Unofficial Preview Who will our opponent be - Hawthorn or the Bulldogs?

[Land of the Giants]

With no game to preview this week, I thought we might discuss who's likely to win Friday's semi-final between the Hawks and Bulldogs.

I think it's going to be a contest between Hawthorn's relentlessness, and the Bulldogs' speed and intensity.

The Hawks are currently paying $1.45 to the Bulldogs $2.83, but I think it will be a lot closer than that. Hawthorn won two more games than the Bulldogs throughout the season, but their final percentages were very similar.

It wouldn't surprise me if there was an upset.

 

[IanW]

Voting with my heart. Doggies will be the Team of Destiny and their midfield will blow the Hawks off the park with ferocity.

 

[Bokonon]

Must be a strange week at training not knowing who the opposition will be. The Bulldogs and Hawks are very different sides and will threaten from different places. They get next week to focus I guess.
I dont know who'll win. I tend to rate tradition and in my lifetime you would always back the Hawks to improve with their backs to the wall, which they have for the first time this year.
On the other hand the Bulldogs midfield is awesome.

 

[Simmofreo]

Must be a strange week at training not knowing who the opposition will be. The Bulldogs and Hawks are very different sides and will threaten from different places. They get next week to focus I guess.
I dont know who'll win. I tend to rate tradition and in my lifetime you would always back the Hawks to improve with their backs to the wall, which they have for the first time this year.
On the other hand the Bulldogs midfield is awesome.

The week off is a massive advantage in modern day footy. That's why a huge majority of times the home prelim team usually wins.

The team get to watch the Hawks v Dogs game really closely.

Imagine this. "Phil you are playing on Gunston or Stringer. Here are some older recorded matches and watch them both closely on the weekend. Enjoy your 2 weeks prep"

 

[Bokonon]

The week off is a massive advantage in modern day footy. That's why a huge majority of times the home prelim team usually wins.

The team get to watch the Hawks v Dogs game really closely.

Imagine this. "Phil you are playing on Gunston or Stringer. Here are some older recorded matches and watch them both closely on the weekend. Enjoy your 2 weeks prep"

Fair comment, there are only two.
On the topic of the defence though I wonder if one on one matchups are the way against the Hawks or the dogs. Neither have really dominant big forwards. Against the Hawks in particular it's the ruckmen drifting forward that provide the contest when they cant find a target, the small forwards mobility is the real threat. I know I beat this drum a lot but Bunts and Kennedy' s speed and ability to win one on one contests would be useful.
How you fit them in I dont know, and I'm definitely ok leaving the team selection to the experts.

 

[kulak]

Dogs I think are the better team, injury permitting. I thought they gave us a good run in our match at Spotless and could have won with better goal kicking. Their young midfield shows as much promise as ours. Could be the start of a long rivalry.

Hawks have not looked as smooth as previous years, and their forward line is struggling, but they can turn it on when they need to. They probably outplayed Geelong, and IMO should have won. However I can see if we get well on top of them we could run rampant as they have nothing like the midfield power we have.

Both will probably be better than the Swans were. Swans were poor in last year's finals going out in straight sets from fourth. In 2014 they were minor premiers but were smashed by Hawthorn in the GF. Potentially some concerns stacking up that their style of play does not work as well in finals against top line opposition.

Swans need a bag from Buddy to make their forward line work. As a Crows fan I hope that does not happen this week. (As a Crows fan I fully expect that will happen this week...)

 

[Land of the Giants]

I had an interesting chat with a Magpies supporter today.

He'd like to see the Bulldogs win tonight, but thinks Hawthorn will be too good. He also thinks we'd have a better chance against the Bulldogs.

A lot will depend on how the games goes and if there are any fresh injuries for either side. That's one thing we don't have to worry about.

 

[Raymann]

I'm at the G in my Giants gear excited that we might be here in a couple of weeks. Spine tingling

 

[Bokonon]

I had an interesting chat with a Magpies supporter today.

He'd like to see the Bulldogs win tonight, but thinks Hawthorn will be too good. He also thinks we'd have a better chance against the Bulldogs.

A lot will depend on how the games goes and if there are any fresh injuries for either side. That's one thing we don't have to worry about.

I dont hink anyone really knows what the Hawks will do. This is their first time this year with their backs to the wall this year.

 

[Simmofreo]

Might be able to close this thread early

 

[Land of the Giants]

Might be able to close this thread early

Maybe not just yet.

 

[Simmofreo]

Maybe not just yet.

Rioli will win this by at least 50

Alone

s**t how do we stop him

 

[Simmofreo]

Definately want dogs. Please dogs. Hawthorn are a class team

 

[Simmofreo]

If bruest gets away with that after Johnson gets suspended i will be fuminh

 

[Andre the Giant]

I must say I am gutted by the lack of injuries in this game.

 

[coniglio_number1]

Id prefer to play the Hawks. Dogs run and gun game plan is too similar to ours. We can capitalise on our leg speed against the ageing hawks

 

[Simmofreo]

I must say I am gutted by the lack of injuries in this game.

Oh god. Touch some wood now or we will lose half a team next week

 

[Simmofreo]

Im glad the intensity has picked up. I was thinking "hey this isnt wearing them out". I hope its a grueling 1 point game

 

[_GT_]

I must say I am gutted by the lack of injuries in this game.

I don't understand this thinking. It's a hollow win if you play a Hawks side without thier best due to a rash of unlucky injuries. I always wanted to play against the best. I'm sure our boys do too.

 

[Andre the Giant]

I don't understand this thinking. It's a hollow win if you play a Hawks side without thier best due to a rash of unlucky injuries. I always wanted to play against the best. I'm sure our boys do too.

Being facetious champ, I couldn't give a s**t about either of these dog teams.

 

[Simmofreo]

So giants fans. Looking more like bulldogs. We need to beat anyone but i think the dogs are the one team that can really match us over the ground

Nervous ?

 

[actabunni]

Would have preferred to play the Hawks they look old and busted and I have no doubt we would belt them. The dogs on the other hand I remember our win against them earlier this season and it could have gone either way and they were missing half there team and we were at full strength not confident.

 

[_GT_]

Being facetious champ, I couldn't give a s**t about either of these dog teams.

If you say so champ...

 

[Gigantic]

The Dogs have certainly been switched on in the finals. I'm very nervous now.

 

[_GT_]

The Dogs have certainly been switched on in the finals. I'm very nervous now.

One form team for sure. Hawks don't have the running weapons these days to work them over, so hoping that is where we can do the damage.