Geelong And Hawthorn Then And Now

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago 


The Hawks and Cats lined up against each other in Round 17 this year. By midseason, both had proved themselves as two of the most dominant teams in the competition. Prior to this game, the Cats had lost just once to Collingwood in Round Nine while Hawthorn had only three losses against the Bulldogs in Round 10, the Kangaroos in Round 13 and the previous week against St. Kilda. Geelong was sitting in first place and the Hawks were third behind the Bulldogs. By midseason, this was one of the most anticipated games of the year. Which side would come out on top? While the Cats led for much of the game, Hawthorn clawed their way to a three point deficit at 3/4 time and actually grabbed the lead early in the final term, only for the Cats to kick two late goals for a 16 point win.

At the time, these were the team line ups for that match. Compare these lists to the Grand Final teams below. Who will prevail on that last Saturday in September? Only the Footy Gods know for sure!

HAWTHORN
BACK: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Rick Ladson
HALFBACK: Campbell Brown, Trent Croad, Grant Birchall
CENTER: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis
HALF FORWARD: Chance Bateman, Lance Franklin, Michael Osborne
FORWARD: Mark Williams, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli
RUCK: Robert Campbell
ROVERS: Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C: Tom Murphy, Travis Tuck, Simon Taylor, Cam Stokes
EMERG: Tim Clarke, Beau Dowler, Jarryd Morton

IN: Stokes
OUT: Jarryd Morton, Brent Renouf (susp), Shane Crawford (knee)

GEELONG
BACK: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie
HAFLBACK: Harry Taylor, Darren Milburn, Corey Enright
CENTER: James Kelly, Max Rooke, Jimmy Bartel
HALF FORWARD: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Ryan Gamble
FORARD: Paul Chapman, Tom Lonergan, Mathew Stokes
RUCK: Brad Ottens
ROVERS: Joel Corey, Joel Selwood
I/C: Josh Hunt, Mark Blake, Brent Prismall, Travis Varcoe
EMG: David Johnson, Simon Hogan, Shannon Byrnes

OUT: Egan (foot), Byrnes (foot), Ling (fractured cheekbone), Ablett (ankle), Wojcinski (late withdrawal), Hawkins (stress fracture), Milburn (flu)

GRAND FINAL TEAMS

GEELONG
BACK: Harley, Scarlett, Hunt
HALF BACK: Milburn, Taylor, Mackie
CENTER: Selwood, Ling, Enright
HALF FORWARD: S. Johnson, Mooney, Bartel
FORWARD: Chapman, Lonergan, Stokes
RUCK: Ottens
ROVER: Ablett, Corey
I/C: Rooke, Kelly, Varcoe, Blake
EMER: Wojcinski, Byrnes, Gamble

IN: Chapman
OUT: Wojcinski

HAWTHORN

BACK: Gilham, Croad, Guerra
HALFBACK: Ladson, Hodge, Birchall
C: Bateman, Mitchell, Lewis
HALFBACK: Osborne, Franklin, Rioli
FORWARD: Williams, Roughead, Brown
RUCK: Campbell
ROVER: Sewell, Crawford
I/C: Dew, Ellis, Renouf, Young
EMER: Murphy, Taylor, Tuck

IN-OUT: No changes (from Preliminary Final)

As you can see, Geelong is strengthened for this game with the inclusion of Cameron Ling and Gary Ablett, both of whom missed Round 17 due to injury. Hunt, who was on the interchange in Round 17, comes in for young defender Harry Taylor. Jimmy Bartel, who played in the midfield in Round 17, has been shifted to the half-forward line. Kelly has lost his midfield spot from Round 17 to Joel Selwood. Kelly still has a chance to shine from the interchange bench. Max Rooke, in for the injured Ling in Round 17, is now on the interchange bench as well.

As for Hawthorn, youngster Brent Renouf was serving out a suspension while Shane Crawford missed Round 17 with a knee injury. Crawford resumes his midfield spot while Renouf has been named to the interchange. The Hawks have bolstered their attack with Campbell Brown, who played in defense in Round 17. They also must reckon that Luke Hodge, a rover in Round 17, could use his speed across half back. Chance Bateman has been moved from attack to defense. Hawthorn's forward line looks ominous with the only change being Brown replacing Cyril Rioli who has also been shifted the half back line. Of course, as the game progresses, the coaches can move players around if they feel things aren't going the team's way and other match-ups are might work better than others.

Earlier in the week, it was reported that Chapman was struggling to overcome a hamstring injury from the Preliminary Final. However, he proved his fitness in time to be selected. He comes in for the unlucky Wojcinski, who has been named as an emergency.

This is the first time since 2004 (Brisbane and Poft Adelaide) that the two top teams have played off in a Grand Final. It is also the first time since 2000 (Essendon and Melbourne) that two Victorian teams have played against each other.

Source: afl.com.au, Herald Sun, Inside Football, author notes