It's Time to Rewrite the Record Books
The anticipation levels are high and the adrenaline is pumping through the body quicker than Matt Shirvington can run the 100 metre sprint as the Hawk hierarchy charge deep into the September Finals action with plenty to give and nothing to lose... except many hours of sleep dreaming about the thrill of playing in a Premiership Team which 66 players are doing as we speak.
The overwhelming thrill of playing in a Grand Final already awaits one team, E.J's Army with the Reserves and Seniors awaiting their day in the sun with their fates to be decided this Saturday against Riddell and Sunbury respectively. There is little doubting that the coaching staff lead by Pup and Gidds have dreamed this weekend's games a thousand times in 7 days on how to tackle their gritty opponents with top class moves that only Premiership coaches can make. This is the feeling of Preliminary Final Fever at Macedon, a ground that has brought many a heart ache to Hawk fans over recent times.
The Seniors have a grudge match ahead of them as they line up to tackle old foe the Sunbury Kangaroos who have stirred the pot of destruction more times than Eddie McGuire has grinded the hearing of all of Australia as he calls his beloved Magpies games on T.V and radio... but it is time for that destruction to end, and Eddie's reign will soon forever be over in the media world. There is everything at stake this weekend and if this is the Hawks season, they would love nothing better to erase the Qualifying final heart ache of a 5point loss and the devastation that took place at the ground this time last year against Diggers Rest. Picasso himself couldn't paint a better picture of redemption because the mission is set to knock out both demons.
The Senior Hawks are still reeling after the loss of both Staceys last week as Dale continues to battle illness and Matt battles a nagging hamstring strain that will continue to frustrate and keep both off the field. General Muppett stepped into the boots of the main ruck position against the Redbacks and did so to ultimate perfection as he continued to belt the ball to team mates like he was Evander Hollyfield getting revenge on Mike Tyson for biting his ear off... the General will rise to the occasion again this weekend. We all know how much Ninga loves finals football as he simply dominated against the Redbacks, almost running as a loose man to set up countless forward thrusts and Dale 'Cooza' Cuinik rides along from one extreme to the next after returning to the team, kicking 5 of the best and then knocked off his feet in the dying moments. Hopefully he'll line up this weekend and make up for the 5point deficit of their last meeting.
The Reserves have history riding against them this week as they attempt to reclaim their crown as the top Chief in the competition by accounting for the Bombers. The Hawks were knocked out in straight sets last year and in 2004 and the occasion is fitting that they too will re-write the history books. Saturday's shock loss to Sunbury was like a battering ram being thrusted into the Hawks Nest but we believe that they will rebound with the power and determination that has seen them rise to heights with the talent and depth that they have had all season. Something just didn't click last week, like as though the Sunbury players lived up to their mascot and pounced in numbers and with their induction of a TAC Cup U18 player in the ruck, the centre breaks were tough to hold.
But all is forgiven; all is a clean slate because there is much more on the line this week with the strength of Senior players filling the team to rise with the quality of those who have been there all year. We know the likes of Chrisso will rebound from last weeks effort, we know that Rocko will give his all, that Marto will take the contested marks that have seen him soar like a Hawk to great heights, and we know that the dynamic brothers of destruction in the Millards will set each other up from the midfield to the goal square. This is history to be rewritten and we know 44 players on the weekend will join another 22 on the last day of September to taste the same Grand Final experience on September 23rd.
E.J's Army are in full flight after disposing of the competitions two strongest teams in consecutive weeks. EJ, without Stevo replaced by Tacka, will encourage the same game plan in the big game after last Saturday's efforts against Diggers Rest. We know Jimmy Chettle is like the Chris Judd of the team... he is standing on one leg but is still kicking goals... Adam Hughes is rising for claim as the toughest in the team after rising from the dead after being completely knocked out in a crunching tackle to get himself together, Robbie is dominating across the backline in Shep's absence and the likes of Perko and Reevesy are playing to their best.
As we head into this week's clashes, we congratulate the efforts of Scott Graham and Billie Joel Taylor for their courageous comebacks from injury to play last weekend.. Hopefully their courage and spirit will help lift 2 more teams into Premiership contention. Let's go Hawks!!!!
Last Modified on 06/04/2008 15:15
