BoBA 2012 ISML Predictions: Tiara Match Day 1

ARENA 01: [Tachibana Kanade] Haruna by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 02: [Hasegawa Kobato] Yuzuriha Inori by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 03: [Nakamura Yuri] Kuroi Mato by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 04: [Yui] Tōwa Erio by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 05: [Kōsaka Kirino] Kanzaki H. Aria by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 06: [Gokō Ruri (Kuroneko)] Victorique de Blois by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 07: Kashiwazaki Sena [Charlotte Dunois] by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 08: [Eucliwood Hellscythe] Mikazuki Yozora by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 09: [Misaka Mikoto] Sakagami Tomoyo by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 10: [Suzumiya Haruhi] Katsura Hinagiku by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 11: [Nagato Yuki] Sengoku Nadeko by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 12: [Akiyama Mio] Oshino Shinobu by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 13: [Nakano Azusa] Hirasawa Yui by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 14: [Aisaka Taiga] Tōsaka Rin by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 15: [Saber] Senjōgahara Hitagi by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 16: [Shana] Illyasviel von Einzbern by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

Melbourne Storm - 2012 NRL Premiers



MELBOURNE 14 (R Hoffman J O'Neill B Slater tries C Smith goal) bt BULLDOGS 4 (S Perrett try) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Tony Archer, Ben Cummins. Crowd: 82,976.

FINALLY, Melbourne have won a premiership no-one can question. The Storm can party like they did in 1999.

Two years after the salary-cap scandal saw them stripped of their 2007 and 2009 premierships, the Storm clinched a title on bona fide terms with a 14-4 defeat of Canterbury in a grand final epic at ANZ Stadium.

Match centre: Game details and stats, plus vote for man of the match

But the Storm's first legitimate title win in 13 years before 82,976 fans was riven with drama after Bulldogs prop James Graham was reported for sensationally biting the ear of Melbourne fullback Billy Slater.

In one of the most vicious acts in grand-final history, TV replays showed Graham attack Slater after he collided with Sam Perrett as the Bulldogs winger scored in the 26th minute, sparking an all-in brawl.

Taste of defeat: More on Graham's bite

When the dust settled, Slater formalised the biting allegation with referee Tony Archer, who then told Graham and Bulldogs skipper Michael Ennis: "Can you see the blood on his (Slater's) ear?"

The British-born bookend faces a lengthy ban, but the ice-cool Storm overcame the saga to bury the Bulldogs and give master coach Craig Bellamy his first untainted premiership.

"What do you say at moments like this?" said Storm skipper Cameron Smith.

"There was a part of the season where people a lot of people were writing us off, but we stuck strong. We just got back to our basics at training and on the field and it happened.

"It happened for us tonight and we played against a quality opposition. We got the job done.

"I've been asked a few times if we won would this be sweeter than the others. There is a small spot that says yes."

"We were gutted a few years ago, morale wasn't at its highest, but we built this club back up and made it count."

A Bulldogs title would have turned Belmore into Crazy Town. Instead, the Storm were too hungry and too clinical, driven to victory by a magnificent performance from Cooper Cronk, who won the Clive Churchill Medal.

Cronk set up tries for Slater (32nd minute) and Justin O'Neill (39th minute) to give his side a 14-4 half-time lead - and the Storm hung on in the second stanza to break the Bulldogs' hearts.

The match began in glorious conditions, a far cry from the partly moist and overcast conditions that greeted the Manly-Warriors NRL decider 12 months previous.

The death-or-glory clash started at a high-octane pace and it took just five minutes for Bulldogs centre Krisnan Inu to thump Cronk. The Storm halfback hit the turf like a sack of spuds. Boom. Crash. Pachang. It was one of the hits of the NRL season.

Undeterred, the Storm were on the board within 60 seconds, Ryan Hoffman reaching out to score after a scintillating ball from Gareth Widdop to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.

After a frenetic opening, Graham turned the melodrama up a notch when he chomped hard on Slater's ear amid a flurry of pushes and punches. But nothing would deter the Storm. The juggernaut simply rolled on.

Five minutes later, Slater exacted revenge, slicing through after a sublime double-pump from Cronk. And when O'Neill soared high to score from a Cronk cross-kick 60 seconds before half-time to give his side a 14-4 lead, the Storm had one hand on the trophy.

They weren't about to let go.

"Lost for words. Gutted," said Michael Ennis.

"It’s been such an enjoyable year and to go out like this is just devastating.

"Take the emotion out of it, I’m just so proud of our boys and where they’ve come from. They can really hold their heads up high.

"They really turned the corner at this club and we’re going to be around for a few more years yet.

"Our defensive was brilliant in the first half, but there were too many unforced errors that just allowed a good side like Melbourne into the game.

"I thought 10 points at half-time was a credit to our defence and honestly I thought we were a chance to come back there.

"Full credit to Melbourne. They’re a good side and they deserve it."

Sydney Swans - 2012 AFL Premiers



BLOODS, SWEAT & CHEERS IN GRAND FINALE

The Sydney Swans have beaten Hawthorn by 10 points in an epic 2012 Grand Final



THE SYDNEY Swans have won an extraordinary rollercoaster of a Grand Final, defeating Hawthorn by 10 points in wintry conditions at the MCG on Saturday.

With 99,683 people watching on, the Swans were 28 points up early in the third quarter, fell 12 points behind during the final term, then prevailed 14.7 (91) to 11.15 (81).

Ryan O'Keefe, who collected 28 possessions, laid 15 tackles and won seven clearances, was awarded the Norm Smith Medal after a dominant performance for the Swans in the midfield.

Watch the eight big plays from the Grand Final

In a nail-biting finish, David Hale put Hawthorn 11 points up early in the last quarter, before a shot from Lance Franklin extended the margin to 12.

But the Swans, who went into the game as rank outsiders, refused to be beaten.

Five Talking Points: Hawthorn v Sydney Swans

Three late goals from Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack and Adam Goodes handed John Longmire's team a seven-point advantage with seven minutes to go.

Hawthorn did much of the late attacking, but Jack Gunston and Brad Sewell missed three shots between them in the dying moments of what was an enthralling contest.

Nick Malceski then snapped the winning goal with 38 seconds left on the clock, as the Swans won their fifth VFL/AFL premiership, but just their second since 1933.

Click here for all the best match pics

O'Keefe, Hannebery (29 possessions) and Josh Kennedy (26 touches) and Jarrad McVeigh (21) played their hearts out in the midfield for the winners.

Malceski, Jack, Kennedy, McVeigh and Mitch Morton all kicked two goals.

Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who took marks and laid big tackles at both ends of the ground, was another never-say-die performer for the Swans. 

"It's fantastic," coach John Longmire said after the game. 

"I was lucky enough to play in one in my last game and now as a coach to see the 22 players experience it, some for the second time, but many for the first time, is one of the great experiences I've had.

"To see the joy on their faces and get reward for what's been a fantastic season was great."

It was a devastating result for Hawthorn, which had 26 scoring shots to 21 and dominated in many areas on the stats sheet.

The Hawks won the inside-50 count 61-43 and the clearance count 58-35, yet they were unable to win their 11th VFL/AFL flag.

"When you come to the big dance at the end of September, you're not going to win them all the time," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"Allan Jeans came here on nine occasions and won four. So we just need to keep turning up.

"Along the way there is going to be some heartbreak, whether that's in prelims or whether that's in Grand Finals.

"But along the way there'll also be some joy. 

"We didn't get that today, but we're hopeful that if we learn from our season, we'll get another chance to have another crack at it in the not-too-distant future."

Franklin, who outplayed Swans defender Ted Richards for much of the afternoon, was one of many stars on the losing team.

Richards v Franklin

The gun forward sparked the Hawks' revival by kicking two extraordinary goals in the third quarter, including a 60m bomb from close to the boundary line, and he finished the game with 3.4 and 24 possessions.

Midfielders Sewell (33 disposals and 11 clearances) and Sam Mitchell (24 touches, 10 clearances) were among the other star performers.

It is the first time Hawthorn has been defeated in a Grand Final since it lost the 1987 decider to Carlton.

It was just 10 degrees when the ball was bounced, yet the Hawks made a hot start.

By quarter-time the inside-50 count was 18-7 in their favour and they led by 19 points.

Yet Longmire's men piled on the next eight goals - without a miss - and if Kennedy's snap had not hit the post, 10 minutes into the third term, they would have been 33 points up. 

Franklin then spearheaded Hawthorn's comeback, as the Hawks kicked five answered majors in all and snatched the lead.

Swans pinch it
Jarrad McVeigh (r) celebrates as the Swans seal their fifth VFL/AFL premiership. Picture: AFL Media 

Still, the Swans were able to take a one-point lead into the final change after Mitchell threw the ball over McVeigh's head following a free kick.

McVeigh made the most of the ensuing 50m penalty by putting the Swans back in front.

However, Hawthorn was far from finished. The Hawks regained the lead 57 seconds into the last quarter, then established a two-goal buffer.

But they couldn't hold on, as the Swans fought back to score a famous win.

HAWTHORN                4.5    4.6    9.10   11.15   (81)                 
SYDNEY SWANS         1.4     7.4   10.5    14.7    (91)          

GOALS
Hawthorn:
 Franklin 3, Breust 2, Gunston 2, Hale 2, Ellis, Smith
Sydney Swans: Jack 2, Kennedy 2, Malceski 2, McVeigh 2, Morton 2, Goodes, Hannebery, Reid, Roberts-Thomson

BEST
Hawthorn:
 Franklin, Sewell, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Breust, Hale
Sydney Swans: Hannebery, O'Keefe, Kennedy, McVeigh, Jetta, Goodes
 
INJURIES
Hawthorn:
 Ellis (calf), Hodge (head)

Sydney Swans: Goodes (knee), Johnson (wrist)
 
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn:
 Xavier Ellis (calf) replaced by Shane Savage in the third quarter
Sydney Swans: Shane Mumford replaced by Luke Parker in the fourth quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Meredith
 
Official crowd: 99,683 at the MCG

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs

Anizone Best Moe 2012: Odds, Quarterfinals

Group 1
Miki Hoshii 2-1
Kurisu Makise 5-1
Prediction: Miki Hoshii by <=50
Over/Under: 200
Over

Group 2
Shinobu Oshino 9-1
Kuroyukihime EVEN
Prediction: Kuroyukihime by >=40
Over/Under: 250
Under

Group 3
Saber 15-1
Eru Chitanda 1-4
Prediction: Eru Chitanda by >=50
Over/Under: 200
Over

Group 4
Hitagi Senjougahara 3-1
Taiga Aisaka 5-1
Prediction: Hitagi Senjougahara by >=40
Over/Under: 225
Under

AFL 2012 Grand Final




Sydney's Shane Mumford clear to meet Hawthorn

Shane Mumford
Sydney's Shane Mumford has no case to answer after a nervous wait after an incident in the preliminary final against Collingwood Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: The Daily Telegraph
SYDNEY breathed a huge sigh of relief today when ruckman Shane Mumford was cleared by the AFL match review panel.
The key big man was investigated after the Collingwood tall Chris Dawes complained to umpires about contact to his injured knee in the Swans preliminary final win at ANZ Stadium.
 
Mumford was investigated for misconduct but cleared by video evidence.
 
“Mumford and Dawes are in the goal square and Mumford jostles Dawes for position as the ball is to be kicked in for a shot at goal,” the panel found.
 
“There is clear video footage of the incident. After reviewing the footage, it was the view of the MRP (match review panel) that no reportable offence had required.”
 
Losing Mumford would have been a huge blow for the Swans as the ruckman is key to their centre strategies.
 
Adelaide Crows’ Jason Porplyzia was also investigated and cleared for making contact with Hawthorn’s David Hale.
 
“The ball is kicked into the Adelaide Crows’ forward line to the leading Porplyzia. Hale is moving to intercept the ball as it is kicked and reaches the contest first,” the panel found.
 
“As Hale prepares to mark, Porplyzia makes high contact and a free kick was initially paid against him. It was the view of the panel that Porplyzia had his eyes on the ball at all times and was making a legitimate attempt to spoil with an open hand. No further action was taken.”

Anizone Best Moe 2012: Results, Group 2


Anizone Best Moe 2012: Results, Group 1


2channel Anime Saimoe 2012: Odds, Second Round


2012 2channel Anime Saimoe: BoBA Odds, Round 2

September 19, 2012
Saki Miyanaga 2-1
Illyasviel von Einzbern 5-1
Nako Oshimizu 15-1
Prediction: Saki Miyanaga by >=40
Over/Under: 500
Over

Shinobu Oshino 3-1
Iori Minase 5-1
Yuka Hanaki 20-1
Prediction: Shinobu Oshino by <=50
Over/Under: 600
Under

September 20, 2012
Kobato Hasegawa 3-2
Lemon Yamano 5-1
Mahiru Inami 7-1
Prediction: Kobato Hasegawa by <=50
Over/Under: 500
Under

Toki Onjouji 1-4
Kanade Suzutsuki 7-1
Chris Yukino 20-1
Prediction: Toki Onjouji by >=120
Over/Under: 500
Over

September 21, 2012
Yuuki Kataoka EVEN
Tsukasa Ayatsuji 4-1
Reika Aoiki 11-1
Prediction: Yuuki Kataoka by >=45
Over/Under: 500
Over

Akari Akaza EVEN
Azusa Nakano 4-1
Run Momoki 25-1
Prediction: Akari Akaza by <=50
Over/Under: 500
Under

September 22, 2012
Miki Hoshii 3-2
Koromo Amae 4-1
Yuno Gasai 20-1
Prediction: Miki Hoshi by <=40
Over/Under: 550
Over

Mei Misaki 3-2
Yozora Mikazuki 6-1
Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke 15-1
Prediction: Mei Misaki by >=40
Over/Under: 500
Over

September 23, 2012
Shizuno Takakamo EVEN
Cthugha 5-1
Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen 20-1
Prediction: Shizuno Takakamo by >=80
Over/Under: 600
Under

Chihaya Kisaragi 2-1
Hajime Kunihiro 6-1
Houki Shinonono 17-1
Prediction: Chihaya Kisaragi by <=70
Over/Under: 600
Under

September 24, 2012
Hisa Takei EVEN
Kanon Nakagawa 4-1
Maon Sakurada 15-1
Prediction: Hisa Takei by <=50
Over/Under: 500
Over

Kurisu Makise 1-3
Hinata Hakamada 6-1
Sana Inui 15-1
Prediction: Kurisu Makise by >=60
Over/Under: 500
Over

September 25, 2012
Astarotte Ygvar EVEN
Ringo Oginome 7-1
Sherlock Shellingford 17-1
Prediction: Astarotte Ygvar by >=50
Over/Under: 600
Under

Nagi Sanzen'in EVEN
Madoka Kyouno 8-1
Yasuna Oribe 20-1
Prediction: Nagi Sanzen'in by >=75
Over/Under: 525
Over

September 26, 2012
Yayoi Kise EVEN
Ui Hirasawa 10-1
Yune 20-1
Prediction: Yayoi Kise by <=100
Over/Under: 525
Under

Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 1-4
Saber 7-1
Makoto Kikuchi 25-1
Prediction: Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere by >=75
Over/Under: 525
Over

September 28, 2012
Yumi Kajiki EVEN
Kurumi Hazuki 12-1
Sakuno Uryuu 25-1
Prediction: Yumi Kajiki by <=100
Over/Under: 500
Over

Yui Funami 3-2
Seraphim 10-1
Hercule Barton 18-1
Prediction: Yui Funami by <=90
Over/Under: 500
Over

September 29, 2012
Sanya V. Litvyak EVEN
Yayoi Takatsuki 13-1
Sanae Nagatsuki 23-1
Prediction: Sanya V. Litvyak by >=100
Over/Under: 600
Over

Kirame Hanada 3-2
Haruka Amami 5-1
Kanna Tanigawa 10-1
Prediction: Kirame Hanada by <=100
Over/Under: 600
Over

September 30, 2012
Rin Tosaka EVEN
Hibiki Ganaha 7-2
Charlotte Dunois 9-1
Prediction: Rin Tosaka by <=50
Over/Under: 550
Over

Kuro Matsumi 2-1
Ryuuka Shimizudani 5-2
Nyarlathotep 10-1
Prediction: Kuro Matsumi by <=40
Over/Under: 550
Over

October 1, 2012
Yuu Matsumi 1-5
Taiga Aisaka 5-1
Yui Hirasawa 15-1
Prediction: Yuu Matsumi by >=50
Over/Under: 600
Over

Eru Chitanda 1-7
Ririchiyo Shirakiin 8-1
Miyaki 30-1
Prediction: Eru Chitanda by <=100
Over/Under: 600
Over

October 2, 2012
Nodoka Haramura EVEN
Momoko Touyoko 4-1
Ai Nanasaki 30-1
Prediction: Nodoka Haramura by <=60
Over/Under: 650
Under

Poplar Taneshima 2-1
Minko Tsurugi 5-1
Airi Kashii 10-1
Prediction: Poplar Taneshima by <=50
Over/Under: 600
Under

October 3, 2012
Hitagi Senjougahara EVEN
Aria Holmes Kanzaki 3-1
Hina Takanashi 20-1
Prediction: Hitagi Senjougahara by <=55
Over/Under: 550
Over

Shana EVEN
Kuroyukihime 4-1
Nano Shinonome 35-1
Prediction: Shana by <=60
Over/Under: 550
Over

October 4, 2012
Aoi Yamada EVEN
Tsukihi Araragi 4-1
Rea Sanka 7-1
Kotori Otonashi 15-1
Prediction: Aoi Yamada by >=50
Over/Under: 500
Over

Mio Akiyama EVEN
Rika Furude 7-1
Nazuna Takanashi 20-1
Prediction: Mio Akiyama by >=70
Over/Under: 500
Over

October 5, 2012
Ako Atarashi 1-4
Ika-Musume 8-1
Yuki Yoshida 20-1
Prediction: Ako Atarashi by >=75
Over/Under: 550
Over

Sena Kashiwazaki 2-1
Elucia De Lute Ima 9-1
Marika Katou 20-1
Prediction: Sena Kashiwazaki by <=100
Over/Under: 550
Over

2012 AFL Finals Series: Hawthorn vs. Adelaide



The depleted Adelaide Crows are unsure who to play on Hawthorn star Lance Franklin in the preliminary final



Lance Franklin
COME AT ME- LANCE FRANKLIN IS PROVIDING ADELAIDE WITH A SERIOUS DILEMMA AHEAD OF THE PRELIMINARY FINAL.HERALD SUN
INJURY-HIT Adelaide will consider throwing a young defender with only two games to his name this year on Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin in the preliminary final.
Luke Thompson
ADELAIDE MAY LOOK TO DEFENDER LUKE THOMPSON TO STOP HAWTHORN SUPERSTAR LANCE FRANKLIN. GETTY IMAGES
"(Andy) Otten (192cm) is another player who could certainly come back and play on a tall.
The Crows have been rocked by injury, although forward Jared Petrenko is still considered a chance to play despite his tears at the final siren on Friday night after hurting his shoulder.

Daniel Talia is gone and Sam Shaw has done his hamstring, which has left very little in the pantry with Ben Rutten not believed to have the pace to go with Franklin.

Adelaide assistant coach Dean Bailey yesterday threw up Luke Thompson, who stands 194cm and played just his second senior game for the year on Friday night.

"We have lost young Shaw, the options are you have Truck (Rutten) down there and Luke Thompson - a young defender who in his second game I thought played well," Bailey told SEN Radio.

"Because we've lost Talia, who is probably our No.1 key defender, we are going to have to mix and match a bit."

The former Melbourne coach said cutting the supply to Franklin will be the best way of stopping Franklin.

"You don't want to leave your backs one on one when you're playing on someone like Buddy," he said.

"You've got to have help somewhere else to come from.

"But we don't want too many blokes behind the ball so we're kicking it back to them, so there is a delicate time of when you can the extra player back."

The good news for Adelaide is Petrenko may be a shock selection against the Hawks, a day after believing his season was over after injuring his shoulder in the final minutes against Fremantle.

"I'm not sure whether it popped out and then popped straight back in," Bailey said.

"After the game he was obviously very disappointed.

"But post-game when he had it taped up and iced up, he seemed to be a little bit more understanding of it.

"So I don't know how bad it is today - those things will probably wait until Monday."

Bailey was hopeful the 22-year-old would get up for the preliminary final.

"Sometimes in those situations when you stretch the ligaments, you can tape it and play," he said.

"He is a seriously tough competitor, so you never know - he might just find a way to turn up next week.

"Right at the end of the game was disappointing for him - that was the shock factor for him."

The Crows won their way through to the preliminary final despite a lower than expected crowd at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

Over 44,000 attended the qualifying final the previous week, but they could manage only 31,000 against Fremantle.

Higher ticket prices have been cited as a reason, but the AFL said today they did not believe that was the reason.

Bailey was left scratching his head as well.

"I really don't know...(if it is because of) ticket prices, I'm unaware of that," he said.

Hawks are Adelaide's last hurrah

Rohan Connolly
Published: September 16, 2012 - 11:04AM

While they might have finished the regular season first and second on the ladder, the first two weeks of finals have managed from a perception point of view to make that gap seem a lot larger.SOME preliminary finals shape as clashes of titans, others more like a David and Goliath affair. It's fair to say Saturday's Hawthorn-Adelaide clash falls into the latter category.
Hawthorn is now a very warm flag favourite, at the peak of its powers and with close to a full list from which to choose as it tackles the two victories still required to deliver an 11th premiership.
The Crows, in contrast, have had trouble adapting to the greater intensity of September, particularly early, and having lost first Daniel Talia and now Jared Petrenko and Sam Shaw, have some serious personnel issues.
A comfortable win to the Hawks is already being widely anticipated. A win for Adelaide would be one of the bigger upsets preliminary final weekend has seen.
HISTORY LESSON
Adelaide doesn't play at the MCG often, and when it does, not so well. The Crows' win over Melbourne three weeks ago was its first on the ground in three years and in seven attempts. Hawthorn loves the 'G, having won 10 of its past dozen outings.
The recent history between these two doesn't provide much encouragement for the visitors, either. Though they've met only once this season, just on five months ago, back in round three, Hawthorn romped home by 56 points, by some margin Adelaide's heaviest defeat this season.
The Hawks racked up 21 goals that afternoon, shared among 13 goalkickers, had an outstanding defender in Josh Gibson, and got great contributions not only from their biggest names but the likes of Liam Shiels, Matt Suckling and Luke Breust.
Adelaide stayed competitive for a time, but in echoes of its loss to Sydney in the qualifying final, continued to burn what scoring chances came its way, Kurt Tippett a main offender, and Taylor Walker held goalless.
X FACTOR
No real surprise here. It's Hawthorn dynamo Cyril Rioli who has the greatest potential to shape, or more likely, break open the game.
The super-quick Hawk with amazing reflexes and vision is a tackling machine, who this season had nearly twice as many as just about any other forward in the competition. He's the key to his side's defensive pressure and capacity to lock the ball in its scoring zone.
And as he's proved time and time again, he's a player capable of changing the course of a game with either the chasing down of an opponent in space, or creating a goal for himself or a teammate out of seemingly nothing. Rioli will do a lot more with fewer numbers than any other player on Saturday.
TACTICS
Hawthorn's modus operandi is well-known. The Hawks not only win the ball more than just about anyone, but use it much better, their army of long and precise kicks lethal by foot and able to pick their way through the tightest press or zone.
Hawthorn ranks No. 1 in the AFL for effective kicks, and its ability to patiently pick out targets in the clear is underlined by its top ranking for uncontested possessions and uncontested marks.
But the Hawks have also got their hard game back with a vengeance this year, finishing the regular season in joint first with Adelaide for wins at the clearances. Their scoring capacity is also greater with less dependence upon key targets such as Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston an important addition to the mix besides Breust's development and the likes of Paul Puopolo.
Adelaide has been terrific in the contested ball, but has struggled at the pointy end of the season to convert that supply into meaningful attack, ranked 17th for uncontested possession. They rely on clean and efficient delivery to key forwards Walker and Tippett, and under more pressure and opponents who have been able to clog their forward 50, have tended to bomb the ball inside 50, making scoring a laborious exercise.
Hawthorn will be doing its utmost to slow Adelaide down, close its space and enable key defender Ryan Schoenmakers plenty of time and support from the likes of Gibson to make life as difficult as possible for the Crows' key targets.
And it's when the ball rebounds from the Adelaide defence that the fun and games might start, Franklin set for a real pay day if he can find room against a back line that, without Talia and Shaw, has Ben Rutten to hold the fort, but seemingly not a lot else.
PREDICTION
This has been a wonderful year for Adelaide and its first-year coach, Brenton Sanderson, whatever happens on Saturday, the Crows climbing from 14th to the top four. But this assignment looks a bridge too far. Hawthorn is a genuine heavyweight in near peak form, virtually at full strength and on its own patch.
It would take something truly remarkable for Adelaide to stop the Hawks' juggernaut now.
Hawthorn by 36 points.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hawks-are-adelaides-last-hurrah-20120915-25ze7.html