Hawthorn Hawks vs Geelong Cats preview, tips, odds and teams – 2014 AFL Finals Week 1

Friday’s only AFL Finals Week 1 match is between Hawthorn Hawks and Geelong Cats. The opening bounce is set to commence at 18:50 local time with the game to be played at MCG. The home team Hawthorn Hawks are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Hawthorn Hawks and Geelong Cats.

Round: Finals Week 1, 7:50 PM September 05, 2014
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 17° Mostly sunny.

Featured Bookmakers:

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Preview:

JUST two weeks after the Hawks clinched a stirring come-from-behind victory over their arch-rivals they will face the Cats again – this time with much higher stakes. Both teams would take confidence from the round 22 clash, although Geelong coach Chris Scott said that game would bear no resemblance to Friday night’s qualifying final. Geelong is sweating on the fitness of Steve Johnson and the Hawks are hopeful that Brian Lake and Matt Suckling will be fit. After winning two of the past three against Geelong has Hawthorn finally shaken its hoodoo or are the Cats priming themselves for a flag tilt? Another classic is on the cards, with a home preliminary final beckoning the victor.

PREVIOUS FIVE ENCOUNTERS
R22, 2014, Hawthorn 14.10 (94) d Geelong 11.5 (71) at the MCG
R5, 2014, Geelong 15.16 (106) d Hawthorn 12.15 (87) at the MCG
1PF, 2013, Hawthorn 14.18 (102) d Geelong 15.7 (97) at the MCG
R15, 2013, Geelong 11.16 (82) d Hawthorn 10.12 (72) at the MCG
R1, 2013, Geelong 13.15 (93) d Hawthorn 12.14 (86) at the MCG

KEY MATCH-UPS
Tom Hawkins v Brian Lake
The battle between the in-form Cats forward and last year’s Norm Smith medallist could be match-defining. Hawkins monstered an undersized Hawks defence in round five, booting five majors and taking seven contested marks, but was held to three goals and six marks by Lake in round 22.
Jordan Lewis v Cam Guthrie
Having his career-best season, Lewis was relatively well held by Guthrie in round 22. Lewis was targeted by the Cats’ tagger for 81 minutes and held to 19 disposals before finishing with 25 touches – a win for Geelong considering his red-hot form. Limiting the prolific midfielder’s influence will be high on the Cats’ agenda.

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MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn Defenders Lake and Suckling (knee) are in doubt, although the outlook seems brighter for Lake (corked hip). Luke Hodge (knee), Brad Hill (quad) and Ben Stratton (calf) are likely to come back in. Cyril Rioli (hamstring tendon) is at least another week away.
Geelong Johnson’s foot is the Cats’ big injury concern, with the mercurial veteran needing to get through Wednesday training unscathed to be passed fit to play. Most signs point to Johnson lining up for his first game in a month.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY WIN? The winner will enjoy the week off to freshen-up for a home preliminary final.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY LOSE? The loser faces a sudden-death semi-final against either North Melbourne or Essendon.

THE SIX POINTS

1. Hawthorn holds a 5-3 edge in finals against Geelong. The Hawks have won five of the past six finals between them, dating back to the 1989 Grand Final.

2. Expect plenty of set shots at goal on Friday night. Geelong has taken the most marks inside 50 this season, with an average of 11 a game. The Hawks are third with 9.6.

3. Geelong is the AFL’s second best team at taking contested marks, largely thanks to Tom Hawkins, who leads the competition with 50 this season.

4. Hawthorn has won 11 of its 16 qualifying finals. Geelong has won eight of its 15.

5. There is a huge discrepancy in clearances between the teams. The Hawks are the competition’s best with 40.8 a game; the Cats are the worst with 33.4.

6. Jordan Lewis could win Hawthorn’s best-and-fairest this season, but the prolific midfielder is only the fifth-highest ranked Hawk in the Official AFL Player Ratings.

Teams:

HAWTHORN
B Josh Gibson, Brian Lake, Ben Stratton
HB Sam Mitchell, Grant Birchall, Will Langford
C Bradley Hill, Luke Hodge, Isaac Smith.
HF Luke Breust, Matt Spangher, Jordan Lewis
F Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston
Fol David Hale, Liam Shiels, Shaun Burgoyne.
I/C Taylor Duryea, Jonathon Ceglar, Brad Sewell, Jonathan Simpkin
Emg Billy Hartung, Ben McEvoy, Angus Litherland
In Ben Stratton, Bradley Hill, Luke Hodge.
Out Ryan Schoenmakers (Omitted), Billy Hartung (Omitted), Angus Litherland (omitted).

GEELONG
B Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan, Jared Rivers
HB Andrew Mackie, Corey Enright, Mitch Duncan.
C Cameron Guthrie, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel.
HF Steven Motlop, Mark Blicavs, Jordan Murdoch.
F Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Mathew Stokes
Fol Hamish McIntosh, Josh Caddy, James Kelly.
I/C George Horlin-Smith, Jackson Thurlow, Travis Varcoe, Josh Walker.
Emg Mitch Brown, Lincoln McCarthy, Brad Hartman.
In Steven Motlop, Steve Johnson, Hamish McIntosh.
Out Billie Smedts (Omitted), Lincoln McCarthy (Omitted), Mitch Brown (Omitted).

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