Where and when: Marvel Stadium, Friday August 2, 7.50pm AEST
What it means for North Melbourne: This is a chance to restore the positivity from early in Rhyce Shaw’s tenure. The Roos have lost three straight games and a finals appearance is highly unlikely, but there’s plenty still to be gained.
What it means for Hawthorn: A September berth remains a possibility and the Hawks are playing as well as almost any team. Having said that, Alastair Clarkson’s men can’t afford to drop this one if they want to play finals.
The stat: The Hawks have won nine of their past 11 meetings with North, but the clubs have split the last four at Marvel Stadium, the scene of their round 20 clash.
The match-up: James Frawley v Ben Brown
Not much is being said or written about Frawley, but he’s been a big reason for Hawthorn’s spike in form. Opposition forwards are struggling to get hold of him, but the Kangaroos would dearly love Brown to do exactly that.
It’s a big week for: Grant Birchall
Every game is critical for the four-time premiership star, who’s trying to prove he deserves another contract. Birchall hasn’t lost his ability (he’s on the bubble after scoring a pair of 87’s), so he just needs to illustrate his body can hold up to the rigours of AFL football.
Big call: North gets out to a 20 point lead early before Clarko puts on a coaching masterclass leaving Rhyce Shaw completely bewildered. Hawthorn storm home in the final quarter to win easily.
Mottsy’s Tip: Hawthorn by 30 points
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NO LATE CHANGES
FINAL INTERCHANGES
North Melbourne: Taylor Garner, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jasper Pittard, Cameron Zurhaar
Hawthorn: Conor Nash, Grant Birchall, Chad Wingard, Oliver Hanrahan
If North loses that’ll make it 4 losses on the bounce. Think we’ll need to consider a coaching change. 😉
I hear Brad Scott’s available. 😛
Dear Mr Shaw
Please prove that you know more than Ken Hinkley and instead of dropping one of your ‘least worst’ players play your captain where it matters most.
Jack Ziebell in the guts
My supercoach team needs him to fire
Signed
Concerned Member
Is it worth trading Quaynor to Birchall leaving me with 1 trade left? I currently have no cover in def and I could use Birchall as a loophole for questionable premiums such as Stewart:
TU: Handy D7 option for loopholes and need cover
TD: Too risky to have only 1 trade left
A potential hammy injury to Birch makes me hope you didn’t pull the trigger on this one.
Well right now I know one person who is regretting pulling that same trigger… 🙁
Go hawkers here’s to hoping a big win and omeara to fire
North may have jumped the gun by giving Shaw the job. The exuberance has worn off…
Is Cunnington contractually obliged to ONLY handball? Avoids the kick at costs, jeez.
Mentioned it earlier in the season around the byes when Cunnington was gaining steam as a key reason to avoid but is compensated by his contested work.
If Shaw can’t get his players fired up at quarter time, this is going to get very, very ugly.
Disaster averted.
We were horrible and we’re only 20 pts behind. C’mon North, lift!!!!!!
Whatever happened to contact below the knees?
Aww! This NAB Auskicker of the week is so CUTE!
Glad I didn’t trade out Ziebell
TU: Greene
TD: Tom Lynch
will greene continue in the midfield til years end?
Excellent stuff North. One more quarter at that intensity please!
I wonder when afl defenders will have to start wearing netball bibs, not allowed to out muscle soft forwards.
Need HUGE last quarters from Cunnington and Sicily. Please!
Now Worpel decides to go big but when i have him he gets around 80
Its over for the hawks damit
Motts nailed his match preview …… 😉
Missed it by THAT much.
Hawks out of the final contention ???
Man I said weeks ago that Sicily had to go but I didn’t pull the trigger. He fair dinkum isn’t trying and I don’t even know how he scored in the 60’s.
To say he and Crisp have been underwhelming since I bought them in would be putting it mildly.
Should’ve gone with my gut and bought Clark in for one of them at the very least.
Looks like Clark will outscore Sicily since he last posted a ton … and by some margin.
birch took a lot of his backline points
now he,s gone down , sicily should av 90+ again
unless clarko lets him have some fun & roam around
for the last couple of games
no point sicily gett’n injures in a non flag year