Autopsy Eagles defeat Hawthorn

[Jones Boy]

I heard someone talking about this during the week (was it Sam or Cyril?) saying they had learned from last year re the boots and playing on the smaller ground (even brought the boundary in at Waverley for training) so I find it hard to believe we again went over with the wrong boots. Maybe the fact is they are just more used to playing on their surface than we are regardless of the boots.

This is correct. There is an issue however with a particular strain of grass that infiltrates the Domain playing surface. I have seen many teams come unstuck on the surface and it does tend to be exacerbated in wet weather. Clarko mentioned it specifically after we played in the QF last year.

 

[Gralin]

Scoreline flattered us considering eagles had 10 more scoring shots.
Fortunately its only the fourth time this year we haven't had the same or more shots than our opponent.

 

[Gralin]

I'm not talking about 1 loss. I'm talking about the entire season. A couple of weeks ago, we had yet another "bad day", we were thrashed by Melbourne ... a team who at 1/2 time today is trailing Carlton by 21 points.

Ah, forget it. Too many people in here blinded by optimism to discuss this with.

Problem is AH that we have a couple of extremist camps the can't win camp and the can't lose camp.
Those two groups cannot get along for obvious reasons.
Some are proud of how well we've done considering the circumstances this year, some don't rate the circumstances and think we've underperformed, also pretty opposite views of circumstance that can lead to friction.

I'm in the we've done pretty well camp and the we're not done until eliminated camp which is not to say we will win just that we know from last year just about anything is possible even if it doesn't look likely.

I have no issue with posters who think we can't win, have doubts etc but those writing the season off as done may as well not bother reading the forum or commenting on game day threads as they obviously think none of it matters.

I also think we are a but spoilt by recent success, sure we might have won ugly and just be making up numbers come finals but there are plenty of other supporters out there that would love to be in that position.

If we could all stop posting opinions like they are absolute facts we would have a better chance of being able to discuss this

 

[Davo23]

I'm not talking about 1 loss. I'm talking about the entire season. A couple of weeks ago, we had yet another "bad day", we were thrashed by Melbourne ... a team who at 1/2 time today is trailing Carlton by 21 points.

Ah, forget it. Too many people in here blinded by optimism to discuss this with.

I'm not really disagreeing with you. But we are supporters, we just support the club; if we are over or under optimistic, it makes no difference to the team's performance, other than cheering them on at games.

I can't see the point of this "you people should be panicking, the club is terrible" posting.

I'll be there at the MCG next Sunday, and at all the finals we play in Melbourne for the rest of the year.

 

[LuckyHawk]

I love that people don't think the quality of our wins matter. Remember when Fremantle won 17 games last year but with a percentage of 118%. The grand final was then contested between the two teams with percentages over 140%.

Despite leading the competition from round 4 onwards last year, no-one in the press or in the betting realm really gave Freo much of a chance of winning the flag. Why is that? Because the quality of footy you're playing matters. Sydney and Adelaide are now more favoured by the punters - why? Because both sides are playing better than we are.

I want to be wrong on this, more than anything. But our current form is not going to win us a premiership. Is our side capable of playing premiership caliber football - absolutely. Do we have the best coach in the modern era who can't be counted out for delivering a premiership even with the players we have out - damn right we do. Should we be proud of making the top 4 regardless of the brand of footy we are playing when you consider Roughy being out and blooding so many new players - 100% we should.

But, if you think that our form from the last 4-5 weeks is going to get the job done in the finals - then this cartoon is representative of that thinking:

Good post. A team's percentage doesn't lie and most often tells the true story of where a side is at. With this in mind our year is reminding
me of geelong 2014, finished 3rd, only 113% and out of the finals in straight sets. It wouldn't surprise if this happened to us but I think
we're better than that geelong side. On a side note I'd rather not make the gf and lose, just far too depressing.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I'm not really disagreeing with you. But we are supporters, we just support the club; if we are over or under optimistic, it makes no difference to the team's performance, other than cheering them on at games.

I can't see the point of this "you people should be panicking, the club is terrible" posting.

I'll be there at the MCG next Sunday, and at all the finals we play in Melbourne for the rest of the year.

So will I. People shouldn't assume that supporters who are as loyal as the day is long can't be realistic/critical. No-one would be happier if the Hawks came out next week and finally clicked into gear and made a fearsome run at the finals. I also will be there at our first home game next year if we go out embarrassingly in straight sets. My only point is that if you think our CURRENT form is in any way good enough to win a flag then I think you're being dishonest with yourself.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Reminded me of the Qualifying final vs them last year.... 18-2 contested marks is laughable.

 

[TyHawk]

Our percentage was 158% in 2012 and we couldnt get it done. Clarko is on record a few times this year as saying we want to peak in finals and until proven otherwise I will back this side in. But the only thing I don't agree with is him not giving a toss about contested footy. We are getting smashed!!! That's why we shouldn't blame our outside mids as they are not confident running forward of the ball hence why isaac/Hill/Hartung havent hit the score board as much this year. Crows, Giants and now the Swans are getting mids to get dangerous on the scoreboard. Just fix the contested game and we'll be alright.

 

[Happy_Hawker]

Form is concerning, but hopefully we can click into another gear for finals. Big question marks over our ruck and midfield atm, we're trying to play an outside game, but there is a point at which we do need to worry about contested ball. We're also conceding too many contested marks which had always been our weakness. Badly need someone just to halve contests as we're still the best at knock ons to advantage imo.

Our disposal was off a little bit and it seemed as if we were trying to handball it more than usual. Looks like a new game plan variation Clarko was trying.

Don't know how we'll go with one ruck now, it's up to Fitz or Shoey. Possibly both.

 

[Gday1]

A Sydney v Adelaide GF?....What a glorious proposition to consider for all Victorians!!? Melbourne will be awash with such joy, colour and fervor of excitement!!! Perhaps the game could be moved to Etihad or a Pascoe Vale reserve perhaps... nah it'd be a cracker

If we can't make it this year I think it's a Sydney/Geelong GF. Adelaide can't beat Geelong.

 

[Lotus]

Our percentage was 158% in 2012 and we couldnt get it done. Clarko is on record a few times this year as saying we want to peak in finals and until proven otherwise I will back this side in. But the only thing I don't agree with is him not giving a toss about contested footy. We are getting smashed!!! That's why we shouldn't blame our outside mids as they are not confident running forward of the ball hence why isaac/Hill/Hartung havent hit the score board as much this year. Crows, Giants and now the Swans are getting mids to get dangerous on the scoreboard. Just fix the contested game and we'll be alright.

Perhaps Clarko's comment on "don't give a toss on contested stats" is not that he doesn't really really care, but more about fed up being asked the same questions week after week after week for few years.

They should be thankful Hawks not dominating the contested stats.
Losing the stats can still win the game, equaling the stats can win the game by fair margin, winning the stats ..???

 

[Gralin]

I would think that none of the clubs really care about the raw contested stat number ad used publicly.

Whether they are winning ground balls, how effective they are with their contested disposals etc, how good they are at limiting the damage their opponent does with a contested stat, how many contested marks that should have been killed they allow etc would be of way more interest than just that one number

 

[DrEvil_]

I think it's fair that we don't finish top two. We don't deserve it the way we played all year, so I'm pretty ok with the loss.

 

[Dewnior]

Just a thought, if we don't get over the Pies next week we could be back at Subi for a cut throat Elimination final

 

[Gralin]

Just a thought, if we don't get over the Pies next week we could be back at Subi for a cut throat Elimination final

Without nicnat that is a very different proposition though

 

[Dewnior]

Without nicnat that is a very different proposition though

We don't have a tap ruckman anymore and Lycett >>>>> McEvoy

 

[Gralin]

We don't have a tap ruckman anymore and Lycett >>>>> McEvoy

Doesn't matter as much as the gaping hole nicnat leaves in their midfield.

Plus I don't expect all of Gibbo frawley Mitch Lewis and co to play as poorly.

We should also have stratton back and hopefully Schoey forward. Completely changes the Match up

 

[badgrill]

Without nicnat that is a very different proposition though

Winning it from 7th would be a whole different proposition as well!

 

[Silent Hawk]

I don't get why we will do all these nice pin pointy kicks and handballs getting out of defence but refuse to do it going inside 50

Going out of defence gives us a whole lot more space than going inside our 50 - space gets crowded by nature of the oval shaped field - common sense really!

 

[econodog]

As has been the case time and again our champions stood up and just wouldn't allow us to lose, it was a game that underlines everything that is right with our list and a lot of what's wrong. We often leave to much for to few and that's simply because our youth isn't great, our depth just fair and our champions getting older.

I'm confident we will give a good sight during the finals, I don't think we have the ball winning ability through the middle and the key forward to win it but it's been clear this is a year of rebuilding whilst still being a contender as such.

We all know what we need, we all know where we struggle and we have a full off-season to reload and make the correct calls.

Completely agree, and how lucky are we to be able to rebuild and still (hopefully) finish top 4, even without winning the flag it's a unique privilege this clubs gives us. (I'm still hoping we win the flag though!)


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[tige19]

We don't have a tap ruckman anymore and Lycett >>>>> McEvoy

I think we were in for Lycett at some stage, he would be a great fit for us.

 

[Bad Boy Beama]

I haven't read the other comments yet, but one observation on Friday night was Gibson was very very very ordinary. That is now 2 out of the last 3 games he was very bad.

I didn't want to say anything after that game because I thought I might be run out of town with a lynch mob following.

If you what the Melbourne game it was generally the man he was on who got out the back for an easy goal. If it wasn't for Hetherley it would have been far worse.

In the Eagles game did he have an effective disposal.

The loss of Strats is a very big loss for him, perhaps Hetherley or Litherland.

Perhaps and this probably belongs in another thread this bit his time might be up at the end of the year.

 

[flinchfree]

I haven't read the other comments yet, but one observation on Friday night was Gibson was very very very ordinary. That is now 2 out of the last 3 games he was very bad.

I didn't want to say anything after that game because I thought I might be run out of town with a lynch mob following.

If you what the Melbourne game it was generally the man he was on who got out the back for an easy goal. If it wasn't for Hetherley it would have been far worse.

In the Eagles game did he have an effective disposal.

The loss of Strats is a very big loss for him, perhaps Hetherley or Litherland.

Perhaps and this probably belongs in another thread this bit his time might be up at the end of the year.

He'll likely finish top 6 B&F

 

[Dewnior]

I think we were in for Lycett at some stage, he would be a great fit for us.

Agree, unfortunately can't see them wanting to trade him now

 

[QuietB]

The only advantage for me in that scenario is I can go to a grand final BBQ for the first time in five years.

And you don't have to buy a whole new round of merch

Hawks are gettable now. To win it everything needs to go right as opposed to previous years where we have had a few gears (and players) in reserve.

Having said that the Hawks got smashed worse by West Coast in the first week of finals last year and that worked out ok.

And everyone else is gettable as well. There is no juggernaut coming into this years finals.

Go to Sydney, beat them. Rest up for Geelong again in the prelim