Hawks ruckman David Hale wary of AFL finals rivals

HAWKS ruckman David Hale has rubbished the notion that the 2012 AFL flag is Hawthorn's to lose.

HAWKS ruckman David Hale has rubbished the notion that the 2012 AFL flag is Hawthorn's to lose.

The Hawks are the red-hot premiership favourites after finishing on top of the ladder and start their finals campaign in a blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG tomorrow night.

Hale, a Gold Coast product who joined Hawthorn in 2011 after eight seasons at North Melbourne, said the weight of expectation was not an issue for the high-flying Hawks because they had too much respect for their fellow finalists.

"We think if we play to our potential and produce our very best footy we are in with a show but there are seven other teams that have earned the right to be in the finals and think the same thing," Hale said.

"It's been good to beat some top sides in the past couple of weeks (Sydney and West Coast) heading into the finals because that gives you some confidence."

Superstars Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli are Hawthorn's genuine matchwinners who give the Hawks the priceless X-factor that few clubs can match.

Hale said it was reassuring to know the club had two of the biggest guns in the competition at its disposal at the business end of the season.

Lance Franklin

"Those two are freaks, it's great just watching them at training. Not many people can do what they do," Hale said.

While the likes of Franklin and Rioli grab most of the headlines for the Hawks, Hale is an important cog in the Hawthorn machine.

Hale said he has "some challenges coming up" in September including the make-up of Collingwood's ruck division for tomorrow night's clash.

The Magpies went with sole specialist ruckman Darren Jolly against Essendon last week and used under-sized captain Nick Maxwell as a relieving ruckman after dropping Chris Dawes.