A Premiership For Hawthorn In 2011

[hodge2brown]

we are due big time
really stuggled in the last 2 years
we are due with the squad we got
clarkos job on the line

would like your thoughts fellow hawkers

 

[Splodge15]

Not quite sure that Clarko's job is on the line, but carry on.

 

[Bear Goals]

We need a fair bit of luck (has do every premiership side), but i truly believe we have the cattle to do it. Personally I believe our first goal should be getting an injury free pre season, which you can't control, but also making the Top 4, because if we make Top 4, we will win the flag. Another Pacy mid would be nice, but with the 2 big blokes up foward and hopefully with a new foward structure, we can have another 2008.

 

[clarkoscluster]

Not quite sure we are "due", or was that 'dew'??

We won a premiership 2 years ago for crying out loud, Collingwood, St Kilda, or to a larger extent, the Dogs, are due. As of 2012, there will be 18 teams in the league, so with the draft supposed to be equaling things out, teams "should" be winning a flag once every 18 years. So when it gets to 2026 and we still haven't won one, that's when I'll say we're due!

 

[Hawkamania!]

We can realistically challenge for a premiership in 2011 if the following happens:

• A short injury list.
• Max Bailey stays healthy and secures the number one ruck spot on our team.
• Either of Shoenmakers or Milne develop into a "gorilla" type of defender by the last quarter of the season.

 

[TallyHawk]

I can't see why not Geelong and the Dogs may be on the decline and we know we can push Collingwood and StKilda.

-We need to back Stratton at FB and Schoenmaker at CHB with Gibson playing the Maxwell/Fisher role as a marking defender. Collingwood have backed their young kids in Reid and Brown. Stratts and Shoe will be hitting the 21-22 year old mark and are mature enough to be given a crack.

-We need to inject pace in the backline through Whitecross and Ellis and maybe Muston as our smaller defenders, those that make way are Goo, Gilham and Murph.

-Birchall needs to work on his defensive side, notably contesting marks.

-Sewell needs to return to his tagging first get possessions afterwards mentality. This will release Changa to play his burst breaking lines football.

-Need to get full preseason into Young and Hooper.

-Hope like hell big Max Bailey has a change of luck.

-Play Jordan Lisle as our third tall forward that can pinch hit in the ruck and reintroduce some forward structure that resembles Buddy's box a few years ago.

-Get some games into players who have been on the list for 2-3 years.

-Get Lowden and Grimely on the pies and beer over the break to fatten them up a bit.

 

[pipcoo]

let's face it we have 5 superstars & lots of plodders.
Major attitude changes need to happen quickly to make 2011 a big year.
Did anyone watch the our last game of 2010 efforts like that, we will be lucky to make the 8.

 

[Gene Simmons]

Not quite sure that Clarko's job is on the line, but carry on.

If we are 1W 6L after Round 7 again next season I think Clarko will start to feel plenty of heat.

 

[Phil McCreviss]

The plan this season was to get off to a flyer in the first 8 rounds and it didn't come off.

Ask most of the players and they will tell you we played our finals series from Round 8-17. Every game at that point was like a mini final. Eventually the body stops doing what the brain is telling it to do and this was plain to see in the Port Adelaide and Sydney games.

If we are going to do any damage next year, we need to be 7-4 or better at the halfway mark. If we are under that target, a top 4 position is in jeopardy and 5th place still means you need to play 4 weeks of tough finals footy to win the flag.

 

[bigbuddyboy]

Don't have us as a premiership chance next year.

 

[spartan hawks]

If we can get an established key defender to play on the gorillas and we need a back up ruckman then the flag is a big chance.Would be hard to get but shuold make a play for dean cox.

 

[Taskmaster]

we are due big time - With our squad, should be doing better
really stuggled in the last 2 years - Agree
we are due with the squad we got
clarkos job on the line - If we have another disaopointing year, then yes it will be.

would like your thoughts fellow hawkers

It will all come down to Attitude and more importantly, making the top 4. Have to give yourself the double chance. If we get this right, then we are a massive chance.

 

[CaptainHodgey]

The problem (imo) is this.....our 3 "big" defenders are at present pretty average type players. So we have to play more defensive type players to cover for them....3rd man up etc.

As a result our list has so many "3rd tall" type backmen. Gilham, Gibson, Murphy, Stratton. 1 of this type of player is enough, maybe 2, but we play 4, sacrificing speed and creativity from defense.

Our great hope of course is Schoey, or possibly Tarrant. Also Murphy had an ok year but he has been found to be also struggling against the 3rd tall, so now we play him on the small defender. Which is fine and good except Murphy , playing as a small defender doesn't have the type of game which inspires run from half back as well.

As a result of this we can't play any creative running type in defense. We had no run from defense all year.

Until we can find some defenders we can trust to play 1 v 1 footy then we will be where we are now...very middle of the road.

To win a premiership we have to

1.) Find a fullback we can trust to beat his opponent 1 v 1
2.) Find a running creative quick defender who makes good decisions off half back.

 

[Turly]

I really can't see why we can't push for a premiership next season, but then again I couldn't see why we couldn't press for 1 this season. As taskmaster said, it's all about the attitude, they need to be hungry, they need to fight every minute of every quarter and want it more than there opposition, this was why we were the champs 2 years ago, hunger.

A few things I would like to see happen:

-Hodge staying permanently in the guts, these ideas of hodge playing forward and back are brainless IMO, he has shown how damaging he is once playing in the mid, Hodgey was in the top 3 players in the comp this year playing in the guts so nothing left to say here.

-Schoey playing CHB, I have no doubt he will become the gun KPD we have been having wet dreams over the last 2 years (maybe thats just me?), he will only develop into this position if we play him their, and I don't mean at box hill!!

-Cyril playing more time in the middle, no brainer, kid is a genuine star.

-Game time given to shiels, Lowden, Lisle and savage. I hope these guys will all get a chance at some time as they have been pushing for selection this whole season and not getting a crack on the big stage (lowden aside).

-Skipper and Peterson to be placed on the senior list, atleast 1 of them (preferably peterson as he has huge potential)

-Stratton is an absolute gem, but I don't think he will be able to play as a FB, keep him on the medium-small sized defenders

-As for a Full back, i'm clueless, whether we chase a monster backmen during trade week or draft a young KPD or even keep Gilham their. If we can snag Matt Watson at pick 19 our mammoth defender woes will be all over, not sure if he will slip that late though.

-I hope we don't go crazy and pickup a ruckmen for the sake of having a ruckmen, if we chase one he better be half descent at it, but I'm a big fan of bailey and hope he can get his knees right for next year, cause if he does watch out.

Thoughts fellow hawkers???

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

Any team with Hodge, Cyril and Buddy is gonna go close.

I thought Bails was the key last year. Still think he is but maybe Lowden is the sleeper.

We are not far off. Just need to tweak a few things.

 

[Thorgils]

Missing from 2008 team:

Croad
Campbell
Brown
Crawford
Dew
Williams

So in other words we are missing from 2008 (Do you think we have replaced these players adequately?):

KPB - Stratton, Gibson
Number 1 Ruckman - Renouf
Utility - ? Hooper
Experinced Mid with some polish - Burgoyne
Goal kicking Utility with a long raking kick - JKT
Small/Medium forward that can kick goals ? Peterson

 

[DannyJ]

Croad/Brown- (Gibson/Stratton I think TC is more pivotal out of any of these 4)
Campbell- (Bailey needs to fill the void)
Crawford-Burgoyne (improvement)
Dew- Hooper (I'd say just as good for H & A if Rhan could stay fit...finals Dew is better until proven otherwise)
Williams- Peterson (Willo 2008 is better)

Overall, we have lost big bodied players that played pivotal defensive roles Croad/Campbell. They were vital to our structure.

 

[BYWs Dimi Pumpa]

The problem (imo) is this.....our 3 "big" defenders are at present pretty average type players. So we have to play more defensive type players to cover for them....3rd man up etc.

As a result our list has so many "3rd tall" type backmen. Gilham, Gibson, Murphy, Stratton. 1 of this type of player is enough, maybe 2, but we play 4, sacrificing speed and creativity from defense.

Our great hope of course is Schoey, or possibly Tarrant. Also Murphy had an ok year but he has been found to be also struggling against the 3rd tall, so now we play him on the small defender. Which is fine and good except Murphy , playing as a small defender doesn't have the type of game which inspires run from half back as well.

As a result of this we can't play any creative running type in defense. We had no run from defense all year.

Until we can find some defenders we can trust to play 1 v 1 footy then we will be where we are now...very middle of the road.

To win a premiership we have to

1.) Find a fullback we can trust to beat his opponent 1 v 1
2.) Find a running creative quick defender who makes good decisions off half back.

** With the plethora of inside midfielders... what about the 'CREATIVE' sammy mitchell floating between midfield and the half back flanks more often??? When he has played around there he has shown plenty and it opens a opp for a young midfielder e.g. savage to play in the midfield.

 

[Beachy]

I think the cattle are already there just finding the right combination. Being really harsh over the last two years we have not been able to kick goals efectivly. Nothing against our old forward coach but there has been little of no structure that makes sense. Hopefully with leon cameron coming into the picture that will help enormously. Our backline is growing after 2 years of trying to grab new backmen. Young ruck men don't grow in trees and lowden from all reports is a gem. Renouf has been exceptional and will just continue to get better and better. I think on real issue is outside pace to break lines. The speed of the ball movement is the key and for a number of years the cats have moved the ball faster than anyone else. We really need more gut busting runners who can link up. Bateman, young are really our only two. Need to develope shields (gun) and savage into these outside running types to really complete our team. Very simple it is up to the boys as they have the skills to beat and compete with the best just it is up to their application and mental strength.

 

[Noel Gallagher]

Can't help but feel positive fin 2011 for the following reasons:

* Burgoyne- Had a g8 yera considering he missed most of the pre-season and broke his jaw early in the year. His upside for next year is massive and he can realistically become a game breaker provided he gets through the pre-season

* Rioli see above. Sacry thing is that a fully fit Riloi could be more damaging than a fully fit Rioli!

* Shoey. Love Shoey and methinks that he struggled a little with second year blues and a pretty rapid weight gain over the past pre-season. Looks set to hold down CHB next year and start to show glimpses of his enormous potential

* Shiels. Another young star who probably struggled with second year blues. Should get some more game time and experience next year

 

[Roughies Boys]

I have a feeling that it's a yes! Hawthorn Vs Collingwood. But We Humiliate Them!

 

[JustKickIt]

The main obstacle is that they dont seem to really really want to get to the pinnacle again. Just look at that last Freo final. A chance to challenge in the finals this year and a lack lustre effort from the players. We should have had them on toast, especially with a wounded Sandilands.