Will he or won’t he? That is the big question down at Glenferrie Oval today as the Hawthorn match committee meet to see who will partner Robert Campbell in the ruck in Saturday’s grand final against Geelong.
Southport Sharks product Brent Renouf has played in the last four games for the Hawks but speculation is rife that Simon Taylor may be recalled to take on the Geelong duo of Brad Ottens and Mark Blake.
If selected, Renouf will be the first of the Craig McRae coached Queensland U/18 state team to play in the grand final and the first Gold Coaster out of the 17 Gold Coast bred players currently listed in the AFL to do so.
The dual AFLQ premiership player from Southport took his chance in round 21 when Taylor was asked to step aside and freshen up. Taylor, who has played 18 games this season, has been unable to fight his way back into the team.
Renouf has played seven games in his debut season for the Hawks and is seen to be a touch more athletic than Taylor, whilst Taylor who is 8 kgs heavier, is seen to be better in the body-on-body contests.
Hawthorn’s Michael Osborne will ensure that there will be at least one Gold Coaster in the grand final as he is a certain starter on the half forward flank.
Osborne was drafted from AFLQ club Labrador and elevated from the Hawthorn rookie list in 2001. Osborne has played 22 games this season, kicking 27 goals. The grand final will be Osborne’s 99th game for the Hawks in his eighth season.
