Why I'm Looking Forward To Hawthorn v Collingwood
May 2nd 2008 03:39
When it comes to predicting match of the year, most people automatically name the game between the two best teams. But the year's best match will be decided by the detail within the game, not just the skill of the players.
The game of the year will have exciting matchups, close scores, a bit of physicality and conflicting strategies that spend the full 100 or so minutes trying to prevail over each other. For these reasons, I think Hawthorn v Collingwood will be this year's best contest.
Matchups:
Scott Burns v Sam Mitchell
Clearances will be so, so important if either side wants to control the game. Burns and Mitchell are the sides' extractors and the winner of that centre matchup will have a serious influence on the outcome. Burns plays his 250th game.
Lance Franklin v Wakelin/O'Brien/Brown
If Buddy kicks a bag, the Pies are in trouble. But if anyone has a defensive combo to stop him, it's Collingwood. Wakelin is very good one-on-one, while O'Brien excels stopping leads. Brown is a wildcard as a first-year player, and has put in excellent efforts against strong forwards consistently this year. They just need to be careful not to forget about Jarryd Roughead, Mark Williams or Cyril Rioli while they're at it.
Scott Pendlebury v Clinton Young
If anyone needs to be run with, it's potential matchwinner Pendlebury. Young, however, has played a very loose role this year, taking multitudes of uncontested marks and delivering inside 50 prolifically. However he will need to be much more accountable this week if playing on 'Penders,' as named.
Close Scores
Last year, the quarter-by-quarter margins were 3-1-5-8, all Hawthorn's way. It doesn't get much closer than that. Fans looking for a good game could hope for those sort of scores again.
Physicality
Hawthorn has made no secret of its step up in this department this year. Alastair Clarkson even suggested that they would concede suspensions for the added physical pressure (Jordan Lewis apparently took this to heart). Collingwood has never been a side to walk away from the heat of the battle. Last year, this clash fell days after Alan Didak's famous night out, and players were both keen to get under his skin and defend him, depending on what jumper they were wearing. It added another dimension to an already classic contest.
Conflicting strategies
Hawthorn plays enterprising football, with unconventional but highly successful tactics and a strong reliance on run out of the midfield. Collingwood often goes back to basics, with long kicks a feature of their game. This could be the trick to bypass Hawthorn's 'rolling zone' and test out their often leaky defence. Either way, the strategies cannot co-exist so it will be engrossing to watch the teams fight to play the game on their own terms.
Collingwood has the multi-faceted forwardline of Rocca, Cloke, Medhurst and Thomas to defeat the stretched Hawks defence. But Hawthorn has, in my opinion, the league's best midfield four in Campbell, Sewell, Hodge and Mitchell, who will be instrumental in getting the ball into their dangerous forward zone.
Result
It sounds a bit like a recipe - take a dozen tight matchups, fold in the close scores, drizzle physicality liberally, blend with enthralling tactics and set in front of 70,000 people - to concoct the match of the year.
Hawthorn by four points.
The game of the year will have exciting matchups, close scores, a bit of physicality and conflicting strategies that spend the full 100 or so minutes trying to prevail over each other. For these reasons, I think Hawthorn v Collingwood will be this year's best contest.
Hawthorn v Collingwood will be Match of the Year
Matchups:
Scott Burns v Sam Mitchell
Clearances will be so, so important if either side wants to control the game. Burns and Mitchell are the sides' extractors and the winner of that centre matchup will have a serious influence on the outcome. Burns plays his 250th game.
Lance Franklin v Wakelin/O'Brien/Brown
If Buddy kicks a bag, the Pies are in trouble. But if anyone has a defensive combo to stop him, it's Collingwood. Wakelin is very good one-on-one, while O'Brien excels stopping leads. Brown is a wildcard as a first-year player, and has put in excellent efforts against strong forwards consistently this year. They just need to be careful not to forget about Jarryd Roughead, Mark Williams or Cyril Rioli while they're at it.
Scott Pendlebury v Clinton Young
If anyone needs to be run with, it's potential matchwinner Pendlebury. Young, however, has played a very loose role this year, taking multitudes of uncontested marks and delivering inside 50 prolifically. However he will need to be much more accountable this week if playing on 'Penders,' as named.
Close Scores
Last year, the quarter-by-quarter margins were 3-1-5-8, all Hawthorn's way. It doesn't get much closer than that. Fans looking for a good game could hope for those sort of scores again.
Physicality
Hawthorn has made no secret of its step up in this department this year. Alastair Clarkson even suggested that they would concede suspensions for the added physical pressure (Jordan Lewis apparently took this to heart). Collingwood has never been a side to walk away from the heat of the battle. Last year, this clash fell days after Alan Didak's famous night out, and players were both keen to get under his skin and defend him, depending on what jumper they were wearing. It added another dimension to an already classic contest.
Conflicting strategies
Hawthorn plays enterprising football, with unconventional but highly successful tactics and a strong reliance on run out of the midfield. Collingwood often goes back to basics, with long kicks a feature of their game. This could be the trick to bypass Hawthorn's 'rolling zone' and test out their often leaky defence. Either way, the strategies cannot co-exist so it will be engrossing to watch the teams fight to play the game on their own terms.
Collingwood has the multi-faceted forwardline of Rocca, Cloke, Medhurst and Thomas to defeat the stretched Hawks defence. But Hawthorn has, in my opinion, the league's best midfield four in Campbell, Sewell, Hodge and Mitchell, who will be instrumental in getting the ball into their dangerous forward zone.
Result
It sounds a bit like a recipe - take a dozen tight matchups, fold in the close scores, drizzle physicality liberally, blend with enthralling tactics and set in front of 70,000 people - to concoct the match of the year.
Hawthorn by four points.
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