32 SPORT FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18 2015 Giant-killer tasks can’t Hawks faze Eagle WEST Coast defender Shar- rod Wellingham isn’t scared of wrestling a giant – and it’s all thanks to his defensive com- far from rades. The Eagles’ tight-knit de- fence has been one of the feel- good stories of the AFL season, with their ability to overcome the loss of key defenders Mitch Brown and Eric Mackenzie finished proving crucial in their charge to the preliminary final. Will Schofield and Jeremy REBECCA WILLIAMS finals stage gave him McGovern have played out of confidence that his team their skin to hold down key de- HAWTHORN coach Alastair would respond strongly. fensive posts, with the rest of Clarkson has delivered a mes- “They are a very proud West Coast’s back seven work- sage to his team’s doubters group and we’ve played some ing superbly together. ahead of tonight’s cutthroat good footy over a long, long In last week’s qualifying semi-final against Adelaide: period of time,’’ he said. final win over Hawthorn, Wel- We’re not done yet. “We put in a bad one every lingham was pitted against The triple premiership now and again like every side spearhead Jarryd Roughead at coach yesterday backed his does, but I reckon we’ve done it times. Wellingham conceded team to hit back hard against less than most sides in the 8cm and 14kg in that David the Crows before polarising competition for a long, long and Goliath battle. swingman Ryan Schoenmak- period of time. But with the knowledge ers and speedster Billy Har- “That gives us a fair amount that his teammates were look- tung were named to play at the of trust and faith that we’ll ing out for him, Wellingham MCG tonight. hopefully get a response this wasn’t concerned one bit. Leading goalscorer – with week.” “You’ve just got to rely on 53 majors – Having missed the finals someone coming over the back (ankle) was a forced change just once in nine seasons, to halve the contest. That’s but last year’s Grand Final Clarkson dismissed sugges- what we pride ourselves on hero was tions the Hawks were battle – being able to work as a dropped. weary. unit,” Wellingham said. “We The Crows dropped Rory But he conceded his team really do work off each other Atkins for Jarryd Lyons. was well off its best last week and try not to get caught in too North Melbourne will take against the Eagles and could many positions where you an unchanged line-up into its not afford a repeat against the have to wrestle a giant.” semi-final clash tomorrow Crows. The Eagles face either Syd- against Sydney, who replaced “We gave the whole footy ney or North Melbourne in Sam Reid (hamstring) with de- world a fair amount of ammo next week’s preliminary final. fender Nick Smith. Co-captain last week to have a crack at us (knee) is still out. and rightly so,’’ Clarkson said. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18 2015 COURIERMAIL.COM.AU 58 SPORT The Hawks have been “We performed well below forced to take the hard road in our expectations, but winning Clarke has their quest for a third straight a final in Perth is no easy feat premiership after a 32-point and we didn’t play anywhere qualifying final loss to West near our best footy. chance to Coast in Perth last week. “But we’d won six finals “It was only six weeks ago prior to that, no mention of us repay faith AFL FINALSthat everyone was saying that not being a proud WEEK group or a 2 we are unbeatable,” Clarkson talented group after any of THE Fremantle debt collec- said. those victories. tors are out in full force, and “All of a sudden everyone “We treat that one (as) if they want ruckman Zac Clarke has fallen off, it doesn’t worry any group is entitled to have an to pay up over the next three us. We’ll back ourselves in and off day it’s probably this group, weeks. see how we go.’’ but we can’t afford to be in that Clarke has been a big disap- Clarkson said his team’s sort of nick tomorrow night Adelaide’s Ricky Henderson stretches during a training session at AAMI Stadium yesterday. The pointment for the Dockers this Hawkshistory of performing onnot the otherwise we’ll get pantsed.’’ doneCrows take on Hawthorn in a sudden-death just final tonight Picture: MORNEyet DE KLERK/GETTY IMAGES season, with his strong start to the year followed by a long lean spell. REBECCA WILLIAMS Defence is Crows’ best weapon In his past six games for the HAWTHORN Dockers, Clarke has averaged V HAWTHORN coach Alastair just seven disposals and 13.5 Clarkson has delivered a mess- ADELAIDE JESPER FJELDSTAD what is now defined as elite The figures have also im- hit-outs per game. age to his team’s doubters ball movement. proved in the last line of de- He has also been ineffective ahead of tonight’s cut-throat TONIGHT, MCG, 7.20PM IT’S Adelaide’s golden area: Figures from Champion fence, the defensive inside-50 up forward, booting only two semi-final against Adelaide: the area between the centre Data show Adelaide has area, where the Crows have goals during that period, with P HAWTHORN B.Lake 17 ADELAIDE I and the defensive 50 that Scott moved from being ranked 11th improved possessions that lead his drop in form resulting in a We’re not done yet. WIN $1.33 WIN $3.45 The triple premiership UNDER 39 $2.10 J.Jenkins 4 UNDER 39 $3.75 Camporeale has turned into a in the AFL in turning posses- to attacking forays from 21 per long stint in the WAFL. coach yesterday backed his OVER 39 $3.00 B.Stratton 24 M.Suckling 4 OVER 39 $17.00 springboard and made the sions in the defensive midfield cent of the time to 24 per cent. If it wasn’t for an untimely team to hit back hard against T.Lynch 27 R.Douglas 26 Crows a market leader. area into forward attacks at 39 It doesn’t sound as signifi- hamstring injury to fellow the Crows, before polarising G.Birchall 14 J.Gibson 6 S.Burgoyne 9 It is also the part of Campo- per cent, to first with 52 per cant, but it has taken the ruckman Jon Griffin, Clarke swingman Ryan Schoenmak- E.Betts 18 T.Walker 13 C.Cameron 23 reale’s coaching that has bare- cent. Crows from ninth to fifth in the would have been overlooked ly rated a mention. It has not only hoisted the competition and is considered for last week’s qualifying final ers and speedster Billy Har- B.McEvoy 7 L.Hodge 15 tung were named to play at the S.Jacobs 24 R.Sloane 9 He has been recognised for Crows to the No.1 ranking, but important because it is a more win over Sydney. MCG tonight. his composure in helping Ad- helped them increase their av- difficult feat. Griffin hopes to be fit for B.Hill 10 L.Shiels 26 elaide keep theirs as they dealt erage score by almost three Camporeale’s feats have not next week’s preliminary final Jack Gunston (ankle) was a R.Henderson 45 B.Smith 33 forced change but last year’s with the shattering tragedy of goals under Camporeale. gone unnoticed by the oppo- against either Hawthorn or grand final hero Will Langford J.Lewis 3 S.Mitchell 5 losing Phil Walsh in unpre- And it is underpinned by sition, who have studied the Adelaide, but the Dockers may was dropped. P.Dangerfield 32 M.Crouch 44 cedented circumstances. turnovers. Crows closely for the nuances stick with Clarke given the 25- The Crows dropped Rory C.Rioli 33 J.Frawley 12 I.Smith 16 Camporeale has been When the Crows win the brought in by the caretaker year-old’s potential. Atkins for Jarryd Lyons. N.Van Berlo 7 K.Cheney 25 L.Brown 16 praised for both for running a ball just behind centre, they are coach. However, coach Ross Lyon The Hawks have been L.Breust 22 P.Puopolo 28 steady ship and presenting a the only team that is more like- Clearly, there is still a strong has made it clear he wants the forced to take the hard road in INTERCHANGE K.Hartigan 15 R.Laird 29 INTERCHANGE calm exterior. ly than not to turn it into an in- alignment between Camporea- 88-game veteran to produce their quest for a third straight R.Schoenmakers 25 J.Roughead 2 S.Thompson 5 What has been lost is side 50. le and Walsh’s ideas about how the goods if given the chance premiership after a 32-point T.Duryea 8 D.Talia 12 D.Mackay 14 whether the football perform- Add to that the difference in the game should be played. over the next few weeks. qualifying final loss to West D.Hale 20 J.Lyons 31 ance is better than just serving turnovers. But the tweaks that Campo- “We’ve invested basically Coast in Perth last week. B.Hartung 40 R.Knight 39 as an extension of Walsh’s pro- Under Phil Walsh in rounds reale hinted at when he first 100 games into Zac as a club, “It was only six weeks ago CHANGES gram. 1-14, the Crows averaged 93 accepted the role as stand-in and it’s about returning invest- EMERGENCIES Hawthorn: IN: R.Schoenmakers, EMERGENCIES It is. points per match, of which 49 coach are now there, in black ment,” Lyon told Perth radio that everyone was saying that J.Ceglar 18 J.Podsiadly 1 B.Hartung. OUT: J.Gunston Under Camporeale, the came from turnovers. Under and white, and present another station 6PR. we are unbeatable,” Clarkson A.Litherland 31 (ankle), W.Langford. Adelaide: IN: J.Lever 6 said. “All of a sudden everyone W.Langford 29 J.Lyons. OUT: R.Atkins R.Atkins 21 Crows are more attacking, and Camporeale, the correspond- argument for offering him the “This is the time of year we has fallen off, it doesn’t worry it is based on turnovers and ing figures are 110 and 68. senior job next season. need a bit of payback.” us. We’ll back ourselves in and TV live 7pm, 7mate live 7pm NTNE01Z01MA - V1 see how we go.’’ Clarkson said his team’s tenders and all that sort of stuff or a talented group after any of history of performing in finals (disappears).” those victories.” gave him confidence. Having missed the finals The Hawks will have to face “We put in a bad one every only once in nine seasons, the Crows without Gunston, now and again like every side Clarkson dismissed sugges- the team’s leading goalscorer does, but I reckon we’ve done it tions the Hawks were battle this season with 53 goals. less than most sides in the weary. But he conceded his But Clarkson backed the competition for a long, long team was well off its best Hawks’ forward line to cover period of time,” he said. against the Eagles last week the loss of their sharpshooter. “That gives us a fair amount and could not afford a repeat “We have had that right of trust and faith that we’ll against the Crows. throughout the journey of our hopefully get a response this “Winning a final in Perth is club,’’ he said “We lost Roughy week. We expect a response. no easy feat and we didn’t play (Jarryd Roughead) for a couple “Hopefully we play some anywhere near our best footy,” of games through that (mela- good footy and all the nega- he said. “But we’d won six fi- noma) scare and managed to tivity around our position and nals prior to that, no mention beat Fremantle by 12 goals our era and are we still con- of us not being a proud group down in Tassie.” SPEED MACHINE: Hawthorn’s Billy Hartung trains at Waverley Park. Picture: Wayne Ludbey SYDNEY In-form Kangaroos hope to jump Swans V NORTH MELBOURNE LAUREN WOOD ing not played since Round 2. EXPERTS' TIPS Despite the extended lay-off TOMORROW, ANZ STADIUM, 6.50PM TWELVE months on from due to a foot injury, Scott said P SYDNEY NORTH MELBOURNE I falling 71 points short of Syd- the 30-year-old could still have WIN $1.60 WIN $2.40 ney in a preliminary final, the an impact this finals series. UNDER 39 $2.05 T.Richards 25 UNDER 39 $3.00 Kangaroos fly to the harbour “Our aim is to still have him OVER 39 $4.00 J.Waite 30 OVER 39 $15.00 city today, looking to turn the available in the event we keep D.Rampe 24 N.Smith 40 tables and earn themselves an- 139 138 138 135 winning,” he said. B.Brown 50 B.Harvey 29 other preliminary final berth. STEPHANIE ALASTAIR ANDREW GREG “We certainly haven’t given R.Shaw 2 H.Grundy 39 J.McVeigh 3 A lot has changed, North BENNETT LYNCH HAMILTON DAVIS up on him playing for the rest S.Higgins 4 D.Petrie 20 T.Garner 27 Melbourne coach Brad Scott THE COURIER-MAIL LIONS LEGEND THE COURIER-MAIL THE COURIER-MAIL of the year but he hasn’t quite M.Pyke 38 J.Kennedy 12 says, and he is confident his Hawthorn Adelaide Hawthorn Adelaide done enough this week to T.Goldstein 22 A.Swallow 9 15 points 4 points 14 points 12 points team is hitting its straps – as play.” L.Jetta 32 J.Lloyd 44 has long been the plan – at the The Kangaroos were put S.Wright 19 B.Jacobs 5 prime time of year. Sydney North Melbourne Sydney North Melbourne through their paces at Arden “We’re definitely better 8 points 18 points 7 points 13 points St yesterday. Scott said while D.Hannebery 4 T.Mitchell 6 B.Cunnington 10 J.Ziebell 7 (than last year),” he declared. Last week 137 Last week 135 Last week 137 Last week 134 the absence of Swans star “We’re physically prepared was handy, D.Towers 22 A.Goodes 37 H.Cunningham 7 better than we were this time whoever covers for him can’t J.Macmillan 34 R.Tarrant 25 N.Dal Santo 15 last year and a lot of our play- ways been geared at being at to ensure it is best-placed to be ignored. INTERCHANGE B.McGlynn 21 I.Heeney 5 INTERCHANGE ers have now had good finals our best at this time of year. leave ANZ Stadium tomorrow “Any time Lance is not B.Jack 33 M.Firrito 11 S.Atley 18 L.Hansen 6 experience and experience We feel we’re very close to it.” night as victors. playing, whether it was with Z.Jones 10 K.Tippett 8 L.Thomas 12 winning finals. All that goes to The Swans beat the Kanga- “Our line-ups are a little bit Hawthorn or Sydney, you’re J.Laidler 11 S.Thompson 16 R.Nahas 28 your preparation. roos by 16 points at Etihad Sta- different as well, so there’s a lit- not overly disappointed,” he G.Rohan 16 S.Gibson 43 “We’ve had some perform- dium in Round 11 but last year tle bit of the unknown,” Scott said. EMERGENCIES EMERGENCIES ances we weren’t happy with the Kangaroos won by 43 said. “All we can do is prepare “But the strength of the CHANGES C.Bird 14 Sydney: IN: N.Smith. OUT: S.Reid R.Bastinac 3 this year but we’ve had some points at the SCG in Round 4. as best we can and we’ve got over a gener- J.Rose 1 (hamstring). North Melbourne: L.McDonald 21 really good performances as Scott says the team has faith in our ability.” ation has been their ability to X.Richards 42 No change. K.Turner 40 well. learnt from those games – and Veteran midfielder Daniel compete really hard regardless “Our preparation has al- last year’s finals heartbreak – Wells has been ruled out, hav- of the 22 that represent them.” TV Fox Footy live 6.30pm, 7mate live 6.30pm

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