HAWTHORN

The club
Formed: 1902
Joined AFL: 1925
Premierships: Nine – 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991.
Last finals appearance: 2001, preliminary final.

2007 to date
As was the case in 2006, the Hawks started well, winning three of their first four games. Unlike last year, they’ve gone on with the job in 2007. Alastair Clarkson’s charges sit third with 11 wins and seven losses, have been as high as second on the table and have beaten the Kangaroos, Geelong, Essendon, West Coast, St Kilda, Collingwood and Port Adelaide.

On the flip side, Hawthorn has won only three of its last six and has been comfortably beaten by Adelaide, St Kilda and the Kangaroos in the last month-and-a-half. The Hawks bounced back to an extent by beating Essendon for a second time this season by 63 points on Sunday.

Last time they met the Lions
Hawthorn’s worst performance of the year to date came in round one, when they travelled to the Gabba and kicked only two goals in the first three quarters, en route to a 25-point loss. The visitors seemed to lack direction and cohesion and were only able to restore respectability with a four-goal burst in the final term. Simon Black starred for the Lions.

The coach
Some eyebrows were raised when Hawthorn offered former Kangaroo and Demon Clarkson a contract extension in the middle of 2006, but it now appears the right choice was made. Clarkson’s decision to persist with a youth-led revolution is paying dividends and it looks a formality that the Hawks will experience September action for the first time since reaching the preliminary final in 2001. Hr has a 25-37 record since being appointed senior coach for the 2005 season.

Missing in action
The Hawks have endured three season-ending injuries – young ruckman Max Bailey (knee), underrated midfielder Tim Clarke (achilles) and, most crucially, star goal sneak Mark Williams. Queensland product Michael Osborne could be available for selection after suffering from internal bleeding, but must receive approval from his specialist.

The gun
Lance Franklin takes most of the headlines and owns the majority of the highlights, but there is little doubt that it is Sam Mitchell who makes Hawthorn tick. The nuggetty 2006 fairest and best winner shares some admirable traits with Simon Black.

While his disposal may not be the equal of his Lions’ counterpart, Mitchell is perhaps even more of an in and under specialist. Certainly both have the same knack for finding the footy – Mitchell is averaging 26 possessions per game and ranks fourth in the league for handballs.

The bolter
Mention the name Brad Sewell to a non-Hawthorn supporter and you are likely to get a reply along the lines of ‘Brad who?’
Chances are you’d get quite a different answer if you mentioned it to one of Sewell’s tagging victims. Already a very solid player – third in the Hawks’ 2006 best and fairest – Sewell has risen to another level this season, lifting his possessions per game from 17 to 21. Along the way’s he’s lost none of his ability to stop opponents and, with 84 tackles, already has 39 more than he accumulated in 22 games last year.

Strengths
When the Lions entertained the Hawks in round one, this column listed “the exuberance of youth” as a Hawthorn strength. No doubt this still applies but the Hawks are far more advanced than that now.

Not only are their kids enthusiastic; the majority of them are well-credentialed AFL players. Lance Franklin has kicked 53 goals to be a genuine Coleman Medal candidate and, with Tim Boyle and Jarryd Roughead, forms a formidable trio of up-and-coming marking forwards. Hawthorn’s defence, marshalled by Trent Croad and Brent Guerra, is solid and their blend of kids (Franklin et al), ‘middle-age’ players (Luke Hodge) and veterans (Shane Crawford and Joel Smith) is much better than first thought.

Weaknesses
Ruckmen Robert Campbell and Simon Taylor win more than their share of taps but the Lions – and Jamie Charman in particular – will look to exploit the Hawthorn big-man pairing around the ground. Neither Campbell nor Taylor have the presence of the departed Peter Everitt.

Croad seems likely to get first crack at Jonathan Brown but, if that doesn’t work out, the Hawks seem somewhat under-equipped to deal with the gun Lions forward. Brown ran rampant against an undersized Smith en route to eight goals at Carrara last year and Campbell Brown, brave and talented as he is, would give away 19cm and 20kg.