Hawks approach in 2011

[Winged Fang]

How should Clarkson and coaching staff approach next year? Following this season, are there things they have learnt that will change the way we play, line-up and mentally approach games next year?

I believe this year told us a couple of things:
1) Need to be more ruthless on players not in form. This will add depth as those touted as being the 'future' of the club will be given a chance and be better for it, as well as hopefully getting some fire into the bellies of dropped players. The top clubs were willing to do it.
2) More flexible in player positioning. Our forwards/midfielders are akin to playing a role or two (eg. Cyril, Lewis, and of course Hodge), but our big men seem to be stuck (eg. Roughie). Would like to see Roughie and maybe one or 2 others (Skip - coordinated for a big man) broaden their scope (ala Leigh Brown). Getting Hale will obviously help here.
3) Game plan to be more instinctive, rather than the "handball at all costs" approach we seemed to be taking at the start of the season.

 

[burner1]

1. Experience and reptuation to count for nothing in team selection - form and suitability to role required in team should be no 1 consideration. Every spot is up for grabs every week.

2. Stop pinch-hitting players in roles they are not suited to. Get the structure right in terms of backline setup (need two talls down back, gibson is not a kpp etc, need players with run), midfield balance (can't play all slow inside midfielders) and forward setup (need crumbers at feet of buddy and rough). If this means some players are squeezed out and have to spend time at Box Hill (e.g. inside mids) then tough - we are in the business of winning premierships and continually playing with makeshift structures is not going to get us the next one

3. Inject some pace

4. Sort out the game plan over the pre-season and stick to it. Seek to address our weaknesses through player development rather than trying to cover them up with tactics

5. Stop throwing young players around in positions - its ruining their development (i.e. dowler played FF, 3rd tall, wing, CHB, 2nd ruck, etc)

 

[PNess]

How should Clarkson and coaching staff approach next year? Following this season, are there things they have learnt that will change the way we play, line-up and mentally approach games next year?

I believe this year told us a couple of things:
1) Need to be more ruthless on players not in form. This will add depth as those touted as being the 'future' of the club will be given a chance and be better for it, as well as hopefully getting some fire into the bellies of dropped players. The top clubs were willing to do it.
2) More flexible in player positioning. Our forwards/midfielders are akin to playing a role or two (eg. Cyril, Lewis, and of course Hodge), but our big men seem to be stuck (eg. Roughie). Would like to see Roughie and maybe one or 2 others (Skip - coordinated for a big man) broaden their scope (ala Leigh Brown). Getting Hale will obviously help here.
3) Game plan to be more instinctive, rather than the "handball at all costs" approach we seemed to be taking at the start of the season.[/QUOTE]

I don't think we'll see that again. Was a copy of Geelong's style...doesn't work for us, particularly our forwards. Get it in quick to our forwards and they are damaging.

Wanna see more running goals, particularly from Burgoyne. He was too hesitant being at a new club.

 

[The_Air_Up_There]

Break in our youth, Savage, Milne, Lisle and Shiels...

 

[chenyan]

Kick to Buddy when 1 on 1; kick to other forwards when he is double-teamed and thus utilise the logical numerical advantage elsewhere on the field.

 

[go hawks!!!]

Break in our youth, Savage, Milne, Lisle and Shiels...

Agree we need games and continuity for shiels savage shoey bruest. I don't see a role for lisle unfortunately with hale there.

Savage could be the key with his run and carry just does not have the defensive skills to be a quick half back flanker which we need.

We need young clear of injury as with three talls I believe long kicks will be essential to our game plan.

The biggest kpi other than the p'ship is the development of our youth. We need depth at the moment we have none

 

[PNess]

Kick to Buddy when 1 on 1; kick to other forwards when he is double-teamed and thus utilise the logical numerical advantage elsewhere on the field.

Yep, Buddy and Roughy to lead FFS. Unless they've got Jaryd Blair defending them, less of the body-on-body stuff.

 

[Pessimistic]

Break in our youth, Savage, Milne, Lisle and Shiels...

Maybe there WAS a plan to do this but the ruck disaster made it nigh on impossible.

I'd like to see more games won by basic football, than just highlights alone. In the ned got a bit lazy when Buddy or Hodge or cyril could win a game by doing something freakish.

Lead up maks to hale at CHF for example

 

[Taskmaster]

I reckon we will see a totally different HFC in 2011.

I think Clarko will put alot more heat on the squad to pull their fingers out. Side picked on form NOT Who played in the 2008 GF.

A totally different game plan.

Competition for spots.

Buddy, Rough, Hale and Skip to stretch every defence.

Run, Run and Run

Kick long to our massive targets.

Hodgey to dominate.

Rioli to absolutely turn it on.

And we will play the young boys as Collingwood showed the rest of us this year.

And most important ATTITUDE!!

Hopefully a great 2011.

 

[hawk65]

Leave our forwards in our forward line....please

 

[PottSie2]

Leave our forwards in our forward line....please

This!

First game will be a good indicator of what season we will have. If we go for the Ross Lyon no forward line option, will be a long year.

If we go for the 2008 Buddy and Roughy to dominate in the forward 50 option.

BAAAM ... party time!

 

[Roughouse]

This!

First game will be a good indicator of what season we will have. If we go for the Ross Lyon no forward line option, will be a long year.

If we go for the 2008 Buddy and Roughy to dominate in the forward 50 option.

BAAAM ... party time!

Dunno about that we looked pretty good after round 1 this year for it all to turn to shyte.

We did seem to have a very defensive mindset in the second half of the season, probably because we needed to win ugly just to make the finals.

I think a more attacking gameplan would suit our players and make it a lot easier for our stay at home forward line (see round 22 vs Pies).

 

[Hawkzzz]

Points:

1. Contested footy improved from 14th to 16th from 2008 to 1st from rounds seven to 22 in 2010. This was vital. Very difficult to pull off as Parkin said on Fox. Big tick.

2. Forwards had difficulty adapting to forward press style, and still keeping some sort of structure up forward. This will be improved upon over the summer.

3. Players adhered to this game plan so much that they lacked a bit of creativity. IE. Lack of switch and daring.

4. Despite Skipper being valiant, the team suffered in the Ruck when Renouf tired.

5. New bench rule change (as Eade spoke of in the Age or Herald Sun) will make it impossible to 'carry' a spare Ruck on the bench. The Rucks will need to add more strings to their bow. The bench will comprise of mids and a utility. We addressed point 4 and 5 by trading for Hale. Our Ruck department won't tire and they will rest in the fwd line. Big plus. Hale is a proven goal kicker and good mark BUT not a permanent forward. (he was played out of position at the Roos).

6. I am confident we will see improvement in Shiels, Shoenmakers, Savage, Lisle (who can play forward or back), Bruest and a couple of others.

7. Improvement and fitness will come from guys like Burgoyne (who still did very well, despite a poor pre season), Sewell (also injury interrupted season), Gibson (out for many weeks with a hammy), Bateman will fire up again too (after a stop start injury and suspension interrupted year), Ellis, if he can bulk up about 3 or 4 kilos will get even better and even Lewis will improve after trying to adapt to losing a lot of weight (muscle) in the pre season.

8. Overall fitness will be addressed over the summer. We need to get back to the level of 08, where we often overan teams in the last quarter. It looks like the old clarko is back with enforcing team-first principles. The game plan will be modified - it was changed on the run this year. I expect to see a team better drilled on turning defense into attack, yet still have players accountable. Importantly, each player needs to understand each others' roles within a modified game plan. I think they will.

9. Finally, the addition of an experienced tactician in Leon Cameron will add fresh ideas and importantly, support for Clarkson. Cameron is good enough to be an AFL coach in his own right. A great addition for the club. Clarko didn't have much brain power in his assistant coaches, whom many were new to the role.

 

[Pessimistic]

I wonder if John Barker might have gone better staring as box hill coach. He transferred as an assitant from the saints so I guess tht was out.

Would have been a good mentor for the kids

 

[Easy Slips Catch]

Our strength is talent. We have to develop a plan where our talented guys can go one on one.

Savage is a real test for the coaches. The guy has serious moves, if we cannot harness that I would take a long hard look at our development team.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Big change is needed this year.

I'd like to see a change in culture. If you are out of form you don't get a game. If you aren't fit, you don't get a game.

 

[HolyRioli]

Big change is needed this year.

I'd like to see a change in culture. If you are out of form you don't get a game. If you aren't fit, you don't get a game.

Bingo. Getting games from past good form is no good. I'll excuse one bad game, as it happens to everyone, but consistant poor form should be acted upon. Force pressue on spots in the team. See who REALLY wants them

 

[hawker92]

CLA has got it.

Also, get some mongrel back into the team. Bring back 2008 where we feared nobody.

 

[whiteTiga2k]

is there any bloody way... that clarko will move buddy back to full forward?

watching 2008... replays... he was so amazing. I want to see that player again. A player with that much talent must be given the chance to do that all the time!