This is the thing. Their midfield is not as good as it is given credit for. I'd go as far as saying that their midfield core is hardly better than ours. They are just as one paced as we are without the young ball carriers, have more proven inside players but, and it is a key but, their defensive structure and ability to retain the ball is what protects them and enables them to dictate the pace of a game.
Hawthorn's ball carriers are average at best, especially when the ball isn't frequently in Cyril's hands. It is in exploiting this weakness that Adelaide and Sydney bridged the supposedly insurmountable gap. It wasn't about being the Bloods, or courageous or unselfish, harder at the contest or any other ill considered cliche, the reality is that if you can keep the contest on the outside Hawthorn struggle to keep up.
In this respect Clinton Young is a vital player to the proper balance of their team (just as Zaharakis is to ours) because he is one of their few good ball carriers.
