Autopsy Hawks vs Swans - Let the feathers fly here

[hawksfan71]

I have to say, I was looking out for the Buddy FInger, and it was funny, dont know who he was pointing too last night, but it was cool anyway lol. He took some nice marks, I'd prefer he didnt leave the ground anyway, who needs any more knee jarring!
I just wish Savage and Breust were there to have more young speed and passion, the 3 midfielders need to inmprove when up against the pies and hopefuly the cats again!

 

[Nich]

Congrats guys. Better team last night. All the best for next Weekend and hopefully the week after!

 

[themarkedman72]

jeez Shoe played in his 2nd final and stepped up. 2 mistakes al night..one out of bounds and one where he lost goods at a stoppage resulting in a goal.

The lad is fearless and puts his hand up everytime, or he wouldnt take goodes at a stppage.

Get a clue haters.

Shoe took reid most of the night and kept him to one goal which he was lucky to get.

Some people?

 

[Psoma]

Can we get through a week without "bashing" Schoey and/or Murphy.
For what it is worth I thought both were quite solid last night. I guess from time to time I think if any of our defenders will turn the ball over or have a brain fade it will be one of the above which is probably more of a reflection on how composed and reliable the other defenders are. However last night both did their jobs more than adequately.
By way of contrast Gibson, Birchall, Burgoyne and Stratton are absolutely outstanding under pressure and Guerra is generally reliable but subject to the occasional brain fade.
Stratton's comeback finals game was fabulous. His judgment is second to none and he did enough to remind me what we have missed for most of the year. I hope the reports that he was injured are unsubstantiated as he is a required man next week.

I agree that Murphy had a servicable game, but last night, Schoey was not only beaten in the air, but if you go back over the footage and watch the Swans' goals, you'll see on no less than 5 occasions the goalkicker was Schoey's direct opponent with Schoey 4-5 metres away having either not read the play correctly or not following his man. In finals football, that's just not good enough. I feel sorry for the kid, but he just lacks footy smarts... I never thought I'd say this, but I think *shudder* Bruce *shudder shudder* would do a better job in that position.

TW

 

[lethalselbow]

Any chance of any reports out of last night or clean bill of health??

 

[Glebehawk]

Murphy always has a servicable game - as long as he doesn't touch the ball.

 

[King Elvis]

Last week you looked like a bunch of individuals. Harley highlighted it in the pre-match; players being in position to apply a spoil or shepherd, but just sitting off and letting their mate get beaten.

Last night, you played like a team again - especially in defence.

Gibson played his role beautifully - let Schoey or Stratton wrestle/hold/impede their opponent and give him a clear run at the footy for the spoil.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I agree that Murphy had a servicable game, but last night, Schoey was not only beaten in the air, but if you go back over the footage and watch the Swans' goals, you'll see on no less than 5 occasions the goalkicker was Schoey's direct opponent with Schoey 4-5 metres away having either not read the play correctly or not following his man. In finals football, that's just not good enough. I feel sorry for the kid, but he just lacks footy smarts... I never thought I'd say this, but I think *shudder* Bruce *shudder shudder* would do a better job in that position.

TW

Cam Bruce at CHB against Collingwood?

 

[King Elvis]

PS - Lewis was fantastic.

 

[Jiggystoon]

Last week you looked like a bunch of individuals. Harley highlighted it in the pre-match; players being in position to apply a spoil or shepherd, but just sitting off and letting their mate get beaten.

Last night, you played like a team again - especially in defence.

Gibson played his role beautifully - let Schoey or Stratton wrestle/hold/impede their opponent and give him a clear run at the footy for the spoil.

Everything came together pretty well last night in defence, Gibson was awesome and Shoey backed up Clarko's faith in him, was good to have Stratton back in because he can play that Gilham type role when he gets up around half back as he picks up touches when we are coming out of the defensive 50,
Should be pointed out though that Sydney made it pretty easy for the Hawks when they went forward by just bombing it into the forward line it allowed guys like Gibson to read the play early and therefore allowing him to make a quick decision on whether to leave his man and come over the top for a spoil, it also let Shoey try and stand his ground and scrap with the Sydney forward, last week we got torn to shreds because Geelong actually spotted up there big forwards on the lead and its pretty hard to spoil a 195cm 100 kg forward on the lead. Sydney played into our hands by bombing long, but from a team perspective we were fantastic especially with our conversion in front of goal, as that was an area that really hurt us last week against Geelong

 

[GoldnBrownHawk]

Just glad we got thru this game, that 3rd quarter was getting very uncomfortable to watch especially knowing what Sydney are capable of but to win they way we did in the end was impressive and a massive relief. Considering the thoughts of many people during the year that injuries would kill us I’m absolutely wrapped we’re in the prelim!!

 

[mt. heart attack]

Last week you looked like a bunch of individuals. Harley highlighted it in the pre-match; players being in position to apply a spoil or shepherd, but just sitting off and letting their mate get beaten.

Last night, you played like a team again - especially in defence.

Gibson played his role beautifully - let Schoey or Stratton wrestle/hold/impede their opponent and give him a clear run at the footy for the spoil.

Spot on. Especially the first half, you could tell the players were all willing to chase hard, lay shepherds and do the one percenters. Thing is, it is finals football and there should never be a question of these things being done. I haven't re-watched the Geelong game so I am not one to comment on Harley's observation, but if correct it is pretty poor.

Hopefully the boys have learned from last night what is required to win finals, and even though we weren't all that efficient using the ball at times, our will for the contest and ability to work for each other ultimately set up the win.

 

[db swannie]

Good win, thoroughly deserved. When we walked into the G and I saw Buddy on the big screen I must admit I ind of resigned myself to a loss. He's a superstar, fantastic to watch, even against my own team!

Sat next to a couple of nice Hawks fans, enjoyed the conversation and the night despite the loss. Our young guys will have gained a lot of experience from the loss.

 

[Bardo State]

For all the people having a go at Shoe, remember that he kept his opponent to 6 touches, 1 goal and 0 contested marks. He is what allowed Gibbo to do what he did.

 

[hawk for 37]

For all the people having a go at Shoe, remember that he kept his opponent to 6 touches, 1 goal and 0 contested marks. He is what allowed Gibbo to do what he did.

This site needs a like button.

 

[dread and might]

Haven't read whole thread, but Hawks were better in every aspect of the game for longer.
Swans basically played about 30 minutes of quality football. The rest of the time skill errors led to turnovers and your boys were lower and harder at the ground balls.

We missed too many tackles in the first half, Hawks players seemingly walking around their man with ease.

Also we needed to try and hit a target on the lead with a 35m pass instead of trying to make Reid take unbelievable grabs all the time. Not taking anything away from Gibson and the rest of the Hawks defense, but this strategy allowed the defenders to double up and we had no crumbers. Could have replaced White or Spangher with TDL maybe....

Dunno if it would have made a difference.

Don't take this post the wrong way, I'm not taking anything away from you guys at all, just trying to bring a (hopefully level-headed) opposition perspective to your board.

Good luck next week.

 

[Mojo]

There's generally a correlation between strong individual performances and the performance of the whole team. Shoemakers/Hawthorn v Geelong and Sydney is a good example of that.

 

[markr]

Anyone else feel that their third quarter burst was also assisted by shocking centre bounces by the umpires? I've never seen so many that have not being straight allowed to be played.

Couldn't believe at least one that didn't get called back. Umps have been letting it go all finals. They don't want to draw attention to their poor bouncing and possibly miss a gig the following week.

 

[Scream]

Just some observations:

Whitecross is going to be a star for us. He is light on his feat, evasive and has a great center of gravity which he is starting to use to his advantage. Very pleased with his progress this year.

Shoenmakers reminds me of a young Ben Rutten. Honestly think he has a big future with us, over the off season he should just have one on one's with buddy/ hale particularly focusing on the long ball.

What has happened to David Hale's goalkicking? He had the best technique at the club earlier in the year, but he just cant kick them straight now. Very concerning.

The umpires have relaxed on the chopping of the arm rule. Shoey had one of the most obvious ones I have ever seen in the second quarter near the interchange that wasn't paid. Either its a rule or it isn't, pathetic.

 

[Turly]

Cam Bruce at CHB against Collingwood?

Apparently..........

Some people need to get a clue seriously, all this schoey bashing is getting to the point of stupidity. Thought he played well last night, Reid did shit all and same with spangher (matched up on both on different occasions). Also loved when he peeled off his opponent, went for a run with the pill and drilled a 50m pass that hit buddy on the tit.

Why can't people notice these things instead of only the negative??

 

[mrcurly]

Couldn't believe at least one that didn't get called back. Umps have been letting it go all finals. They don't want to draw attention to their poor bouncing and possibly miss a gig the following week.

I thought the umpiring was pretty consistent, or to put that another way i thought we were given a fair bit of lattitude for a change, particularly with the close attention we paid to BMAC.
For the majority of the game the umpiring was transparent, letting the game flow, which is how it should be in finals, not constantly stopping the play and picking out highly technical frees. They tended to only pay the obvious - or most of them.

 

[MinerBoy]

Also we needed to try and hit a target on the lead with a 35m pass instead of trying to make Reid take unbelievable grabs all the time.

This is the risk/reward scenario that presents itself to teams who are playing us now.

We have a perceived weakness that teams want to expoilt. We are susceptible to the high, long ball. However, if your team isn't equiped to take a lot of contested grabs, or if our boys are switched on enough to really effect that 3rd man up well, then sides will turn our weakness into our strength as they constantly ignore hit up targets and allow us to get back, spoil and clear.

Extra - or, more to the point, it will tend to be far more successful transitioning the ball from the backline quickly (as Geelong do) rather than with slower, more mechanical set ups that allow our backline a chance to coordinate themselves.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Just some observations:

Whitecross is going to be a star for us. He is light on his feat, evasive and has a great center of gravity which he is starting to use to his advantage. Very pleased with his progress this year.

This.

He's great at the ground ball gets, and also weaving his way through traffic. Has been playing a bit more midfield lately, ever since the Gold Coast game.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Also loved when he peeled off his opponent, went for a run with the pill and drilled a 50m pass that hit buddy on the tit.

That was brilliant, and I'd like to see him get more license to run off half back when Gilham returns.

 

[burner1]

Some interesting comments re tempo an whether we took our foot off the gas in the third quarter. I'm sure the coaching staff would be acutely aware of the effort that's going to be required to win a flag - two huge games to come and we need to make sure we have enough petrol tickets left for the gf (if we get there). AC is all about preimerships - would not surprise me at all if he took some risks in the second half to ensure were still fresh - the margin doesn't really matter, a win was all we needed to do and we got the job done.