NEWS » Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound fo

Theres a zen-like quality about Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson despite the Hawks biggest test of the AFL season coming on Thursday night.The three-time reigning premiers travel for a high-stakes top-of-the-ladder clash with great rivals Sydney.Clarkson has identified the midfield as crucial to the SCG clash, and particularly whether former Hawk Lance Franklin turns up inside 50 or out of it.But he laughed off the idea his side would need to lift their contested ball figures - on which the Hawks rank last in the league - if they are to come away with a win over the Swans.Contested ball is just a fancy term for everyone in the media. We dont give a toss about that, Clarkson said on Wednesday.Weve won five contested ball contests in about two years. Weve still won lots of games of footy.The Hawks will cede top spot on the ladder to the Swans with a loss but here too, Clarkson isnt concerned.The media wants to declare a premiership favourite every week, he said.Its great reading for all the viewers out there ... but we couldnt give a toss.Its whos playing the best footy in September and early October.And thats why Clarkson is just as unfazed by the suggestion that Hawthorn - who have six straight wins heading to Sydney - are yet to hit top gear in 2016.We werent in the greatest form this time last year either. Nor the year before that, he said.Its about chalking up the wins and trialling young players.Giving guys exposure to different positions on the ground and trying to work out the best mix.Franklin looms as Clarksons chief headache at the SCG.The dominant forward pushed up the ground last week, which Clarkson said was instrumental in the Swans win in Geelong.Despite not garnering a single vote from John Longmire or Chris Scott in the coaches player of the year award voting, Clarkson thought it was a game-changer.He doesnt have to have a dominant game in terms of scoreboard pressure to have a significant influence on the contest, he said.My view is he was the most significant player on the ground last week.The loss of Liam Shiels gives Clarkson a hole in midfield to fill, with Brendan Whitecross travelling to Sydney for what would be his first game since round six, 2015. Stitched Jerseys .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Cheap Jerseys . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. https://www.fakejerseyswholesale.com/ . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Black Friday Jerseys . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. ARCADIA, Calif. -- Anytime Anyplace won the $60,000 feature for 3-year-olds by three-quarters of a length Thursday at Santa Anita.Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Anytime Anyplace ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.01 and paid $27.40, $11 and $5 at 12-1 odds.Texas Two Step returned $4.40 and $2.80, while Kenjisstorm paid $3.dddddddddddd60 to show.The victory, worth $36,000, increased Anytime Anyplaces career earnings to $143,805, with three wins in 10 starts for trainer Paddy Gallagher. ' ' '