Hawthorn can continue its shock charge into finals contention if it adds GWS to its growing list of scalps this afternoon.
The Hawks (5-7, 86.7%) have won four of their past five games, most notably knocking off the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane, surging from an 0-5 start into 12th on the ladder entering the weekend.
The Giants (7-4, 114.6%) in contrast have lost three of their past four, but snapped their losing streak last time out by beating Geelong in Geelong, with hopes they’ve rediscovered the early-season form that made them flag favourites.
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SEN’s Sam Edmund reports Hawthorn faces “plane drama” on the eve of the game, with Hawks general manager of footy operations Max Bailey, the club runner and doctor, stuck on the Hobart airport tarmac due to heavy fog in the city.
GAME UPDATES
There were no late changes, with Luke Breust (Hawthorn) and Toby McMullin (GWS) named the starting subs.
Lachie Whitfield set up a Giants early attacking entry with a lightning run, with Hawks legend Dermott Brereton noting on Fox Footy: “If you let him run, he will hurt you.”
Both teams, namely Hawthorn, missed several chances to hit the scoreboard in a scrappy first 10 minutes.
The Giants finally put one through the big sticks nearly halfway through the opening term after an opportunistic Xavier O’Halloran snap.
The match gets underway at 1:45pm from UTAS Stadium.
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), streaming on Kayo, or via Hubbl from 1:30pm.
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Source Agencies
