heraldsun.com.au Herald Sun, Tuesday, September 4, 2007 83 + FOOTY 2007 THE ROAD TO GLORY SPEAK UP FIRST QUALIFYING FINAL Geelong v W Should the Kangaroos be Kangaroos L allowed to play the Good Sunday, 2.45pm, MCG Friday game if it goes ahead? To enter, SMS the word SPORT, then 1st SEMI FINAL either YES or NO and your response of 25 words or less to 1994 4111 (please FIRST ELIMINATION FINAL include name and suburb). Or email Hawthorn v W 1st PRELIMINARY [email protected] (SMS costs Adelaide W 55c, including GST). Saturday, 2.30pm, Telstra Dome FINAL YESTERDAY’S QUESTION After yesterday’s poor Q performance, are the Hawks SECOND ELIMINATION FINAL genuine finals contenders? Collingwood v W 2nd PRELIMINARY Sydney W FINAL Saturday, 7.30pm, MCG YES 46%

They can, but unless they can turn 2nd SEMI FINAL into a more physically accountable SECOND QUALIFYING FINAL unit, it’s unlikely. Stern test for such a young group. Port Adelaide v Shaun, Sunbury West Coast L Friday, 8.20pm, AAMI Stadium They are if pumped W up his own side as much as he does the other sides. They would be a big chance. Mal, Geelong They will bounce back and be better Money for for it. Watch out, Crows. hot Crows Young Hawk in Bullbar, Bayswater Adam Hamilton NO 54% PUNTERS have already written off

Hawthorn this season. Too young, inexperienced and FB123 Betting agencies around Australia fatigued. The wheels are off at reported a flood of money for the Hawthorn. Go Tigers. Crows when markets opened yester- line for recall day on the first elimination final Trav, Wantirna between the Hawks and Adelaide. Daryl Timms and sity in their 12-goal loss to Sydney on ‘‘The Crows were $1.80 into $1.70 Sunday. They have shown they are boys with us in the blink of an eye,’’ Gareth Trickey amongst men. Another year or two Sportingbet Australia’s Stephen The tough defender predicted the Crows would be just as physical as will make all the difference. They will Fletcher said. HAWTHORN selectors could Lasseters Sports’ Gerard Daffy the Swans when the Hawks meet be great. said $25,000 in bets had been taken turn to youngster Travis Tuck them in the elimination final. Mozza, Ringwood East on the Crows in the first 12 hours. for Saturday’s elimination final ‘‘We’ll get together this week and C ‘‘We opened at $1.77 late Sunday against Adelaide at Telstra work out why we didn’t go so well night and took $15,000 in bets, then against Sydney because we’re going Dome. M another $10,000 came in once we to get a pretty similar game against shortened the Crows to $1.70,’’ Daffy A hamstring injury to Chance Adelaide,’’ Brown said yesterday. Bateman and Michael Osborne’s said. ‘‘Adelaide are an extremely Y The Crows have shortened from potential suspension have added to the Hawks’ selection woes. Xavier disciplined group as well. They’ve got

$1.80 to $1.68 with TAB Sportsbet. K Ellis and Tuck, who has played just some great players, (Andrew) The big money for the Crows also one game, are in line to be recalled. McLeod’s in great form, Mark extends to the premiership. Ricciuto is back kicking some goals. A scan of Bateman’s hamstring ‘‘The first flag bet we had this Fitness test: Chance Bateman ‘‘We’ll just have to sit down, the morning was $5 on the Crows at $16,’’ revealed a low-grade injury. Will’s a Star The Hawks hope Bateman will be He has been charged on video match committee and the players, PAGE 4-SEP-2007 DHS TAB’s Gary Davies said. and have a bit of a chat about how we RICHMOND defender Will Sportingbet also reported a $2000 available, but the six-day break does evidence with ‘‘bumping or making not help. forceful contact to an opponent from can go about beating them.’’ Thursfield has won the Rising Star bet at $15. nomination for Round 22. ‘‘The Crows have been the big Defender , who front on while that player has his Brown said a breakdown in the movers for the flag. They’ve been $16 suffered concussion against Sydney head over the ball’’. midfield and ineffectiveness around Tall and athletic, Thursfield has into $14 with us,’’ Daffy said. at the SCG on Sunday, will have tests Osborne was booked three minutes the stoppages also contributed to the played 22 matches since his debut in ‘‘We did take a $6000 bet on the later this week. But the Hawks also into the final term for making contact Hawk’s 72-point drubbing at the Round 14, 2005. Kangaroos at $18 and have trimmed hope he will play. to Williamstown’s Daniel Nicholls, hands of the Swans. He was restricted to just one game them into $16.’’ The Hawks were expected to who left the field but later returned to ‘‘We need 22 contributors out there in 2006 when a serious knee injury in Leading Victorian bookmaker promote Osborne to the senior side play out the game. and we need to get the ball to the Round 2 ended his season. Simon Beasley dared to give Geelong for the team’s first final. But he has It follows Osborne’s report in Box forwards like and The 21-year-old returned in $2.25 for the flag yesterday, but fallen foul of the umpires in a VFL Hill’s Round 19 game against to give them a Round 8 this year and played the punters swooped quickly and the game for the second time in a month. Frankston when he accepted an chance,’’ Brown said. remaining 15 games, matching up on odds were trimmed to $2.10. Osborne was reported in the Box automatic one-game ban for striking ‘‘Because on the weekend they the opposition’s best forwards. The Cats remain $2 favourite from Hill Hawks’ reserve side elimination Frankston’s Justin Berry. might not as well have been playing Thursfield was the first player Port Adelaide ($5) and West Coast final against Williamstown on HAWTHORN defender Campbell because we just didn’t get the ball in selected in the 2005 AFL rookie draft. ($5.50). Sunday. Brown says the Hawks lacked inten- there.’’ AAP 83 SECOND

TEVEZ MESSI (MAN UTD) 7.30pm 11th SEPT 2007 CRESPO (BARCELONA) MCG (INTER MILAN) vAUSTRALIA ARGENTINASEE THE SUPERSTARS OF LASTWORLD TICKETS FOOTBALL REMAINING ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100

+