Autopsy Hawks v Bloooooooos

[Ned Ryerson]

Just pausing for thought and reflecting on our season. It just struck me that this side is probably (and the stats back me up) our best defensive side in the past five -six years of us being a top 4 side. I was looking back over the stats and we haven't conceded a triple digit score since our mauling by GWS. I posted a few weeks back that our average points conceded was the better than last year's. Scores of 44 and 55 since would have improved that greatly.

I am under no illusion that we aren't playing as well overall compared to any of the past four seasons. I also don't think that Clarko would be especially pleased with our last two games. However, I wonder if our game plan has been deliberately constructed to counter the fact that lacking roughy and having no truly dominant key forward has forced the coaching team to reinvent our tactics overall. If we can't blow teams off the prk, we'll constrain them and use our small forwards to get the job done - hence Cyril and Poppy being our bigger forward threats this year.

Roughy is a massive hole in this side (and our hearts!) but I have a belief that we have found a new way to keep winning. Trying to play fast running, younger sides at their own game was doomed to fail - as the GWS result showed.

It might not pretty, and it might not be the Hawthorn that we're used to. But I think Clarko has gotten us one step ahead again. Maybe I'm being way too optimistic, which isn't like me. What I don't know is if we can win a premiership at our current level, and I'm not convinced we can (I never rate us to win the flag - it's a defence mechanism). However, in all this criticism of our side over the past two weeks - I think what is missing is a tip of the hat to our defence which is leading the way for us this year.

TL;DR - Clarko is a genius and our defenders deserve praise.

 

[badgrill]

View attachment 271426

A dyslexic man walks into a bra...

 

[arupist]

A dyslexic man walks into a bra...

I know that guy. He sold his soul to Santa.

 

[Hawker55]

Hey Moginie, just checked the time on ground stats to see if that supported what I just mentioned about mitchell and gibson. Found this:

Sam Mitchel 87% TOG
Josh Gibson 100% TOG

Partially supports my Mitchell observation, but says that Gibson was on ground all the time. I was watching the game and either Gibbo was tagging and not near the contests and off screen, or he was not on the ground for periods of time. Would be interested in anyone else's thoughts, as last week Gibbo was getting lots of possessions in the defensive 50 and this week not so much. Did Kerridge tag Mitchell out of that game and have the better of him?

From what I saw, it seemed that Stratton spent a bit more time in the Gibson role along with Hodge, while Gibbo played further forward. It could be because Hodge was managing his leg from last week, but he didn't seem to spend much time in midfield at all while Gibbo did. It probably was also because of Carlton's forward line - once Brand went to Casboult there really weren't any other obvious matchups.

 

[Davo23]

Was my first Tassie game. Will also be my last.

That is all.

No, no, no, no, no.
It doesn't matter about the standard of the game. You get the chance to see our team play, live, in person, at the ground, and without idiot commentators.

We were behind the goals to the left and you get a better impression of the ball movement from side to side.

And you get these advantages in Launceston:

1. Great pubs, eateries and wineries.
2. Lovely, welcoming friendly people.
3. Great natural beauty spots and tours.

I've been going regularly since 2004, been about 12-13 times, and always enjoyed it.

And you get to see the Hawks!

 

[savagelunchbox]

Vintage York Park.

It's good to see Cegs has improved his tank significantly over the season. It's allowing him to spend longer in the middle and our midfield is reaping the benefits more from a competent ruck while McEvoy can provide a marking target down forward, which he does better than rucking.

I'm afraid we've been sold a mare with JOR. Even though we paid pick 18 for him, it was still massive overs.

There is a lot of media plaudits coming for Cripps, and while his game looked great on paper because he got lots of clearances, he had little to no impact on the game. It's almost a text book example for saying the stat sheet can be misleading.

It's hard to read much into the form of the rest. These games are basically a back and forward run-fest between the half forward lines with bombs or dinky kicks into the F50.

Move on.

 

[Hawkthorn33]

I quite liked Langers game yesterday, he wasn't a barnstorming contested beast which we all know he is capable of being but the thing that stood out the most to me is his decision making.

It looked like he was making a more concerted effort to lower his vision and instead of blasting the ball forward without looking he was hitting shorter targets competently.

I feel like his skills are shakier when he tries to bite off more then he can chew and attempts to hit a leading target 50 metres away on the chest but when he is targeting someone 30 metres away his skills are up to par. And before you lose hope in him, just remember Robert Harvey made a career of spearing passes to team mates 30 metres away

 

[Hawk Hawkins]

I got them in Ferntree Gully!

I mean...err...he ....my son...got them in Ferntree Gully...apparently...that's what they told me...when they came back...cos I wasn't there

Thanks, yeah, just to be clear, erm, I was asking for a mate.

 

[tige19]

No, no, no, no, no.
It doesn't matter about the standard of the game. You get the chance to see our team play, live, in person, at the ground, and without idiot commentators.

We were behind the goals to the left and you get a better impression of the ball movement from side to side.

And you get these advantages in Launceston:

1. Great pubs, eateries and wineries.
2. Lovely, welcoming friendly people.
3. Great natural beauty spots and tours.

I've been going regularly since 2004, been about 12-13 times, and always enjoyed it.

And you get to see the Hawks!

Played in Lonny a few times, it was a nightmare to play the ground. It reminded
me of my home local team Sunbury footy clubs ground, just a huge oval that's really difficult to cover and score on.

Maybe the tassie government can throw a roof on it? Would improve the standard a shit load.

 

[Davo23]

Played in Lonny a few times, it was a nightmare to play the ground. It reminded
me of my home local team Sunbury footy clubs ground, just a huge oval that's really difficult to cover and score on.

Maybe the tassie government can throw a roof on it? Would improve the standard a shit load.

The problem is that the ground has no shelter and is exposed to the wind, particularly the end to the left of screen.
They tend to be cross winds, and difficult to play in, because it tends to be gusty and flukey.

If they can finish the whole outer stand, it would be far more sheltered.

I've walked on the surface many times, and it was excellent, really nice grass cover, so there is no other excuse.

 

[EIGHTYEIGHTEIGHTYNINE]

A dyslexic man walks into a bra...

Was it due to a Freudian slip?

 

[hawkman]

Our goal kicking early in games always seems to annoy me. It feels like we miss so many easy ones in the first quarter then we lose the opportunity to put teams away early.

Have kicked 53.52 in first quarters, compared to 260.218 overall

 

[tige19]

Because the had 5 of their normal best defenders out...
Most forward lines have been immense v Port

Who are the 5?

 

[kimbopen]

I know that guy. He sold his soul to Santa.

Was that the same guy who also was agnostic and insomniac and sat up at night pondering the presence of Dog?

 

[Dragz]

We were behind the goals to the left and you get a better impression of the ball movement from side to side.

RACT Stand?

 

[11sjw]

I know that guy. He sold his soul to Santa.

after giving up praising dog?

 

[Davo23]

RACT Stand?

We were in the Northern Stand, near the TV camera. We pretty much had the down-the-ground view of that camera.

It was interesting because we could see the cross movement of the players. We could see Carlton's ball movement: just like ours, really, most players running wide to create space, one or two going down the middle, all aimed at creating the loose man.

Carlton did pretty well to close us down, but I don't think we really played our "A" game.
We just did enough to win.

 

[flinchfree]

I'm sorry but I'm going to disagree with many of you who are complaining about Hawthorn's performances this year like this game. You guys are not taking a number of things into consideration:

1. You forget that Hawthorn has a huge target on its back and week in week out teams lift themselves to measure where they are at against the best team of the last five years. So even average teams play above themselves when playing against Hawthorn.

2. Clarkson makes sure we don't have any easy wins to keep the guys on their toes. We have had a couple of lapses the last couple of years after absolutely flying. Clarko has learnt from those experiences. Everytime we look like we are going to have an easy game He removes one or two guns to put the pressure on the younger guys to prove themselves. This is Clarko's way of fast tracking kids for the finals given he'll have to rely on them.

3. This is a different team to last year's and the game plan is totally different. That's why we continue to win.

4. You are being disrespectful to our opposition. Carlton for example has been very competitive this year and beaten some decent sides and pushed others to the end.

5. Given the number of veterans we are still relying on, they are managed even during games. When we are 5 goals up you see the younger guys in the midfield and the older guys resting in the back and forward lines.

6. We are rebuilding

Fair enough, except when it comes to what we did with the ball in hand.
I don't think Carlton's pressure was all that exceptional, but coming off the half back and down the wings we looked absolutely lost and brain-dead in our decision making. Sure they got back and took away the easy stuff, but we were hopeless by foot I thought and couldn't hit up China if it was, well, everywhere.
Never seen Gibbo look so flummoxed he couldn't decide where to go with it, so he just gave it away.
Smith multiple times looked away a lead to just blast it long hoping for a Rook to outmark his opponent, sometimes one on two.
Hodge couldn't get into it.
Gunners didn't have the gleam in the eye.

Burgers was the difference and reason we won.

I think you've undersold how crap we played.
But JMO.

Ps. Thought Sicily was good again, played a clean and smart looking game.

 

[Argy]

The problem is that the ground has no shelter and is exposed to the wind, particularly the end to the left of screen.
They tend to be cross winds, and difficult to play in, because it tends to be gusty and flukey.

If they can finish the whole outer stand, it would be far more sheltered.

I've walked on the surface many times, and it was excellent, really nice grass cover, so there is no other excuse.

I was down there for the Freo game this year and the breeze had a big influence. At the north end of the ground (left of screen), whenever the ball went above the stadium roof it got blown backwards. I remember one kick from Duryea looked great off the boot, but as soon as it hit the wind up high it virtually stopped dead and dropped vertically. Very difficult to score efficiently from more than 25m out.

 

[Gralin]

Fair enough, except when it comes to what we did with the ball in hand.
I don't think Carlton's pressure was all that exceptional, but coming off the half back and down the wings we looked absolutely lost and brain-dead in our decision making. Sure they got back and took away the easy stuff, but we were hopeless by foot I thought and couldn't hit up China if it was, well, everywhere.
Never seen Gibbo look so flummoxed he couldn't decide where to go with it, so he just gave it away.
Smith multiple times looked away a lead to just blast it long hoping for a Rook to outmark his opponent, sometimes one on two.
Hodge couldn't get into it.
Gunners didn't have the gleam in the eye.

Burgers was the difference and reason we won.

I think you've undersold how crap we played.
But JMO.

Ps. Thought Sicily was good again, played a clean and smart looking game.

I thought we mostly looked poor by foot due to the lack of movement.
Blues setup so that we had to run to create options and for most of the day we didn't. Reminded me of large portions of the early season especially the doggies game.

You could see it if they showed down the ground vision and perhaps someone who was there could comment if we had as little movement without the ball as it looked like on TV.

 

[mightynineteen]

I've read that the game was ugly, no highlights, et cetera.
Don't know about you folk, but me, I just enjoy watching the Hawks win.
(Maybe I still haven't gotten over the scars of 1965. Actually I have, I just like watching us win)

Unfortunately TOB just looks lost out there. Maybe Shoey can make it back in time for finals. Otherwise we are seriously short of a big, tall forward, who can make an impact.

 

[BlueWaterHawk]

I have two words for that game... ye old "training block". Phew I feel better now, can go back to counting chickens and removing lids.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[BlueWaterHawk]

I have two words for that game... ye old "training block". Phew I feel better now, can go back to counting chickens and removing lids.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Of course the irony of my insincerity is that if you think about the timing and our ladder position, there's even chance the players are getting flogged right now in the lead in to finals. It's happened too many times in recent years where we play a few very ordinary games around this point of the marathon. Food for thought Id say.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[Gunstall555]

I paid tribute to it with my cover band

naturally a poorer rendition. you even missed the part where if the streak goes across seasons, we have won the premiership in both seasons.

 

[Gralin]

naturally a poorer rendition. you even missed the part where if the streak goes across seasons, we have won the premiership in both seasons.

No I didn't. If you had ever been in a cover band you would know that changing the lyrics is how you avoid paying royalties