Autopsy Round 1, 2022: Hawks skin the Roos

[BIGHAWK23]

They’ll just monitor how he’s dealing with it all, and if he looks to be starting to drop his head they’ll freshen him up.

No doubt we’ll see him every week though, because I don’t know if DGB has a temperament that allows him to take a backward step.

DGB's last quarter is the reason he will continue to play games

There will be little nuggets of promise over this stage of his career

Will turn into dominant quarters

Into Dominant Games

 

[Brishawk]

Worpel didn’t have a great game, but being at the G, I was watching him closely and it was clear to me that he was being asked to play a fairly modified role to that of last year where he tended to be far more defensively minded.

On Sunday he crept forward at almost every opportunity and spent plenty of time along the half forward line where he just looked a bit out of place. His pressure was still bang on particularly when the game was there to be won, but I felt he was almost overthinking at times and just couldn’t find the right positioning.

If that’s the case and he’s been asked to play counter to his usual inclinations I just don’t know how you drop him after just one game.

Remember that time Worpel went in for a hard ball v Selwood and came out with it and we got a goal?


Now he is losing out to Aaron hall…

 

[CHUBBSS]

Remember that time Worpel went in for a hard ball v Selwood and came out with it and we got a goal?


Now he is losing out to Aaron hall…

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That’s my point tho he starts stagnated/flat footed, his been over coached?

Junior worpel was a more natural footballer

 

[Ned Ryerson]

His pressure was still bang on particularly when the game was there to be won, but I felt he was almost overthinking at times and just couldn’t find the right positioning.

He only had 7 pressure acts for the whole game. Compare that to Jaeger who was absolutely playing the sacrificial role and had double the amount of pressure acts.

 

[Topiary]

It is clear with every game Nash is improving immensely. Wish we see him every week and with experience he has such upside.

Agree. It is all about game sense. Hope he continues the trajectory. He can be a beast, and we need beasts who can win the footy.

 

[Tassie Cryptik]

Bit late to the party but a few thoughts of my own:

CJ - Thank God he got up for the game as we may not have won without him. Brilliant - BOG and allowed Sicily to be accountable.
Newcombe - His best game yet. Very good forward of the ball.
Gunston - What a return! Cleaner than many and won't be as rusty goalkicking wise again. Still vintage Gunston.
Sicily - Another great welcome return. Couple of iffy long kicks early but shut down his opponent, won contests and made great short passes.
Lewis - Yes! Preseason form wasn't a mirage. Will have inconsistency but impacted the contest and took contested marks - the hardest thing to do in the modern game.
Mitchell - not his dominant best but still worked hard and did his bit with 29 disposals and 6 clearances.
Morrisson - Deserves his place - is a neat and reliable player.
Moore - Some very cringey moments with fumbles and simple dropped marks but kept working hard and ended up having a big influence, especially late (8 I50's, 6 SI, 4 tackles inside 50, 10 marks, etc.)
Frost - Opponent had little to no influence, no memorable clangers and worked things out with CJ well. Good performance.
Shiels - Typical senior player performance from him. Unheralded but contributed well with blocking, etc and had 25 disposals.
MacDonald - Best of the debutants IMO. Not prolific (16 disposals) but was clean in traffic when many of his team mates were not. 6 score involvements a reflection of this.
Scrimshaw - Will not get many plaudits but is a reliable contributor every week at his worst and a star at his best. To get consistent influence from a player with less than 50 games is inavaluable.
Ward - 1st game out of the way. Not much impact for mine but expecting bigger and better things.
Maginness - Strengths and weaknesses in line with PS performances. Ran hard and provided an option all game but also hurt the team with poor use at times.
Reeves - Very competitive in the ruck, even against Goldy which allowed us to not start every bounce and throw in at a disadvantage (with some clear clean taps to advantage). Quiet around the ground.
Wingard - Disappointing really. Finished last season like a house on fire, clearly passionate (and dominant) for Clarko. Interrupted preseason but had no influence at all for 3 quarters. Class is permanent so still kicked 2 late nice goals but the first was a fortunate free after dropping a simple chest mark. Hope for more next week.
DGB - may cop hate but I think he should spend some further development in the VFL at this stage as he is still so raw. Didn't touch the ball in the first 3 quarters and Goldy took marks (and kicked goals) with ease when they were briefly matched up in the 3rd, shifting the momentum back to North. Had a good last quarter which was encouraging. Needs more size/core strength to not get pushed off the ball so easily at this level.
Lynch - Subbed off too early to comment.

Work interrupts me so others to come.

Nash not turn up?
Or the acting captain.

 

[Pessimistic]

That’s my point tho he starts stagnated/flat footed, his been over coached?

Junior worpel was a more natural footballer

Yes he was very evasive and aware

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Nash not turn up?
Or the acting captain.

O'Meara played his role but it is hardly one I would highlight or dedicate any time gushing about. Plus he did say other reviews were to come.

 

[Mercy Seat]

Remember that time Worpel went in for a hard ball v Selwood and came out with it and we got a goal?


Now he is losing out to Aaron hall…

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Lololol. Yeah that wasn’t great.

Needless to say, he had a really poor game, and has clearly lost a step since then. But my point is, I didn’t think his work rate was significantly lower, and I’m just wondering whether a change to his role and new running patterns etc is part of the problem.

 

[Brishawk]

That’s my point tho he starts stagnated/flat footed, his been over coached?

Junior worpel was a more natural footballer

He wasn’t flat footed v hall. He looks like he has lost agility though. Maybe he is injured? Certainly struggled to stay with Simpkin at stoppages early in the game and got out positioned in marking contests a few times.

 

[burner1]

He wasn’t flat footed v hall. He looks like he has lost agility though. Maybe he is injured? Certainly struggled to stay with Simpkin at stoppages early in the game and got out positioned in marking contests a few times.

Norths mids in Simpkin, LDU and Thomas are all very mobile. He was just getting done for speed/agility which has never been a strength but when he’s not in and under becomes more apparent against quick opponents.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Lololol. Yeah that wasn’t great.

Needless to say, he had a really poor game, and has clearly lost a step since then. But my point is, I didn’t think his work rate was significantly lower, and I’m just wondering whether a change to his role and new running patterns etc is part of the problem.

On basically every measurable stat you could say his workrate was well down.

 

[TheFourPillars]

As i mentioned earlier all of TOM, JOM, Wingard, Worps and Ward were sore / injured and did't have an ideal prep all of them will be better for the run except Ward who might have pulled up sore again lets see

 

[Guardian Hawk]

As this is a development year as Mitchell has repeatedly pointed out, I think getting games and experience into the young guys who will be our future stars is more valuable than dropping them to Box Hill every month or so, so DGB plays every week for mine

Yes, he could cop a hiding in a few games, but he will learn a hell of a lot more about AFL footy than playing at a lower level against easier opponents

You may be right but I'm not sure.

The reason for not being sure is that it is the physical attributes that are letting him down. He currently lacks size, strength and stamina. HIs main issue is that his opponent is easily pushing him out of the way to take uncontested marks and when he throws his body around it is not having the impact it did at junior level because he is comparatively much smaller. He has all the know how and is up to the speed of the game at AFL level. He dominated at junior level amongst the smaller bodies. The VFL may be a little slower (and lack some of the precision of AFL at times) but it doesn't lack in size at all - the key forwards at VFL level are just as big as those at AFL level. Typically wanting players to develop at AFL level is because they look like stars with the extra time afforded at VFL level which never gets them used to the pace at AFL level. DGB doesn't seem to have a problem with the pace of the game and has not been starring at VFL level either. As such, I don't know if it is best for the team or him to play every week at AFL level and allow the opposition to go through his opponent when he is being easily outbodied (at least he doesn't lack confidence). It can end up affecting defensive structures if other players are having to worry about his opponent as well as their own, which has a flow on effect with less rebound, poorer set ups, loose forwards, etc.

With all that said, I'm not a Hawthorn coach and I don't see everything that happens outside of game day. I trust them to know best and DGB may well come out and be amazing next week and forevermore. Just wanting to share my thinking on game day observances, with the overriding hope that he will very quickly develop into a star. It will be a fun ride with the way he plays either away.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Worpel didn’t have a great game, but being at the G, I was watching him closely and it was clear to me that he was being asked to play a fairly modified role to that of last year where he tended to be far more defensively minded.

On Sunday he crept forward at almost every opportunity and spent plenty of time along the half forward line where he just looked a bit out of place. His pressure was still bang on particularly when the game was there to be won, but I felt he was almost overthinking at times and just couldn’t find the right positioning.

If that’s the case and he’s been asked to play counter to his usual inclinations I just don’t know how you drop him after just one game.

Worpel had 7 pressure acts for the game, which was clearly the lowest amongst the midfield group. Only Reeves, DGB, CJ and Lynch had less.

For contrast Nash had 23, Mitchell had 22, Maginess had 16, JOM had 14, Phillips had 13, Newcombe had 10 and Ward had 9.

Not sure his pressure was bang on based on what I saw, and the stats that back it up.

 

[Dewnior]

Could Worpel be used as a pressure forward? He's pretty strong so could see him winning some one on one contests in the fwd 50.

Fair point. Or perhaps as a defensive, rebounding midfielder.
Gets a bit lost in the midfield sometimes.

What about as a defensive forward with the job to stop small/medium rebounding defenders?

 

[Dewnior]

Maginess for all his floors is a handful, provides genuine attack.

I wonder whether his floors affect his ceiling.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I wonder whether his floors affect his ceiling.

Does the carpet match the drapes?

 

[CHUBBSS]

I wonder whether his floors affect his ceiling.

Haha that is some horrible spelling on my end, won’t be the last

 

[Mercy Seat]

Worpel had 7 pressure acts for the game, which was clearly the lowest amongst the midfield group. Only Reeves, DGB, CJ and Lynch had less.

For contrast Nash had 23, Mitchell had 22, Maginess had 16, JOM had 14, Phillips had 13, Newcombe had 10 and Ward had 9.

Not sure his pressure was bang on based on what I saw, and the stats that back it up.

As I said, he had a poor game. But when I refer to his pressure I mean when the game was won in the last. He spent most of that time on ground up forward which is uncharacteristic, and without looking at the stats, I thought he was working hard.

He also spent the equivalent of a quarter of footy on the bench, so I dare say he’s considerably underdone or carrying something.

 

[Jables]

That’s my point tho he starts stagnated/flat footed, his been over coached?

Junior worpel was a more natural footballer

How is he overcoached? He won a B&F 3 years ago and I doubt he got Franklin or Hodge levels of leniency, go run about the midfield and do what you want. Frankly compared to them he doesn't deserve that either, no different to 99% of AFL players.

I like him but he's like the opposite of Brad Sewell where at one point we had to straight up tell him he wouldn't keep his side if he couldn't kick better and perform more consistently, then he won a B&F. There's been a lot of Will Langford types that peak early, at some point he has to go out there and perform his role.

 

[CHUBBSS]

How is he overcoached? He won a B&F 3 years ago and I doubt he got Franklin or Hodge levels of leniency, go run about the midfield and do what you want. Frankly compared to them he doesn't deserve that either, no different to 99% of AFL players.

I like him but he's like the opposite of Brad Sewell where at one point we had to straight up tell him he wouldn't keep his side if he couldn't kick better and perform more consistently, then he won a B&F. There's been a lot of Will Langford types that peak early, at some point he has to go out there and perform his role.

My understanding is he is an extremely hard worker, great around the club, in the leadership group and works at no ends to improve his slump in form since Mitchell came back.

His likely been shuffled around by two coaches now with different viewpoints on his Best spot in the team, when he won the b and f it was playing his natural game with a midfield team and wingard that really worked around him.

That form slump meant he has almost been trying to hard to get back to parity of that great season, even his first year was a more natural Worpel - and that my question, has he been overcoached?

Part of me think so, part of me thinks it’s an issue of leg speed and his ability to dispose under pressure, but his natural game seemed better on the above. Maybe clubs have put more time into him also and he gets much stronger opposition now.

I firmly believe he can turn it around and their were glimpses on the weekend but it’s upto him to do it over 4qr just like every other developing player - but those developing players are going to quickly fly past him if he doesn’t fix whatever the issue may be. I definitely don’t think he is a will Langford that has lost hunger and been hit with injury so it’s just performance related that can be overcome.

Maybe he is someone that would benefit from just have a license to roam to get a feel back for his natural game whether at afl or vfl but something hasn’t clicked so far. Or maybe the game is just that much faster since 2018 that leg speed is getting highlighted more.

 

[Mrzohs]

So good to be back at the footy on the weekend with a crowd and get a win! It was a fairly scrappy affair to be expected!

Positives...
Cj! Wow he is quickly becoming one of our most important players. I Can't wait to see what Cj,Sic,Day could produce if they can string a season together .

• Lewis is starting to show some great signs.
• Gunners looks promising for this yr.

-Duke has gone ahead of other midfielders, is now become a reliable player with the footy.

If we get Bruest back a fitter Wingard. Day,Impey and Bramble to come back in over the next month our ball movement will improve dramatically!
- The Ruck and 2nd KPF will be a interesting jigsaw all season

 

[FactsNotBS]

Bit late to the party but a few thoughts of my own:

CJ - Thank God he got up for the game as we may not have won without him. Brilliant - BOG and allowed Sicily to be accountable.
Newcombe - His best game yet. Very good forward of the ball.
Gunston - What a return! Cleaner than many and won't be as rusty goalkicking wise again. Still vintage Gunston.
Sicily - Another great welcome return. Couple of iffy long kicks early but shut down his opponent, won contests and made great short passes.
Lewis - Yes! Preseason form wasn't a mirage. Will have inconsistency but impacted the contest and took contested marks - the hardest thing to do in the modern game.
Mitchell - not his dominant best but still worked hard and did his bit with 29 disposals and 6 clearances.
Morrisson - Deserves his place - is a neat and reliable player.
Moore - Some very cringey moments with fumbles and simple dropped marks but kept working hard and ended up having a big influence, especially late (8 I50's, 6 SI, 4 tackles inside 50, 10 marks, etc.)
Frost - Opponent had little to no influence, no memorable clangers and worked things out with CJ well. Good performance.
Shiels - Typical senior player performance from him. Unheralded but contributed well with blocking, etc and had 25 disposals.
MacDonald - Best of the debutants IMO. Not prolific (16 disposals) but was clean in traffic when many of his team mates were not. 6 score involvements a reflection of this.
Scrimshaw - Will not get many plaudits but is a reliable contributor every week at his worst and a star at his best. To get consistent influence from a player with less than 50 games is inavaluable.
Ward - 1st game out of the way. Not much impact for mine but expecting bigger and better things.
Maginness - Strengths and weaknesses in line with PS performances. Ran hard and provided an option all game but also hurt the team with poor use at times.
Reeves - Very competitive in the ruck, even against Goldy which allowed us to not start every bounce and throw in at a disadvantage (with some clear clean taps to advantage). Quiet around the ground.
Wingard - Disappointing really. Finished last season like a house on fire, clearly passionate (and dominant) for Clarko. Interrupted preseason but had no influence at all for 3 quarters. Class is permanent so still kicked 2 late nice goals but the first was a fortunate free after dropping a simple chest mark. Hope for more next week.
DGB - may cop hate but I think he should spend some further development in the VFL at this stage as he is still so raw. Didn't touch the ball in the first 3 quarters and Goldy took marks (and kicked goals) with ease when they were briefly matched up in the 3rd, shifting the momentum back to North. Had a good last quarter which was encouraging. Needs more size/core strength to not get pushed off the ball so easily at this level.
Lynch - Subbed off too early to comment.

Work interrupts me so others to come.

I actually didnt think CJ was BOG for us. Yes, he is exciting. His closing speed and athleticism is amazing. Love, love love him BUT…Frost was way better and matched everything CJ did in that game plus he kept a key pos player quiet. Much more valuable.

Hardwick was amazing and shut Zuurhar down completely.

Scrim had a higher fantasy score because he actually hits targets! OMG laces out to Gunston (which was spoiled by McDonald and his pass to Titch inside 50 matched any highlight of CJs!)

Frost, Hardwick and Scrim, week in week out, for some reason get zero accolades from the media or Hawk fans even!

I sit there in amazement when people get so excited over a CJ uncontested mark on the wing like he has just done something amazing. Someone please explain! Its getting beyond a joke for me! Its like people are blinded by athleticism and don’t see brilliant football skills!




Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Blackhawk42]

The highlight of the day is one I don't believe anybody has mentioned yet.

Newcombe from 60m out hitting Gunston on the chest in the pocket with zero margin for error on the kick. You need the vision to spot the option, the balls to pull the trigger and the skill to nail it. Anybody who has played footy has either dreamt of achieving that kick or still reminisces daily about the time they managed to achieve it.