By STEPHEN TAYLOR
Who can deny the Hawks the right to be favourites in Saturday’s grand final?
They have the stars and the structure to beat Sydney — and the knowledge that they can beat the Swans even after giving them a head start.
Who could forget the pair’s round 22 clash in Sydney when the Swans romped away to a 37-point lead, only to have the Hawks reel them in for a seven-point victory. But the Swans can take solace from their win over the Hawks in Tasmania in round five.
This Saturday’s clash will be one to remember: the tight-checking Sydney with the game’s most miserly defence, up against a Hawks’ forward line chock full of stars ready to kick match-winning scores. The obvious defensive move for the Swans will be curbing ‘Buddy’ Franklin, but it’s their second-stringers that have put teams to the sword this year.
Few will forget Jordan Lewis’ five goal haul in the Hawks’ dismantling of Collingwood or Paul Puopolo tearing Port Adelaide apart with five of his own or the majestic Cyril Rioli booting six against St Kilda in May.
Focus on Buddy at your own peril. Ignore him at even greater peril. The huge task of manning Franklin is likely to fall to Heath Grundy, with the rugged Swan doing a superb job on Travis Cloke in the preliminary final on Friday night.
But if he gets away, all-Australian defender Ted Richards, who is under an injury cloud, is likely to be the back-up.
The midfield battle will create plenty of highlights with Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell, Jordan Lewis, Liam Shiels and company to go head to head with Josh Kennedy, Kieran Jack, Daniel Hannebery and Ryan O’Keefe.
The Swans swung a surprise on Friday night with dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes starting the match in the midfield. It would be an even greater surprise if he doesn’t spend significant time forward on Saturday with the under-sized Hawks’ backline to be stretched with talented youngster Sam Reid and Lewis Roberts-Thompson as strong Swans marking targets.
Lewis Jetta has been the barometer for the Swans this year and Alistair Clarkson is likely to give Shane Savage, Matt Suckling or Clinton Young the task on him. Or, he may back his team in and allow his own electric speedster Isaac Smith to take the talented Swan.
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