Preview: Freo v Hawks

15 possessions last week against the Magpies, but his run and carry, combined with precise disposal skills, gave his side a big advantage when it came to breaking through Collingwood's defensive zone. Young finished last week's game having carried the ball over 600 metres for his side, to be in the top five for this stat across the whole competition in Round 22, ably illustrating just how much he was missed in 2009 when hip and hamstring issues kept him to just five games.

WE THINK: The Hawks may be the great dark horse in this year's finals, despite finishing seventh, but the truth is that Alastair Clarkson's boys have endured a tough week. On top of travelling to Perth, the club has had to deal with the ongoing fallout from Travis Tuck's personal issues with drugs, a matter that came to a head on Tuesday night when he was suspended heavily by the AFL tribunal. That being said, the Hawks have a solid, core group of experienced campaigners in their team and one imagines it would probably take more than this to deflect their focus. Added to the experience factor that Hawthorn brings to Subiaco, is the fact they have some bona fide superstars in their side as well, like Buddy Franklin, Cyril Rioli and Luke Hodge. Of course, the Dockers boast a few superstars of their own in Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich, but one suspects they've lost that x-factor in their forward line which Ballantyne gives them. The Hawks have been here before and know just how unsociable they need to be to win finals. The young Dockers, on the other hand, are really limping into this encounter despite their brave victory over Carlton last week. Although Sandilands will still give Fremantle a massive advantage in the stoppages, the Hawks pressure on the next player, may just nullify the benefit of this. And, if the Hawks get the ball forward, Buddy, Cyril and Roughead can do the rest. Hawthorn by 24 points.