Hawks make one change for AFL grand final

The Kangaroos started with great intensity, clearly winning the battle for the contested ball.

And he’s also a key to them beating Hawthorn next week.

Nerves play a part in every Grand Final and in this case, there is a gulf in experience between the teams.

“You’d feel for anyone who misses out on a grand final”, Jarryd Roughead said.

Will the callow Eagles be nervous? He needs 17 or more on Saturday to go past 120 in total, something he will certainly do if not assigned a full-time minder. But it’s enough to make me favor Hawthorn. Others, like Hayden Ballantyne, were invisible.

“Both clubs will have plenty of players in the AFL Hall of Fame when all is said and done”. But Simpson backed off when he realised that the Eagles were actually chilled, incredibly so.

The game will get underway at the MCG in Melbourne at 2.30PM and will be screened live on Channel 7.

The consistency of Alastair Clarkson’s Hawthorn is simply incredible.

The number to look at is marks, or drilling down further, uncontested marks.

That’s why West Coast’s 32-point win over Hawthorn in week one of the finals was a shock and not just on the scoreboard. “He prefers when you go play on him”, Lyon added. You can’t allow 140 marks, like Fremantle did.

The Hawks’ star goalkicker hasn’t played since injuring his ankle against West Coast in the qualifying final.

Their drive came from Sharrod Wellingham, who had 14 possessions at the same time. He’s just that good.

That image has been overtaken by the huge growth of Hawks fas in more far flung and less wealthy suburbs, but it lives on in ABC Radio personalities The Couldabeen Champions’ character “Haydn from Glenferrie”, an earnest sounding professional type who seems to read from talking points when professing his passion for the team.

I have to say no, simply due to how Hawthorn has managed the biggest stage in the last two years.

It’s a concern for Hawthorn, and that’s a message from this game.

The mood was bubbly during the light session, with West Coast free of any injury concerns heading into the biggest match of the year.

All he wanted to do this season was improve on last season’s ninth placing.

The Eagles were able to settle down and from that point they dominated scoring. They donate nearly $50 more per year to charity, and spend $16 more going out in an average week (although Hawks supporters spend $10 more on at-home entertainment).

Hawthorn’s defence struggled to stop West Coast’s entries with 17-marks inside 50.

The Hawks have the talent, and they are close to unbeatable at the MCG.

Toyota, the sponsor of AFL Grand Final Week, is now promoting its September deals with an ad campaign featuring Stephen Curry and Dave Lawson helping new vehicle owners celebrate their new purchase like an athlete would, in an extension of its Legendary Moments campaign.