Hawks happy with wet GF
With Luke Hodge a certain inclusion, Chris Fagan says the Hawks don't fear the forecast wet conditions for the Grand Final
HAWTHORN head of coaching and development Chris Fagan says the Hawks have no fear of the forecast wet conditions for Saturday's Grand Final.
Melbourne is expected to turn on a wet and windy spring afternoon for the decider, with hail a possibility.
The Sydney Swans are known as an outstanding in-and-under team, but Fagan said the Hawks would be confident in tough conditions, too.
"We're comfortable that we've got a game-plan that will hold up, regardless of any conditions," Fagan said on Thursday.
"If it rains, the game becomes more congested, you need to kick the ball forward, push it forward, you don't play as wide and as fast as you would normally.
"I think all AFL teams are accustomed to changing their game-plan somewhat if the conditions are windy or wet, or whatever.
"So we're comfortable with whatever turns up on Saturday."
Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge joined his teammates on the training track in front of around 5000 fans at Waverley on Thursday, and Fagan said the 28-year-old had fully recovered from the illness that forced him to miss the preliminary final.
"'Hodgey' has had a good week on the track," Fagan said.
"He was back out training with us on Monday, and his preparation has been the same as everybody else's has, so it's been very good.
"As far as we're concerned he's fully recovered.
"There's been no signs to think otherwise."
One player will miss out for Hodge to come back in, with Fagan saying a final decision would be made at a match committee meeting after training.
He said the weather forecast would not affect which way the call went, and that Hodge's inclusion was likely to be the only change, with all other players fit and ready.
"There'll be an unlucky person for Luke to come in," Fagan said.
"There's always unlucky people at Grand Final time.
"The strength of our team this year has been our squad, and not just the bloke who misses out this week, but the other six or seven players that have trained on, it's going to be terribly disappointing for them too.
"But they've helped us get there and they're an important part of what we've done."