Hawks to go back to the tape in bid to tame Tigers: Shiels
ONE of the form sides of the competition, Hawthorn has the daunting task of taking on the reigning premier Richmond in the first week of finals. Toughnut Liam Shiels says it’s not an impossible task.
Hawthorn
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hawthorn. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HAWTHORN vice-captain Liam Shiels says the Hawks can beat anyone in September.
Shiels told the Herald Sun the Hawks — entering the finals on a six-game winning run — were loaded with confidence as they plot to end the Tigers’ 21-game winning streak at the MCG.
He said the Hawks would study their Round 3 loss to Richmond in preparation for next week’s qualifying final.
FIXTURE: TIGERS-HAWKS BLOCKBUSTER KICKS OFF FINALS
INSPIRED: THE JORDAN LEWIS EMAIL THAT STEELED DEES
“I’ve been saying all year that our best footy can match it with anyone,” Shiels said.
“Over the last month and a bit we’ve been able to perform a lot more consistently quarter to quarter than at the start of the year.
“Obviously Richmond are the best side in the competition at the minute.
“We played them early on in the year and they gave us a touch up, so we might go back to that tape and look where they got us and reassess from there.”
Veterans Shaun Burgoyne and Jarryd Roughead have earnt a golden shot at becoming the most decorated players of the modern era with the Hawks booking their seventh top-four finish in eight seasons.
Burgoyne, 35, and Roughead, 31, are chasing a fifth premiership — a feat achieved by just 21 players in VFL-AFL history.
Grant Birchall, 30, is also hunting a fifth flag, although knee problems have sidelined him since Round 15 last year.
“Halfway through the year (a premiership) looked pretty far away,” Shiels said.
“But we keep pushing for consistency quarter to quarter and as I’ve said a couple of times in this interview, our best footy can match anyone in the competition.”
Hawthorn has used just five top-30 picks in the past nine drafts but master coach Alastair Clarkson has refreshed his line-up.
Only nine Hawks from Saturday night’s nine-point win against Sydney played in the club’s last final two years ago, while five Hawks ran onto the SCG with less than 20 games’ experience.
“The good thing about a young group is they bring that excitement, so that’s all we ask of them,” Shiels said.
“To bring that energy and excitement and they’ve been doing that over the last month.
“This year I like (the pre-finals bye). I don’t know if I’m a fan of it, but the body needs a little bit of a rest and I think there’s a few boys that have played almost every game this year.”
The Hawks and Tigers have met 157 times but never in a final
Shiels was best-afield against the Swans with 26 disposals, seven clearance and nine inside 50s.
The charge into the top four has Clarkson well positioned to win his first AFL coach of the year award.
Voting was delayed from after the home-and-away season until the preliminary finals in 2016 because Clarkson was overlooked despite coaching four flags.
Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as Hawks to go back to the tape in bid to tame Tigers: Shiels
‘It’s greed’: Footy divided over $1.2m trend
“Exciting” AFL and NRL off-seasons with more player movement than ever has exposed a modern new reality about the footy codes.
Cats-Hawks notes: Danger the forward, Day excels, CBA numbers
There was plenty to learn about both sides when the Cats and Hawks clashed on Monday afternoon. Check out the key takeaways, centre bounce attendance stats and more here.