Friday first AFL Round 13 match is between Hawthorn Hawks and West Coast Eagles with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:50pm local time with home team Hawthorn Hawks currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Hawthorn Hawks and West Coast Eagles.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday 21 June, 7:50pm
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Preview:
With another six teams having byes this weekend, there are six matches to look forward to in round 13. The first game is between Hawthorn and the West Coast Eagles, kicking off on Friday night, 7.50pm at Etihad Stadium. After all the off-field controversy of the last week, this will be the first chance for the action on the field to take the spotlight. The Hawks are performing well at the moment, having won their last ten matches in one of their best winning streaks of all time. While many people expect them to make it eleven this weekend, the Eagles will be tough to beat. The West Coast side may have started the 2013 season slowly, but having won four of their last five matches, they too are on a roll. Hawthorn are the favourites though, especially after their 50 point win against the Eagles in round 2.
Teams:
Hawthorn Hawks:
B: Ben Stratton, Brian Lake, Brent Guerra
HB: Grant Birchall, Josh Gibson, Luke Hodge
C: Shane Savage, Sam Mitchell, Bradley Hill
HF: Paul Puopolo, Lance Franklin, Jordan Lewis
F: David Hale, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust
Foll: Max Bailey, Brad Sewell, Shaun Burgoyne
Int: Liam Shiels, Taylor Duryea, Jack Gunston, Jonathan Simpkin
Emerg: Kyle Cheney, Xavier Ellis, Matt Spangher
In: S.Savage
Out: I.Smith (corked calf)
West Coast Eagles:
B: Sam Butler, Darren Glass, Mitchell Brown
HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Beau Waters
C: Andrew Gaff, Scott Selwood, Andrew Embley
HF: Luke Shuey, Josh Kennedy, Chris Masten
F: Mark LeCras, Dean Cox, Jack Darling
Foll: Nic Naitanui, Matt Priddis, Daniel Kerr
Int: Blayne Wilson, Patrick McGinnity, Bradd Dalziell, Matt Rosa
Emerg: Brad Sheppard, Ashley Smith, Jacob Brennan
In: D.Glass, B.Waters, M.LeCras, J.Kennedy, B.Dalziell, P.McGinnity
Out: A.Selwood (back), J.Hill (hamstring), A.Hams, J.Brennan, B.Sheppard, J.Cripps
Declaring he has unfinished business, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has shot down the suggestion he might be a left-field option for AFL strugglers Melbourne.
Clarkson has joined West Coast counterpart John Worsfold in ruling himself out after the Demons sacked Mark Neeld on Monday.
The Demons made a strong pitch to Clarkson’s management before eventually signing Neeld in late 2011.
Clarkson will reach the 200-game coaching milestone on Friday – all with Hawthorn – when they host Worsfold’s Eagles at Etihad Stadium.
“I have unfinished business here,” Clarkson said before Thursday training.
“I love everything about my association with Hawthorn and I think I will be continuing to stay involved here.”
Hawthorn are flying and go into Friday’s match on top of the ladder.
It’s a far cry from the aftermath of their narrow round-one loss to Geelong.
Immediately after that match, outspoken former Hawks president Jeff Kennett called on Clarkson to leave the job at the end of this season.
Kennett later apologised, but Clarkson conceded at the time that he probably should go if he cannot lead the Hawks to another flag before his contract expires at the end of next season.
Under Clarkson, Hawthorn upset Geelong to win the 2008 premiership and were at the wrong end of another grand final boilover last September when Sydney beat them in an epic duel.
But before Clarkson and the Hawks can think of grand final redemption, he concedes they must pick up their form.
While Hawthorn are on a 10-game winning streak, they struggled early against Carlton a week ago.
The Eagles are outside the top eight only on percentage ahead of Friday’s Etihad Stadium clash and Clarkson said his team must be ready for a desperate opponent.
“We’ve been a little bit below our best, perhaps,” Clarkson said.
“Hopefully we can get some of our best form going in the next few weeks.
“We think they (Eagles) have the talent to be a couple of wins above where they are.
“All we know is we’re expecting a pretty torrid battle tomorrow night.
“They’re probably going to push out their best side on paper for the year.”
The Eagles made six changes, regaining captain Darren Glass, fellow defender Beau Waters and forwards Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy as well as Bradd Dalziell and Patrick McGinnity.
The Hawks recalled Shane Savage for Isaac Smith (corked calf).
Meanwhile, livewire Hawthorn utility Cyril Rioli is close to resuming from the hamstring injury he suffered in the round-five win over North Melbourne.
Rioli’s bad run of hamstring injuries means the Hawks will be extremely conservative with his comeback.
“The old adage where you say ‘get them ready and give them a week extra’ – we’ll get him ready and we might give him two,” Clarkson said.