If Greater Western Sydney thought things couldn’t get worse, they had better think again.
After copping consecutive 100-point-plus beltings at the hands of West Coast and Richmond, the 17th-placed Giants’ next assignment is premiership fancy Hawthorn on the rebound at the MCG.
The Hawks are coming off back-to-back losses for the first time since in rounds four and five in 2012, and interim senior coach Brendon Bolton makes no secret of how desperate his champion team are to rejoin the winner’s list.
“We’ve got to just control what we can control and that’s making sure our mind is ready for a contest,” Bolton said on Saturday morning.
“We’ve lost the last couple of games so you’re going to see a pretty determined Hawthorn footy club.”
Bolton will make his senior coaching debut on Sunday in place of Alastair Clarkson who is battling Guillain-Barre syndrome.
But rather than indulge himself about his own story, Bolton said he was more concerned about his players being focused on the job at hand.
And while the Hawks-Giants match-up looms as one of the most lopsided contests of the season, Bolton is prepared for anything.
“We know GWS have been internally challenged and, when they have had their wins, they’ve had really good contested ball numbers so we know that they’re going to be up for a fight,” Bolton said.
“(GWS coach) Leon (Cameron) likes to attack the game with his ball movement and play some quick-ball sort of style of play.”
Clarkson’s absence provided a golden opportunity for Hawthorn to display their leadership density, according to Bolton.
“What he (Clarkson) is really excited about is just showing that our club’s really strong and united,” Bolton said.
“There’s just so many quality people at our club and we think it’s going to be a collective.
“If that’s for one week, so be it. But if it’s for four or five or more (weeks), so be it as well.”
Bolton didn’t expect to receive any last-minute instructions from Clarkson and insisted the pair had minimal discussion this week.
“I’ve touched in with Clarko and he’s progressing really well and his focus and energy has all just been on his recovery … we just want his health to be the focus,” Bolton said.
Despite AFL legend Wayne Carey telling Channel Seven on Friday night that he expected Clarkson to leave hospital this weekend, Bolton wasn’t sure when his mentor would be discharged.