2008 AFL NAB Cup Semi Final Game 2

Hawthorn vs Adelaide

Adelaide have been going along quite nicely and look to be ahead of most in their preparations for the 2008 AFL Season. Neil Craig looks to have changed his game style and they are now playing a free flowing style of game which is certainly a lot better to watch. The new look Adelaide midfield also looks good and with my man James Porplyzia relishing the opportunity of spending some more time in the middle and racking up the touches. Simon Goodwin and Andrew McLeod are comfortable down forward and as we saw last week McLeod is simply brilliant in creating opportunities in the forward 50. The word out of Adelaide is that they will be more intense this week and are looking to exert some more pressure on the opposition. Something that Craig said he was impressed with from the Dockers last week. Another good test for the young ruckman this week and also for Brad Moran who is tipped to play on Hawthorn Superstar Buddy Franklin. Nathan Bassett, The Bird Man Brett Burton and Rob Shirley look set to return for the Crows but Bassett may mind himself playing forward instead of back as Craig looks to find more avenues to goal. I have been impressed with the Crows game style and skill level in the first too hit outs and I am sure they will be out to grab a Grand Final berth. Read more

Hawks and Dockers take big risks

The talk from the AFL National Draft on Saturday obviously centered around Matthew Kruezer at number 1, but it was the choices of Hawthorn and Fremantle that interested me.

Fremantle used 2 of their picks to revive the careers of Mark Johnson and Kepler Bradley. Bradley you could probably understand because of his age and his athletiscism, but Johnson is in the later part of career you would think and although Fremantle coach Mark Harvey says he is testing better than he did when he was 25, his form in 2006 and 2007 has not been great and Essendon was correct in their decision to get rid of him. Maybe Harvey has seen what Sheedy can do to revive older players careers and is trying to do the same. I hope for his sake he can do it because the Fremantle fans are very unforgiving.

Hawthorn put their heads on the chopping block by picking up ex Port Adelaide forward Stuart Dew. Dew is not in terrible physical shape at the moment, his weight had ballooned out to 120kg and his playing weight is usually around 100kg. He has been training by himself for about 2 months and will be interesting to see him go through the pre season.

There will be alot of expectation from Hawks fans in 2008 after their impressive 2007. If this Dew gamble doesn’t pay off and he can’t get his body back in shape and make a significant impact then there is going to be alot of irate Hawks fans. On the up side Dew will bring with him a great deal of experience to the young list, with only Shane Crawford left in terms of experience that will be a bonus. The only position I see for Dew will be as an impact player off the bench, which may be just what the Hawks need.

For both Hawthorn and Fremantle I hope their gambles pay off because if they backfire then both Harvey and Clarkson will be in the sights of their respective fans.