Hawthorn are locked in to try and extend their place in the top eight this home-and-away season, coming up against a depleted Richmond outfit desperate to leave the bottom of the ladder.
The Hawks (12-9, 108.5%) have now got themselves within touching distance of a once-laughed at finals appearance, with their destiny essentially in their own hands.
They will not clinch a finals spot with a win today but, especially if Carlton loses, will be very close to September action.
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Meanwhile, the Tigers will be playing for their third win of 2024 in hope of avoiding the wooden spoon – and have the capacity to totally de-rail Hawthorn’s plans of appearing in September.
Adem Yze has made three changes to their side that lost to St Kilda last week, dropping all of Samson Ryan, Kaleb Smith and Thomson Dow.
Conversely, Jack Ross, Jacob Blight and Matt Coulthard take their spots in the side.
Sam Mitchell’s side will go in unchanged, with Jai Serong, Josh Ward and Finn Maginness the emergencies.
The game gets underway at 3:20pm from the MCG.
Watch it live on Fox Sports 503, streaming on Kayo and via Hubbl, from 3pm.
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There were no late changes for either side with Luke Breust (Hawthorn) and Kamdyn McIntosh (Richmond) the subs.
The Hawks burst out to a 9.3 (57) to 1.1 (7) lead at quarter-time, their biggest lead at the opening break since Round 21, 1993 (53 points vs Adelaide).
But it was soured by a collarbone injury for young superstar Will Day, which saw him hospitalised for scans.
It’s suspected Day, described as Hawthorn’s best player by club great Dermott Brereton, has cracked his collarbone which is likely to cost him at least 4-6 weeks.
“Some recent precedents from players with collarbone breaks. Jake Bowey nine weeks, Mason Wood six weeks, Jed Walter eight weeks, Ollie Hollands seven weeks. If Day’s collarbone is broken he’s not playing in an elimination final in 19 or 20 days time. Or the week after,” the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph tweeted.
Shai Bolton kicked the Tigers’ first in the second quarter, but was quickly answered with majors from Mabior Chol and Cam McKenzie pushing the margin out to a game-high 56 points.
The Tigers fought back throughout the remainder of the second quarter however, kicking 5.4 and were led by Noah Balta’s two goal.
Calsher Dear, Jack Gunston and Dylan Moore all had two goals each at the main break, while Rhyan Mansell joined Balta with multiple majors.
Hawk Jai Newcombe finished the half with 19 disposals, eight score involvements and six clearances in a monster effort.
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