Live semi-final: Hawthorn vs Melbourne

They'll kick to the city end of the ground.

I am an unabashed James Worpel fan. But he is only young, and not many games into his career.

However, he had a poor game in his first final last week. He will be better tonight, and he needs to, because Tom Mitchell will need help without Jaegar O'Meara.

Daniel Howe and Liam Shiels need to step up too. And what about Ben McEvoy? Max Gawn is clearly the best ruck in the competition but at his best, Big Boy isn't that far behind. Needs to play the game of his life for the Hawks.

Daniel Cherny has a notoriously good memory. I can't work out what his tweet below is referencing. Either I am missing something very obvious or he is on another level here with his retro footy reference game. Email me (anthony.colangelo@fairfaxmedia.com.au) or Tweet me (@AnthColangelo) if you want to make me look stupid. Thanks.

The Hawks welcome back Taylor Duryea for the clash. He fell out of favour for most of this season, but Clarko is counting on his finals experience tonight.

It was the Hawks who dismantled the Demons. That was in round four, and despite Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo missing most of the game the Hawks were comfortable winners.

They picked their way through Melbourne's heavily contested game and poor defensive zone, and once they were through the speed of Breust, Impey and co. was way too much for the Demons to handle.

Here's John Pierik's match preview for tonight's game. It's do-or-die and the Hawks, the higher ranked team on the ladder, look a little vulnerable tonight. Melbourne were huge last week but didn't necessarily do it for four quarters.

This is a fantastic article by The Age's own Daniel Cherny on what Demon midfielder Aaron vandenBerg has had to deal with this season, on top of returning from a long term injury AND playing AFL.

Both these sides go in as selected.

Melbourne made no changes to their elimination final winning side while the Hawks brought in Mirra, Schoenmakers and Duryea in place of Stratton (injured), O'Meara (injured) and Ceglar (omitted).