WHATEVER transpires tonight, the Blues don't expect to come away from a game against Hawthorn bruise-free.

The Blues believe that a hardened Hawthorn tested it physically in their last encounter, back in round 9 of last year. They reckon that the Hawks considered them susceptible to what one might call ''extra physical attention'', and that, to a degree, that Alastair Clarkson's commandos were justified in their assessment, given what happened.

...

The Hawks have never denied that they play hard, or even that they play on the edge. But their remembrance of the round nine game was limited to the interchange revolution.

''It's possible we just threw caution to the wind and went helter skelter with it,'' football operations manager Mark Evans said, referring to the interchanges, when asked about how the Hawks had viewed Carlton.

...

The Blues have added harder-bodied, mature recruits in the form of Nick Duigan, 26, and Jeremy Laidler, 22, and have promoted David Ellard. Mitch Robinson, possibly the club's most ferocious player, has become an established and permanent member of the team.

Try that sh1t tonight Clarko ya scab, we'll pull ya pant's down.

I hope Robbo comes out firing, squares straight up to Hodge and shows him whos BOSS!

Me too, of course he's just as likely to knock himself out in the process.

Collateral damage.

Me too, of course he's just as likely to knock himself out in the process.

Collateral damage.