Hawthorn isn’t shying away from a pre-finals challenge of facing both Fremantle and Geelong in back to back contests, according to defender Grant Birchall.
The Hawks easily dispatched of lesser opponents the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne in recent weeks, but face a finals audition with a couple of top four teams looming as the 2014 home and away season draws to a close.
After smashing a depleted Fremantle outfit by 58 points in Round 3, Alastair Clarkson’s side have an eight-day break heading into the 2013 Grand Final rematch, but will have just two six-day turnarounds before facing Geelong and Collingwood to end the season.
“They’re the sort of games you want to play (to get ready for finals). It’s perfect,” Birchall said on Wednesday.
“We’ve got three really good sides to look forward to, it’ll be a good dress rehearsal for finals.
The Hawks will be the undermanned side this time round, missing key pieces Jarryd Roughead (suspended), Jack Gunston (knee) and Cyril Rioli (hamstring) while Fremantle is expected to welcome back the prolific Michael Walters after an extended stint on the sidelines.
The electrifying small forward booted 46 goals in a breakout 2013 season, but hasn’t played since Round 3 after dislocating a tendon in his left ankle. The addition of Walters has tempted coach Ross Lyon to consider playing four small forwards- Walters, Hayden Ballantyne, Hayden Crozier and recent debutant Max Duffy.
“It’s exciting. We’re not the tallest, but we could play them,” Lyon said of a Dockers side in desperate need of some firepower.
“They’re real offensive threats. We really liked what we saw (last week).”
Fremantle likely surrendered a chance at third position or better after last weekend’s after the siren loss to Geelong and are leaning towards rushing back a possibly underprepared Walters, who returned last week in the WAFL, with a top four finish on the line.
Fremantle will also likely be without former All-Australian defender Luke McPharlin, who suffered another calf injury over the weekend and is expected to miss significant time.
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