint Bartram
In: Rivers, Frawley, Green, Bennell
Out: Lynden Dunn, Shane Valenti, Clint Bartram, Kyle Cheney
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