The Clarko code

There was a bit to process after the last time these two sides met in round three.

The young challenger had come ever so close to flooring the old champ, but Bob Murphy’s injury had most Bulldogs fans thinking solely about their fallen skipper.

What may have been missed is that Luke Beveridge and his coaching staff had come pretty close to picking apart Hawthorn’s vaunted game plan.  

The Dogs delivered their usual grunt work around the contest while also managing to blunt one of the Hawks’ biggest strengths, their slicker than average ball movement.

Only twice this season have the Hawks lost the uncontested possession battle by more than they did that night and have won the disposal and uncontested mark battle in 10 of their past 11 finals according to Champion Data.

It probably comes down to how hard the Dogs worked that night rather than cracking some kind of code, but it’s something to build on for tonight.

 

History in their eyes

Barry Hall kicked six and Matthew Boyd and 35 touches the last time the Dogs beat the Hawks.

That was in round three, 2010.   But that’s just the beginning of the story.

The Hawks have never lost a final against the Bulldogs, breaking red, white and blue hearts in the 1961 Grand Final, and twice in 1985, a side Doug Hawkins swears could have taken care of eventual premiers Essendon. If only they could have gotten by Hawthorn.  And then there’s the 2008 Qualifying Final.

You have to wonder how much it all means, if anything, when the ball’s bounced on Friday night.

In any case, as Wil Anderson might say, it’s time to reverse the curse, boys.

 

 

Friday night fights

The unsociable Hawks… it’s been a theme of the week in the footy media and front bars everywhere. 

Will the Hawks come out and try to intimidate the young Dogs, and how will they handle it?

It’s been one of the great strengths of Hawthorn’s run at the top, using their physicality to try and get inside the heads of the opposition and knock them off of their game.   

But the Dogs have seen this before.  North Melbourne sent a court of Kangaroos Marcus Bontempelli’s way in round 20 and he responded with a best on ground performance. 

They’re young, but they’re tough.  They’ll be ready.

 

This time it’s personal

In 2016 the Hawks are attempting to do what no other team in history has been able to do since Jock McHale’s Collingwood sides of the late 20’s and early 30’s – win four straight flags. 

As if the chance to head up to Spotless to take on the Giants in a Preliminary Final next weekend isn’t a bigger enough prize, for coach Luke Beveridge there’s family honour at stake too.

Jack Beveridge, Luke’s grandfather, was one of the stars of the Magpie ‘Machine’, and while it won’t be front of mind, you can be sure that Bevo would be happy to see his Pa’s record stand a little longer