THE Brisbane Lions have welcomed back two of their early season rocks to take on Hawthorn on Sunday in a match defender Joel Macdonald says is crucial in setting up the Lions’ season.
Hulking fullback Daniel Merrett has overcome an ankle injury, while rugged tagger Troy Selwood returns after his horrific round-seven head clash with Richmond’s Alex Rance.
On an extended bench, first-year players Jack Redden and Tom Rockliff have also been added as rebounding defender Josh Drummond (calf) missed out.
Macdonald said the Lions had eyed off the match against the premiers since the start of the season.
"It’s a crucial four points going into the bye and hopefully it can give us some momentum going into the second half of the year," he said.
"The position on the ladder doesn’t show it, but I feel we’ve improved. ‘’We’re not relying on Browny and Braddy as much, getting contributions from a lot more people, and a lot of guys have matured and taken their game to a new level."
Hawthorn have also been hit by injury, with livewire Cyril Rioli out with a hamstring, and Liam Shiels missing through illness.
But defenders Thomas Murphy and Campbell Brown are among their inclusions.
I/C from: Tim Notting, Scott Harding, Jared Brennan, Travis Johnstone, Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff, Troy Selwood
I/C from: Stuart Dew, Brent Renouf, Beau Dowler, Josh Kennedy, Jarryd Morton, Ryan Shoenmakers, Travis Tuck.
The bookies are very keen on Hawthorn in this one, but have given the Lions some chance of an upset.
The reigning premiers have been installed at $1.40 for the match at their second home in Launceston, up against the Lions at $2.80.
At the half-way mark of the season it might also be a good time to look elsewhere in the punting market if you’re trying to make a few dollars.
The Lions are relatively short at $1.45 to make the top eight, but a better bet might be to back them as the top non-Victorian team after 22 rounds (which they currently are).
The Lions are favourites at $2.80 to be the top placed interstate team.
Jonathan Brown (Lions) v Luke Hodge (Hawthorn). This is a mouth watering match-up that is looking more and more likely to occur at Aurora Stadium.
While the Lions have been skinny down back, the Hawks are also still without Trent Croad and Stephen Gillham and are light-on for some bigs.
But Norm Smith Medallist Hodge ran with Swans star Adam Goodes last week and looks a good match-up for the Lions' powerhouse and captain.
Brown dominated last week without kicking straight and looks on the verge of a bag is he gets good supply.
While Hawthorn would like to free up their backline architect, Hodge may be best served as a stopper in a duel that could go a long way towards deciding the outcome.
# Lance Franklin has owned the Lions the last three times the teams have met – and Hawthorn have won on each occasion. He’s kicked 19 goals and had the better of both Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull in that period. Last year he grabbed the three Brownlow Medal votes in both games, thrilling Gabba fans with eight goals, then busting an even contest open in Launceston with six more.
# They may lie sixth and seventh, but Hawthorn and the Lions have beaten just one top-eight team between them so far this season. The Hawks beat Carlton by four points at the MCG after Brendan Fevola hit the post with a potential match-winning kick, but they’ve lost to Geelong and Port Adelaide. The Lions are 0-5 against top-eight teams with losses to Geelong, St Kilda, Carlton (two) and Collingwood.
# Four of the top eight goalkickers in the AFL will be on show on Sunday. Lance Franklin (37.20) and Jarryd Roughead (34.15) are up against Jonathan Brown (35.20) and part-time defender Daniel Bradshaw (30.8). At the Gabba in round five last year Franklin kicked eight to Bradshaw’s seven in a memorable shootout.
While the Lions have welcomed back Merrett to curb the Franklin-Roughead influence, the Hawks will be hard to stop.
They squeezed out a tough win against the Swans last week, have won three of their past four and have made Aurora a virtual fortress.
With Merrett back, the Lions can leave Daniel Bradshaw forward and give the Hawks plenty of defensive headaches themselves.
The midfield battle with the likes of Black, Power and Rich up against Mitchell, Sewell and Lewis should be a beauty, but the Hawthorn big guys might just prove too much to handle.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
