Hawthorn pushes to boost crowd for blockbuster Collingwood clash
Hawthorn’s president has called the Premier in a bid to have as many fans as possible at the club’s blockbuster clash with Collingwood next weekend. CATS v ROOS MATCH REPORT >>
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HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett has urged Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein to allow as many fans as possible – in a Covid-safe manner – to attend next Sunday’s history-making clash against Collingwood in Launceston.
His call comes as he called Tasmania a “shining light” for the AFL in the wake of further fixture chaos, including games in Brisbane and Gold Coast being postponed due to Queensland’s snap three-day lockdown.
The Hawks’ game against Brisbane will go ahead in Launceston on Sunday after the Lions were able to fly out of their home state in time.
Hawthorn will then complete a trifecta of consecutive games in Tasmania, hosting Collingwood for what will be the Magpies’ first game for premiership points in the state, before taking on the Western Bulldogs in round 22.
The Tasmanian government capped this weekend’s two matches in the state at 10,000 fans, but Mr Kennett has called Mr Gutwein in an effort to try to accommodate more fans in coming weeks.
“I have put a call through to Peter because I want to make sure that, all being well, we can have as many people at the (Collingwood) game as possible,” Mr Kennett said.
“As I understand, it is already close to a sellout as the Essendon game was (earlier in the year). We could have people hanging from the rooftops … this is a great opportunity to help promote Tasmania on the mainland, so hopefully we can get as many people in there as we can, but do it in a safe manner.
“I have spoken to Peter many times … he will do what is safe and what his (health) people advise him, but this is a good opportunity to promote Tasmania to the mainland.”
Mr Kennett said Tasmania’s contribution to AFL football this year had been so important for the competition.
“While Covid has been so disrupting and so damaging, there is always a shining light, and the shining light is for our major sponsor Tasmania and for our 8000-9000 members, is that they are going to get a smorgasbord of delight in the next few weeks,” he said.
“Normally, we would play four games (a year in Tasmania), but we are going to play six games there this year. This year one of the big winners has been Tasmania.”
Roos put Cats to task in hard-fought Hobart clash
FOR a guy who wasn’t even in the team, defender Zach Guthrie was worth his weight in gold for Geelong in Hobart on Saturday in its labour-intensive Cat fight against the up-and-coming Kangaroos.
Geelong walked away with a 20-point win in an ugly, low-scoring contest in front of a Covid-restricted crowd of 10,000 to keep pace with the Western Bulldogs in the race for top spot on the ladder.
The lead changed seven time in the first half. Mark Blicavs put the Cats back in front half-way through the second quarter and Gary Rohan’s second goal gave them an eight-point lead at half-time.
North kept challenging and debutant Eddie Ford’s first goal in AFL footy midway through the last gave them hope. But in what will go down as a proverbial honourable loss, they could not bridge the gap.
“Our intensity and level of contest was really good in the first half but we had too many turnovers, especially by foot. That’s the one that hurt us most,” said North Melbourne coach David Noble.
Guthrie earned his horizontal stripes in Geelong’s backline.
He had six intercept marks and eight “catches” in total by half-time playing across half-back and 13 disposals. His day’s work ended as Geelong’s equal-top possession-winner with Cam Guthrie, as well as 13 marks and a kicking efficiency of 82 per cent.
The 23-year-old, in only his 21st game, put up his hand to be one of the Cats’ back six with the finals only three games away and Geelong fighting hard for a home final.
Geelong battled for traction against North Melbourne’s defensive crew, making the return of Jeremy Cameron even more eagerly-awaited to form a formidable mix with Tom Hawkins, Esava Ratugolea and Rohan.
WELCOME HOME JAKE
BIG Cat Jake Kolodjashnij finally got to play a game on home soil after eight years in the AFL system and his 111th game for Geelong.
The quiet achiever in defence, Kolodjashnij led a dour struggle in Geelong’s defensive unit that was tested in the opening term but ultimately put the hurt on North Melbourne’s hopes.
The Kangaroos kicked 18 goals a week earlier in their 39-point win over the Blues, but found the going tougher against the AFL’s most efficient defense.
The ‘Roos managed six goals against the Cats and big Jake ended the day with 15 possessions, seven marks.
SPIN CYCLE
IT was the house of pain onball for the Kangaroos without midfield machine Ben Cunnington and run-and-carry ace Tarryn Thomas.
With Cunnington missing after surgery to remove a testicular tumour and home-town lad Thomas out with concussion, it put the heat on Jy Simpkin to step up.
He did not disappoint. Simpkin continued his stellar season, the small Roo adding another 29 touches to his name to have amassed more possessions this season than all Australian and his Geelong opponent Cam Guthrie.
The only Kanga better than Simpkin was local Aaron Hall with his game-high 34 possessions of half-back.
SIT DOWN MASK UP
OTHER footy fans are locked down and even locked out of Tasmania so locals lapped up the chance to see premiership contender Geelong take on the adopted home-town team.
The crowd was capped at 10,000, seated-only and masks compulsory for the first time at a Tasmanian AFL match.
But like the Hawthorn-Essendon contest in Launceston in round 15, the Kangas-Cats match was a sell-out and showed Tasmanians will turn out to see the big Victoria clubs.
Tassie Geelong player makes first appearance on home soil in years
IT has been eight years in the making, but Jake Kolodjashnij will finally play an AFL match on home soil when Geelong steps onto Blundstone Arena Saturday afternoon.
Not since the 2013 TSL preliminary final — where he was named Launceston’s best player in a 14-point defeat to Burnie — has the Cats defender been sighted by Tasmanian fans.
That will all change in Hobart when second placed Geelong tackles North Melbourne.
Not one to normally pay too much attention to the AFL fixture, the round 20 clash has been pencilled in for some time for the 25-year-old.
“It’s been a long time, obviously pretty exciting to get down there and play in front of a home crowd,” said Kolodjashnij, who missed the Cats’ 2017 pre-season fixture against Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium.
“I don’t really check the fixture too often but a couple of months ago I knew we had the opportunity to come down.
“It’s been marked in the fixture for a while, looking forward to getting back, it’s going to be pretty cool.
The showdown marks the first time Geelong will play for premiership points in the Tasmanian capital, and the first home and away match the side has been allocated since clashing with Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium in round four 2007.
And despite the ladder disparity — the Cats are hunting the minor premiership while the Roos are currently anchored to the bottom of the table, Kolodjashnij said there will be no complacency from the visitors.
“We are not going to take them lightly, even though we are tracking well ourselves we respect the way they are going about their footy.
“We will treat them like they are a top four side, they are tracking nicely and especially down there they are quite dangerous and they do play the ground quite well.
“The competition these days is so tight, you only have to five or 10 per cent off and you can get knocked off.
“It’s another big challenge for us, we have prepped nicely and hopefully we can get the job done again.”
Now a mainstay in Geelong’s back six, Kolodjashnij has played 110 games since making his debut in 2015.
He signed a three-year contract extension last month and has been a major part of a defensive unit which has ranked No. 1 for fewest points conceded in three of the past four years.
“I am quite clear in my role and what I have to do week in, week out to keep the coaches happy and just play my role for the team.
“We don’t touch on it a lot but in the back of our minds that is a goal of ours as a back six collective, to be the best defence in the comp.
“I’m not sure of the stats but I know the teams that are at the top end of defence usually have a better chance of taking out the flag.
“We pride ourselves on that as a back six and as a team to be honest.”
Kangas set for Hobart Cat fight
GEELONG onballer Shaun Higgins will play his 250th AFL game in Hobart on Saturday and some of his former North Melbourne teammates are eager to help him “mark” the occasion.
Kangaroo onballer Jy Simpkin says it will be all the motivation North needs to try to hunt down the big Cats and win a fourth game from their past six.
Higgins can look forward to some milestone greetings from his former teammates at Blundstone Arena.
“He’s a really good mate of mine and a couple of the other boys, and it will be awesome to come up against him this week and knock him off,” Simpkin said.
“He might get a bit of ‘special treatment’ from a few of the boys.
“He likes to throw a bit of lip around, so he will be getting into us and we’ll be getting into him, no doubt. We are really excited for it.”
The North Melbourne-Geelong game is the first of a two-match AFL blockbuster in Tasmania this weekend, with Hawthorn to play another flag contender, Brisbane Lions, in Launceston on Sunday.
The teams will arrive on chartered flight, be in and out on the same day, and crowds are limited to 10,000 at both venues.
The Kangaroos tested the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in round 16, and Essendon in round 18.
A win over Geelong would be the climax of a major improvement.
“Geelong is an inform team, they’ve won their past six straight and are in the top four, so it would be massive,” Simpkin said.
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