Round 4 Preview: Eagles vs Hawks; The Season Starts Now

With all (un)due respect to the Dogs, Dees and GIANTS (haha), we face our first real test this Saturday night at Subi against the flag favourite Hawks. How the Hawks became favourites puzzles me. I know they always look good on paper at the start of the season, but since 2007 they have found a way to fail at every critical juncture. Still, they're 2-1 at the moment and have had a very challenging start to the season; with wins over Collingwood and the improved, if not elite, Crows. Their only loss came in Round 2 against the Cats. But let's be honest, the Hawks will never defeat the Cats again...unless they can obtain some gypsy tears to rid them of the Kennet Curse. Perhaps this guy can help:

The contests between us and Hawthorn have been evenly split in recent years with close final margins.

We should have won last year's contest, notwithstanding the fact that we're always forced to cross 13 timezones to get to the game, but the umpires screwed us over. Or so I'm told, by myself.

This game promises to be just as hard fought and tight. On the team selection front, the three 'injured' Eagles from last week have made a remarkable recovery. Mr Glass, Priddis and Mr Pink (Rosa) are all in. Dalziell, who has a long-term knee injury, Mitch Brown and Kobe are out. For the Hawks, contrary to murmurings, Hodge will not return for his first game of the season. I think we can all be grateful for that.

Possibly the Teams...too blurry to be certain.

The Hawks are immensely talented and strong both in the midfield with the likes of Mitchell and up forward with No. 23 and Rioli (whose number escapes me). Yet our backline is extremely solid and consistent. We have 3 possible matchups for Buddy; E-Mac, Glass and Schofield all not perfect but really who is? In the midfield they may have more talent but our guys are in top form. I am a little worried that our soft start may have us ill prepared. It would've been nice to have an intermediary matchup before this game, but conversely, our confidence should be skyhigh.

Down back they are as vulnerable as Nat Fyfe's shoulder. (sorry, I actually do love Fyfe. I could have used Waters' elbow here as well) Sure, they do have some excellent disposers of the ball like the unfortunately named Suckling (literally of suck/little suck), but they lack strong key position players. I know they payed Gibson as if he was as awesome as Goldberg from the Mighty Ducks, but he's undersized and overrated. And Schoenmakers should stick to what his name indicates he would be good at- cobbling?

"I can't defend against Kennedy but I can fix this shoe!"

 They have no Mr Glass or E-Mac or even a guy to the standard of Mitch Brown. I suspect a big day could be had by JJK, Q, Cox, Darling etc.

Their rucks are similarly weak.  Though our duo makes everyone else appear medicore.

Prediction

Moment of truth. I think we can and will win.  It will probably be close, but we're at home, undefeated and eager to play a proper opponent. The Hawks have to travel across the entire country (suckers) and have experienced a tough start to the season.

Eagles by 19.

Make it happen!