AFL Round 8 Preview: Hawthorn v Sydney

AFL.  Hawks v Swans

Hawthorn v Sydney, Saturday Night 7:20pm, MCG

There’s probably one focus that John Longmire will have all week, reinforcing to his squad that they cannot be physically intimidated in the manner that they were. Physical intimidation in footy is not hitting blokes off the ball or coming in late to contests – that’s crude behaviour that will cost you down the line (ie. Hawks missing Lewis and Hodge and losing to GWS).

Physical intimidation is breathing down your opponents necks when they have the ball, dumping them to the floor in every tackle and overzealous manning of the mark and players at every contest.

Watch that ten minute patch in the second quarter of last year’s Grand Final and you’ll see just where the game was won and lost - the Hawks creeping into the back of the Swans players’ minds and throwing them off their game.

Hawthorn on the other hand, responded just how it should against the Demons last week. Clarkson urged his team to be relentless, and they as a unit despatched a football team that was nowhere near their ability for four quarters.

Ruthlessness is one of the many traits of the successful. Both of these two are very good at applying this mindset to their game, and the winner of this contest will have done it better.


Key Match Ups

Lance Franklin v Ryan Schoenmakers/Josh Gibson

Probably will have to be a joint effort from Schoenmakers and Gibson. Schoenmakers to get back and take Franklin in one on one contests inside forward 50, whilst Gibson to mark him when he roams further up the ground.

Jarryd Roughead v Ted Richards

Roughead probably won’t mind this match up. With the ability to drag his man up the ground, it might allow Gunston or the resting ruckman to stay one on one with a less complete defender in Sam Reid inside defensive 50.


Result

Despite falling short against the Hawks the last couple of times, the Swans are every chance here. This is about the time of year when their best footy starts to rear its head, and the Hawks still look a bit shaky. Should go down to the wire.

Swans by 3. 

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