Kevin Sheedy has taken steps to ensure his players don’t take Hawthorn lightly this weekend. Sheedy has given his players copies of all newspaper articles written about the Hawks, who will be keen to rebound from an 86-point defeat by Adelaide. To add fuel to the fire, Hawthorn is currently last on the AFL ladder and will be without captain Shane Crawford.

""I’ve clipped out every article that will go into every one of the players handouts,"" Sheedy said. ""My players know just as much as the coach what’s coming at them (each game).""

History shows that teams with their backs to the wall tend to have a habit of rebounding strongly the following week. Sheedy is well aware that after what has been written about the Hawks it will not be an easy game.

""We are going into a serious footy game this week against a great club, with a lot of pride. That’s the way we’ll be looking at it because as far as I’m concerned we’ll be playing a very spirited Hawthorn team,"" said the coach.

""Of all the coaches in the AFL, I know one who is very wary of Hawthorn. It goes back 20 years to the combatant wars we had (on the field). You never ever lose that or the mental scars,"" he said.

Despite last week’s 30-point victory over Fremantle, Sheedy said the selectors would make up to three changes for this weekend’s clash that could provide the club with a top four position.

""Ben Haynes will come back this week. We made him wait an extra week because he stuffed it (quadricep) up last time and cost himself a month,"" Sheedy said.

""We’ve had players playing in the VFL for quite some time who are in pretty good form. Players like Ted Richards, Kepler Bradley, Jason Winderlich and Brent Stanton who can add youthfulness and excitement to the team (are a chance for promotion).

""You have got to keep moving players around in different positions to see if we are any good ourselves,"" Sheedy believes.

Despite today’s poor weather the Bombers trained at Windy Hill instead of moving to an indoor venue. Sheedy said this gave his players a chance to ""get out here and kick some greasy balls around"" in preparation for this weeks game at the MCG.

Bomber fans can look forward to the clash this weekend knowing that the club has won all three of their games at the MCG this season in Rounds 4, 5 and 6.

The Olympic Torch will pass through the MCG this Saturday. Click here for more information.