We will be more competitive than people think

[Milne]

Although the chances of us winning are probably <10%, with the the way modern football is any team can win on their day.

We've only been played off the park by one team this year, and were very unlucky not to be 4-2.

Losing Hickey, Eli and Dunstan will hurt, but we have a very talented group of young and up and comers and a fantastic team game plan.

I am confident that we will give Hawthorn a run for their money.

[bergholt]

I hope you're right, though I suspect that might be because the Hawks take us a bit lightly. Still be very good to see how we measure up against a really good side, teach some of our kids a lesson or two. No expectations and I'm actually looking forward to it!

[howlinwolf]

If put in 4 quarters of effort where everyone plays their role I'll be happy. Can't ask more than that.
Somthing like the Essendon game. If we do that and still go down it'll be a good day.
We need more and more consistency of effort.

[3rd generation saint]

The weather might help today if it's cold and wet.
If we lose by less than 10 goals with the lead gradually increasing every quarter, I will be reasonably happy.

[Bluthy]

We seem most switched on when we go in as underdog with a hunter mentality. Really need Lenny and Joey to have a huge one today and Mav and Curran to do good shutdown roles. Steven's been getting better each week and will rip one up soon. If we get monstered in the middle then we are in big trouble. The wet weather should take away some of Hawks possession footy and make it more contested. Its just that the big bodied Hawks are damn good at contested footy as well! Be interesting to see how Richo coaches against the best coach in the business.

[tony74]

Fully agree.
However I think a lot depends on whether the team that was selected on Thursday night is the same as the team that runs out in a few hours.

[Jacks Back]

Fully agree.
However I think a lot depends on whether the team that was selected on Thursday night is the same as the team that runs out in a few hours.

What have you heard tony74? I hope none of the big guns are out.

[wolfpup]

be happy with we can get within 36 points. hoping for a close game and very interested in how acres and weller goes.

really shame about hickey, wright, dunstan , eli and gilbert.

[samoht]

If all our senior players were fit and available to play, along with our talented youngsters, I'm sure we would have detaloned the Hawks at the very least.
We'll still do all right, in any case.

[Statsman]

It's all about intensity. If we bring our Essendon game we might just take it up to them, but if we only bring our Adelaide game it could get very ugly very quickly. We need to play with our manic defensive pressure to harass the skilful Hawthorn players into errors. We'll also need to use the ball with precision because turnovers will be punished very quickly with Hawks goals on the rebound.

[jonesy]

Not sure of these showers are going to hit the city on time...

[spert]

Might miss Dunstan I think. The midfield really need to hit the ground running from the first bounce, and not be watchers like they were against the Lions. We can't do catch-up footy against the Hawks as they are too good.

[citywest]

I'm hoping for 2 outcomes today. Limit the margin to no more than a 40 point loss and more importantly, no more injuries. We have already had 4 long term injuries in 6 rounds so enough is enough.

[8856brother]

I'm concerned about the wide expanses of the G. They may cut us up with their foot skills. Harder to maintain pressure on the bigger ground. Hope I'm wrong and we get a surprise like the Essendon game.

[felix]

I was hoping for a downpour of epic proportions to even this one up. A few showers increasing during the arvo is the forecast , so we need to get off to a flyer in case the rain does come later.

[gringo]

Might miss Dunstan I think. The midfield really need to hit the ground running from the first bounce, and not be watchers like they were against the Lions. We can't do catch-up footy against the Hawks as they are too good.

It would have been nice to see where we were at with Hickey, Armo and Dunstan. I think we can make a show of it but we will struggle against their numbers of quality mids even if we are at full strength. We should be to defensive and not have much attack if we are playing jones and Saunders as forward taggers, Curren and weller as midfield tags and then running plenty of others back to help out the defence. I can't see where the attack is going to come from especially having to run back and forwards on the expanses of the G.

[bigred]

Today will be good.

The younger blokes will learn a lot.

The only way we will win is if Hawthorn put their end of season trip on this game.

[jonesy]

Heavy shower now in Frankston. Two minutes of this at the ground would turn the game into an utter scrap

[SemperFidelis]

Have checked the BOM radar, not sure the rain's going to be enough!

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR022.loop.shtml#skip

Agree with the OP (fingers crossed); have decided to drop in with one of the kids to check out our new recruits. We have low expectations but high hopes ...

[jonesy]

Have checked the BOM radar, not sure the rain's going to be enough!

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR022.loop.shtml#skip

Agree with the OP (fingers crossed); have decided to drop in with one of the kids to check out our new recruits. We have low expectations but high hopes ...

The tiny bit that just passed through here dropped a fair bit more than what you'd expect off the radar. They're heavy showers, think the second half will be a soapy footy

[jonesy]

This one coming up the bay now will end the 1st quarter as any sort of a spectacle, it's torrential

[Con Gorozidis]

People got this one right. Bookies had the line at 62 points which sounds about right.

[SemperFidelis]

Jonesy. Should have listened to you, not the bom. Bloody raining cats and dogs here. And hawks.

[Wayne42]

Although the chances of us winning are probably <10%, with the the way modern football is any team can win on their day.

We've only been played off the park by one team this year, and were very unlucky not to be 4-2.

Losing Hickey, Eli and Dunstan will hurt, but we have a very talented group of young and up and comers and a fantastic team game plan.

I am confident that we will give Hawthorn a run for their money.

How's your confidence right now

[Hurricane]

Oddly enough when the rain came we stopped being competitive. They are playing like it's dry and our skills are horrible.

BANG BANG