TonyK
CibbuanoRound three preview: North Melbourne v Hawthorn
April 11th 2009 16:35
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Sunday 12 April, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 161: North Melbourne 73, Hawthorn 86, Drawn 2.
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 15.13 (103) d Hawthorn 11.10 (76), Round 13, 2008 at MCG
RECENT HISTORY: North Melbourne has won three of its past four against Hawthorn.
FORM: The Kangaroos defeated last year’s wooden spooners Melbourne in round one before going down to the Western Bulldogs by 15 points in wet conditions at the MCG last weekend. Hawthorn became just the third reigning premier to start their premiership defence with two straight losses after suffering a 38-point loss to Sydney at ANZ Stadium in round two.
MEDICAL ROOM: North are basically at full strength with suspended forward Aaron Edwards and defender Jesse Smith (hamstring) the only notable absentees. The Hawks welcome back defender Stephen Gilham from a knee injury and midfielder Travis Tuck (A/C joint sprain) but ruckman Robert Campbell (hamstring) still remains on the sidelines. Midfielder Jordan Lewis (shoulder), Brad Sewell and key defender Trent Croad (foot) are unavailable while Rick Ladson and Max Bailey are sidelined indefinitely with knee injuries while Michael Osborne (hamstring) is at least two weeks away from being considered for selection.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brady Rawlings vs. Sam Mitchell
Mitchell was restricted to a meagre 13 possessions by Sydney veteran Brett Kirk last weekend.
The Hawthorn skipper rarely has two bad games in a row and the Hawks will need him to lift if they are going to be any chance of recording their first win of the season.
With Sewell and Lewis not in the side due to injury, the onus will be on the likes of Tuck and Mitchell to win the football at the stoppages and get the Hawks going.
When he is on his game Mitchell is arguably one of the best inside midfielders in the competition.
The Kangaroos will want to limit his effectiveness at the stoppages and will give Rawlings the task of tagging Mitchell in what will be a pivotal contest.
Rawlings has claimed some major scalps during his 183-game career and if he is able to keep Mitchell quiet on Sunday it will go a long way towards securing a win for the Roos.
Chance Bateman vs. Brent Harvey
Harvey hasn‘t been at his damaging best so far this season, averaging just 17 disposals in two games.
It is the first time that Harvey has begun a season with two successive games below 20 possessions since 1998.
In 2008 Harvey failed to collect 20 or more possessions in a game on three occasions and never failed to achieve the feat two matches in succession as he has done so far this season.
The Kangaroos skipper will be keen to fire and lead from the front after a controversial week for the club.
Ordinarily Sewell would be given the task of tagging Harvey but with him unavailable the Hawks may opt to use the hard-running Bateman in an attacking run-with role.
Bateman, who has averaged 18 disposals per game so far this season, will need to push forward at every available opportunity and be a goal kicking midfielder for the Hawks as it will force Harvey to be accountable.
Brent Renouf vs. Hamish McIntosh
The Hawks were completely smashed in the middle last weekend with the Swans winning the hit out count 73-29.
With Campbell injured and Simon Taylor still having a week of his suspension to serve, Renouf will once again be forced to do the bulk of the rucking duties against an in-form McIntosh.
The Hawks don’t need Renouf to win the hit-out count but they do need him to create a contest otherwise the Kangaroos midfield led by former skipper Adam Simpson and Harvey will be able to win more of the contested football and provide their forwards with enough quality supply to kick a winning score.
Lachlan Hansen vs. Lance Franklin
Franklin was well below his best in the loss to Sydney, managing just 11 possessions and two goals.
Last year’s Coleman medallist was instrumental in his side’s win over the Kangaroos in round three last year with 14 possessions and four goals.
The Hawks will need a similar performance from Franklin on Sunday if they are going to secure the four premiership points.
Michael Firrito and Josh Gibson have been given the job on Franklin in the past but Hansen has been earmarked as the club’s next centre-half back and will most likely be given the task of matching up on the Hawthorn star.
The Kangaroos are ranked third in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 65 - they will need to apply immense pressure all over the ground and prevent the Hawks from delivering the football in cleanly inside 50 if they are going to be any hope of containing Franklin and co.
VERDICT: Hawthorn will be desperate to kick-start their premiership defence with a win against North Melbourne but their task won’t be an easy won given that they have lost eight of their past 11 against the Kangaroos and will be without several key midfielders. Sydney’s dominance in the ruck paved the way for their win over the Hawks last weekend. Expect it to be a similar story on Sunday with McIntosh likely to dominate the inexperienced Renouf. Kangaroos by 23 points.
NORTH MELBOURNE v HAWTHORN
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Daniel Pratt, Scott Thompson, Michael Firrito
HB: Scott McMahon, Lachlan Hansen, Gavin Urquhart
C: Sam Power, Adam Simpson, Jack Ziebell
HF: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Daniel Wells
F: Brent Harvey, David Hale, Matt Campbell
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Leigh Harding, Brady Rawlings
I/C (from): Andrew Swallow, Josh Smith, Corey Jones, Josh Gibson
In: J. Smith, Jones
Out: Daniel Harris, Todd Goldstein
HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Thomas Murphy
HB: Luke Hodge, Campbell Brown, Grant Birchall
C: Clinton Young, Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis
HF: Cameron Stokes, Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli
F: Stuart Dew, Jarryd Roughead, Mark Williams
Foll: Brent Renouf, Travis Tuck, Chance Bateman
I/C (from): Jarryd Morton, Garry Moss, Ryan Schoenmakers, Brendan Whitecross
In: Stephen Gilham, Travis Tuck.
Out: Kennedy, Thorp
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 161: North Melbourne 73, Hawthorn 86, Drawn 2.
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 15.13 (103) d Hawthorn 11.10 (76), Round 13, 2008 at MCG
RECENT HISTORY: North Melbourne has won three of its past four against Hawthorn.
FORM: The Kangaroos defeated last year’s wooden spooners Melbourne in round one before going down to the Western Bulldogs by 15 points in wet conditions at the MCG last weekend. Hawthorn became just the third reigning premier to start their premiership defence with two straight losses after suffering a 38-point loss to Sydney at ANZ Stadium in round two.
MEDICAL ROOM: North are basically at full strength with suspended forward Aaron Edwards and defender Jesse Smith (hamstring) the only notable absentees. The Hawks welcome back defender Stephen Gilham from a knee injury and midfielder Travis Tuck (A/C joint sprain) but ruckman Robert Campbell (hamstring) still remains on the sidelines. Midfielder Jordan Lewis (shoulder), Brad Sewell and key defender Trent Croad (foot) are unavailable while Rick Ladson and Max Bailey are sidelined indefinitely with knee injuries while Michael Osborne (hamstring) is at least two weeks away from being considered for selection.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Brady Rawlings vs. Sam Mitchell
Mitchell was restricted to a meagre 13 possessions by Sydney veteran Brett Kirk last weekend.
The Hawthorn skipper rarely has two bad games in a row and the Hawks will need him to lift if they are going to be any chance of recording their first win of the season.
With Sewell and Lewis not in the side due to injury, the onus will be on the likes of Tuck and Mitchell to win the football at the stoppages and get the Hawks going.
When he is on his game Mitchell is arguably one of the best inside midfielders in the competition.
The Kangaroos will want to limit his effectiveness at the stoppages and will give Rawlings the task of tagging Mitchell in what will be a pivotal contest.
Rawlings has claimed some major scalps during his 183-game career and if he is able to keep Mitchell quiet on Sunday it will go a long way towards securing a win for the Roos.
Chance Bateman vs. Brent Harvey
Harvey hasn‘t been at his damaging best so far this season, averaging just 17 disposals in two games.
It is the first time that Harvey has begun a season with two successive games below 20 possessions since 1998.
In 2008 Harvey failed to collect 20 or more possessions in a game on three occasions and never failed to achieve the feat two matches in succession as he has done so far this season.
The Kangaroos skipper will be keen to fire and lead from the front after a controversial week for the club.
Ordinarily Sewell would be given the task of tagging Harvey but with him unavailable the Hawks may opt to use the hard-running Bateman in an attacking run-with role.
Bateman, who has averaged 18 disposals per game so far this season, will need to push forward at every available opportunity and be a goal kicking midfielder for the Hawks as it will force Harvey to be accountable.
Brent Renouf vs. Hamish McIntosh
The Hawks were completely smashed in the middle last weekend with the Swans winning the hit out count 73-29.
With Campbell injured and Simon Taylor still having a week of his suspension to serve, Renouf will once again be forced to do the bulk of the rucking duties against an in-form McIntosh.
The Hawks don’t need Renouf to win the hit-out count but they do need him to create a contest otherwise the Kangaroos midfield led by former skipper Adam Simpson and Harvey will be able to win more of the contested football and provide their forwards with enough quality supply to kick a winning score.
Lachlan Hansen vs. Lance Franklin
Franklin was well below his best in the loss to Sydney, managing just 11 possessions and two goals.
Last year’s Coleman medallist was instrumental in his side’s win over the Kangaroos in round three last year with 14 possessions and four goals.
The Hawks will need a similar performance from Franklin on Sunday if they are going to secure the four premiership points.
Michael Firrito and Josh Gibson have been given the job on Franklin in the past but Hansen has been earmarked as the club’s next centre-half back and will most likely be given the task of matching up on the Hawthorn star.
The Kangaroos are ranked third in the AFL for tackles per game with an average of 65 - they will need to apply immense pressure all over the ground and prevent the Hawks from delivering the football in cleanly inside 50 if they are going to be any hope of containing Franklin and co.
VERDICT: Hawthorn will be desperate to kick-start their premiership defence with a win against North Melbourne but their task won’t be an easy won given that they have lost eight of their past 11 against the Kangaroos and will be without several key midfielders. Sydney’s dominance in the ruck paved the way for their win over the Hawks last weekend. Expect it to be a similar story on Sunday with McIntosh likely to dominate the inexperienced Renouf. Kangaroos by 23 points.
NORTH MELBOURNE v HAWTHORN
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Daniel Pratt, Scott Thompson, Michael Firrito
HB: Scott McMahon, Lachlan Hansen, Gavin Urquhart
C: Sam Power, Adam Simpson, Jack Ziebell
HF: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Daniel Wells
F: Brent Harvey, David Hale, Matt Campbell
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Leigh Harding, Brady Rawlings
I/C (from): Andrew Swallow, Josh Smith, Corey Jones, Josh Gibson
In: J. Smith, Jones
Out: Daniel Harris, Todd Goldstein
HAWTHORN
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Thomas Murphy
HB: Luke Hodge, Campbell Brown, Grant Birchall
C: Clinton Young, Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis
HF: Cameron Stokes, Lance Franklin, Cyril Rioli
F: Stuart Dew, Jarryd Roughead, Mark Williams
Foll: Brent Renouf, Travis Tuck, Chance Bateman
I/C (from): Jarryd Morton, Garry Moss, Ryan Schoenmakers, Brendan Whitecross
In: Stephen Gilham, Travis Tuck.
Out: Kennedy, Thorp
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