Grand Final Preview: Geelong vs Hawthorn
September 26th 2008 00:50
The 2008 season has come down to this match: Geelong and Hawthorn meeting on the last day in September.
After dominating for the whole season, it is only fair that the two best teams of the year meet to play for the coveted Premiership in a replay of the 1989 Grand Final.
Geelong will be hoping that the result from almost two decades ago is not relived, whilst the Hawks want to take home some silverware, four years in the making.
David Wojcinski is the unlucky player to be dropped for Saturday's clash. He is making way for Paul Chapman, who is returning from a hamstring injury. Chapman will be given up until the last minute to prove his fitness, and if he doesn't come up, Wojcinski will take his spot.
Trent Croad is Hawthorn's main injury concern, as he has not been training to his full potential due to a foot injury. Luke Hodge may have had some ribs broken in a sickening clash with St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke, but he is not stopping him from taking his place on Saturday afternoon.
In their last meeting back in Round 17, Geelong were missing Gary Ablett, Cameron Ling and Darren Milburn, but still went on to defeat the Hawks by 11 points. How much of a difference will this top trio of players make to the Cats' outfit?
The midfield battle will be highly-anticipated, as the likes of Ablett, Mitchell, Ling, Bateman, Bartel, Sewell, Selwood and Hodge all likely to, at some stage, play on one another. Getting hands on the ball will become more critical than ever, and player unaccountability will be tolerated.
Up forward for Hawthorn, Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Mark Williams will not have an easy time scoring goals, as they come up against Matthew Scarlett, Tom Harley and co. Franklin did manage to kick four goals against Scarlett in Round 17, but the full-back will give him the space he covets.
Williams was sensational last week against St Kilda, and his five goals - and Roughead's four - proved to be the difference on the score board.
Steve Johnson and Cameron Mooney played quieter games last week, and are raring to go for the big one. Tom Lonergan has found himself a new home up forward, and his goals will be sorely required.
Shane Crawford has played AFL Football for 17 years, but has never experienced a Grand Final. And even after playing over 300 games, the veteran becomes a novice on the biggest stage of all. The Cats were there last year, and polverised Port Adelaide by 20 goals.
So, which Captain will lift the 2008 Premiership cup at approximately 5:15pm tomorrow? Tom Harley or Sam Mitchell? Will Gary Ablett Jr replicate his father and win a Norm Smith Medal against Hawthorn?
After dominating for the whole season, it is only fair that the two best teams of the year meet to play for the coveted Premiership in a replay of the 1989 Grand Final.
Geelong will be hoping that the result from almost two decades ago is not relived, whilst the Hawks want to take home some silverware, four years in the making.
David Wojcinski is the unlucky player to be dropped for Saturday's clash. He is making way for Paul Chapman, who is returning from a hamstring injury. Chapman will be given up until the last minute to prove his fitness, and if he doesn't come up, Wojcinski will take his spot.
Trent Croad is Hawthorn's main injury concern, as he has not been training to his full potential due to a foot injury. Luke Hodge may have had some ribs broken in a sickening clash with St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke, but he is not stopping him from taking his place on Saturday afternoon.
In their last meeting back in Round 17, Geelong were missing Gary Ablett, Cameron Ling and Darren Milburn, but still went on to defeat the Hawks by 11 points. How much of a difference will this top trio of players make to the Cats' outfit?
The midfield battle will be highly-anticipated, as the likes of Ablett, Mitchell, Ling, Bateman, Bartel, Sewell, Selwood and Hodge all likely to, at some stage, play on one another. Getting hands on the ball will become more critical than ever, and player unaccountability will be tolerated.
Up forward for Hawthorn, Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Mark Williams will not have an easy time scoring goals, as they come up against Matthew Scarlett, Tom Harley and co. Franklin did manage to kick four goals against Scarlett in Round 17, but the full-back will give him the space he covets.
Williams was sensational last week against St Kilda, and his five goals - and Roughead's four - proved to be the difference on the score board.
Steve Johnson and Cameron Mooney played quieter games last week, and are raring to go for the big one. Tom Lonergan has found himself a new home up forward, and his goals will be sorely required.
Shane Crawford has played AFL Football for 17 years, but has never experienced a Grand Final. And even after playing over 300 games, the veteran becomes a novice on the biggest stage of all. The Cats were there last year, and polverised Port Adelaide by 20 goals.
So, which Captain will lift the 2008 Premiership cup at approximately 5:15pm tomorrow? Tom Harley or Sam Mitchell? Will Gary Ablett Jr replicate his father and win a Norm Smith Medal against Hawthorn?
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