Preview Hawks vs the COLA $wans and the man they call Juda$ - it's the big dance.

[Hawker55]

Cyril was pretty cut up by his performance in the 2012 GF. Performed much better in 2013. The stage is set for true redemption now. That goes for a bunch of our players.

I love Junior, but he was still only slightly above par last year. In fact, I'd struggle to remember a final he's made an impact in since 08 GF.

 

[Main Man]

I love Junior, but he was still only slightly above par last year. In fact, I'd struggle to remember a final he's made an impact in since 08 GF.

Didn't watch the 2012 preliminary?

 

[Wundo]

Hodge in his 250th, our glorious captain plays his 250th, Grand Final day. Does it mean anything or does the spectacle of the Grand Final override all that would usually will the boys if it were a simple home and away match?

 

[Hawker55]

Shiels hasn't played as a tagger all season - he's been let off the chain as Langford has played the tagging role. Sewell is sacrificed on the altar of versatility (although I can see him coming in this week) - Langford does things almost as well as Sewell but has the added ability to play forward or as a smalll defender, or a standard outside mid. He offers flexibility.

Even Shiels can now play two roles - lockdown if needed or into the rotation through midfield.

Having said that I think Sewell will be needed against the Swans, question is who goes out?

Interesting reading through this thread, some of it anyway.

All the posts about Rioli helps out Bruest and Poppy etc.......

Some saying Mitch is down in form......

Langers stepping up....

Sewell to slow for port.....

McEvoy to replace Cegs

Now maybe it is just me, but when Sewell is in the side doing what Sewell does Mitchell plays better. He has more time and space to use his skill. As good as Langers has been he hasn’t helped Mitchells game in the same way that Sewell does, so then what about another mid who isn’t getting mentioned at all in this thread who hasn’t stepped up and just continues on at a just above ordinary level, Shiels?

How come Langers has taken over Sewells role of cash, bash, tag, whatever is needed for the team while Shiels just continues on doing for lack of a better way to describe it, sweet stuff all as a tagger chasing tail he is to slow to catch?

I am not saying drop Shiels, but by god they need to sort out the centre so Mitchell, Hill, Smith, Lewis and Hodge can get more on the outside to use the ball better with a tiny bit more time, this means making Sewell and Shiels work at the coal face with Langers tagging.

Also on the Spanger thing, if he is dropped it should only be to play 3 ruckman, which is the $wans main weakness, plus instead of having McEvoy dropping behind the ball, like most want, he should be at full forward and told to smash any pack or flood that is front of him, and i mean SMASH, this will help Bruest, Poppy, Roughy and esp Gunston more than a half baked Rioli, IMO. But at the same time I wouldn’t be dropping Spang, I’d drop Suckling first who isn’t build for finals footy.

My outs which will be completely different to the match committees are:

Suckling, Simpkin

Ins – Sewell, McEvoy.

Sub: Cegs

Height in GF’s doesn’t get any shorter, and by the last Qtr Pyke and Tippet will be out on their feet. It will be contested marking as always that decides this match, and the ability to stop it. Each time we’ve beaten them it has happened when Pkye has been ground into the ground as their only ruck. We have nobody who can go with Buddy, nobody, end of story, so it’s about stopping the other options, and killing Pkye as early as possible and forcing Tippet to ruck is the start of it.

 

[Hawker55]

Didn't watch the 2012 preliminary?

I dunno - he had a good few minutes, but was quiet for most of the game. I know that a 10 touch game from Junior is worth 30 from most players, I just wish he'd go out there and dominate a big Final. there was a H&A against Freo in 2011 I think where he kicked 6 to half time. I think that was the best I've ever seen him play. He spent the entire game 1 out in the square as Buddy and Rough were both out and he was scary every time the ball came in.

 

[QuietB]

Cyril was pretty cut up by his performance in the 2012 GF. Performed much better in 2013. The stage is set for true redemption now. That goes for a bunch of our players.

This is where I think the Hawks have an advantage and there are so many layers to it. 2012 will still burn. Buddy defecting to the $wans adds nuclear powered fuel to the fire. Media love fest again - I'm not sure what the Hawks actually have to do to get some love. The unsociable Hawks could be back this Saturday.

 

[Thaihawk]

Not surprising, that said we've taken them on at full strength in each of the last 5 games (and we are 4 from 5). I'd rather take them on full strength, with a full list to choose from...

...and that loss was without Mitchell and Lake in a game we lost by 3 kicks at the western suburbs shithole

We do line up well against them. It was the small forwards that got at us against Port. Think BB could come in for Cegs, and Cyril for Si

Heading to Melbourne tomorrow morning. Will just inhale GF week like last year. Back to work next Monday, love this FIFO gig

You lucky bugger!

 

[Thaihawk]

This is where I think the Hawks have an advantage and there are so many layers to it. 2012 will still burn. Buddy defecting to the $wans adds nuclear powered fuel to the fire. Media love fest again - I'm not sure what the Hawks actually have to do to get some love. The unsociable Hawks could be back this Saturday.

Good idea there for the banner. A pic of Walls with "Welcome back, unsociable Hawks."

 

[Furn2]

I dunno - he had a good few minutes, but was quiet for most of the game. I know that a 10 touch game from Junior is worth 30 from most players, I just wish he'd go out there and dominate a big Final. there was a H&A against Freo in 2011 I think where he kicked 6 to half time. I think that was the best I've ever seen him play. He spent the entire game 1 out in the square as Buddy and Rough were both out and he was scary every time the ball came in.

26 disposals 16 contested 2 goals 6 tackles and 165 supercoach points.

Was a star that day.

 

[Hawker55]

26 disposals 16 contested 2 goals 6 tackles and 165 supercoach points.

Was a star that day.

Ha - well you're right, I'd take that on the weekend! Ignore me - bloody nervous

 

[Great 2008]

Got thursday and friday off so that should make its easier.

Yep have jagged Friday off too. Clean the BBQ, mow the lawns (just to keep my mind off it). Maybe a few warm up coldies.

 

[Great 2008]

The starts to our games since the R22 Geelong game have been atrocious.. even against Coll in R23 we gave them an early lead. Ironically the last team we started fast against was Frem in R21 and they ended up running all over us.. Still, I hope we can come out from the first minutes switched on and don't give them a 1,2,3 goal start like we have been doing.

The fact we won on Saturday with a at least a handful of our best players playing well below their best shows the depth of talent and evenness across our list, but we do need them all to life and I'll go glass half full and suggest it bodes well that we have a much better performance to give this Saturday.

Going through the lists and possible matchups, we do matchup well on them.. with #23 the only real headache, but is there any side in the AFL that has the perfect matchup for the traitor? Good team defence will assist Lake/Gibbo.. whoever gets him.

Feel for all the fringe players this week: Cegs, BB, Sewell, Simpkin.. Blokes are going to be desperately unlucky to miss, and Cyril.. who knows!? In Clarko we trust though. So proud of this group, they could have rested on their laurels after saluting last year when sh*t got tough with all the injuries this year and then Clarko, but they're clearly on a mission to join the greats! Back 2 Back Go Hawks!!

Damn it Skyfire now I need to find a new Avatar for the GF thread.

 

[Xtreme]

Out of 9 media "experts" 5 tipped the Swans and 4 stuck with the Hawks.

Hope we prove the experts wrong and spoil Sydney's party, i'm going to be so topsy-turvy over the next week, can think of ways we will win, but ways Sydney can win as well.

 

[Quad22]

What are people's thoughts on the possibility of Shiels being the primary tagger on Saturday?

It would let Langford off the hook, who I believe is more damaging when he wins his own ball.

 

[Brishawk]

Interesting reading through this thread, some of it anyway.

All the posts about Rioli helps out Bruest and Poppy etc.......

Some saying Mitch is down in form......

Langers stepping up....

Sewell to slow for port.....

McEvoy to replace Cegs

Now maybe it is just me, but when Sewell is in the side doing what Sewell does Mitchell plays better. He has more time and space to use his skill. As good as Langers has been he hasn’t helped Mitchells game in the same way that Sewell does, so then what about another mid who isn’t getting mentioned at all in this thread who hasn’t stepped up and just continues on at a just above ordinary level, Shiels?

How come Langers has taken over Sewells role of cash, bash, tag, whatever is needed for the team while Shiels just continues on doing for lack of a better way to describe it, sweet stuff all as a tagger chasing tail he is to slow to catch?

I am not saying drop Shiels, but by god they need to sort out the centre so Mitchell, Hill, Smith, Lewis and Hodge can get more on the outside to use the ball better with a tiny bit more time, this means making Sewell and Shiels work at the coal face with Langers tagging.

Also on the Spanger thing, if he is dropped it should only be to play 3 ruckman, which is the $wans main weakness, plus instead of having McEvoy dropping behind the ball, like most want, he should be at full forward and told to smash any pack or flood that is front of him, and i mean SMASH, this will help Bruest, Poppy, Roughy and esp Gunston more than a half baked Rioli, IMO. But at the same time I wouldn’t be dropping Spang, I’d drop Suckling first who isn’t build for finals footy.

My outs which will be completely different to the match committees are:

Suckling, Simpkin

Ins – Sewell, McEvoy.

Sub: Cegs

Height in GF’s doesn’t get any shorter, and by the last Qtr Pyke and Tippet will be out on their feet. It will be contested marking as always that decides this match, and the ability to stop it. Each time we’ve beaten them it has happened when Pkye has been ground into the ground as their only ruck. We have nobody who can go with Buddy, nobody, end of story, so it’s about stopping the other options, and killing Pkye as early as possible and forcing Tippet to ruck is the start of it.

Have you watched Sewell play this year? Did you watch the Cats game at all? Sewell can't get near the contests. Won 3 contested possessions for the whole match and one of them was while playing HFF. We looked a whole lot better in close when Sewell moved to the HFF. Love what he has done for the side but the only area he still performs well is tackling. Dropping Sewell meant we could play Hodge in the midfield. I know who I would rather playing that position . . . Sewell will only come in if Hodge plays HBF.

As for Sheils, what game were you watching? Tagged Hartlett out of the game and won 10 contested possessions, 7 clearances and 8 tackles. Can he possibly play any more inside than that???

The big loss was the injury to Lewis.

I can't imagine us ever playing a ruckman as the sub . . . ever . . .

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Yep have jagged Friday off too. Clean the BBQ, mow the lawns (just to keep my mind off it). Maybe a few warm up coldies.

Might hit up a city pub or 5

 

[Paul Kersey]

Getting sick of reading about Sydney's "firepower", "most dangerous attack", "edge up forward" etc.

Haven't these flogs even bothered to look at the top ten goalkickers for the year?

 

[MinerBoy]

Yep have jagged Friday off too. Clean the BBQ, mow the lawns (just to keep my mind off it). Maybe a few warm up coldies.

Have from Wednesday off and not going back to work until Wednesday next week.

 

[Hodgey 15]

Getting sick of reading about Sydney's "firepower", "most dangerous attack", "edge up forward" etc.

Haven't these flogs even bothered to look at the top ten goalkickers for the year?

Some of the media are selecting who they "want to win" not who they "think will win". They then try to justify there selections with lazy, well-worn and, at times, inaccurate reasons.

 

[Billyc]

The media narrative is interesting. Obviously it is all about Buddy and how can we stop the Bondi Billionaires.

Roughead has spent his career in Buddy's shadow and it continues even after Buddy has left the club. People are talking Franklin up as unstoppable and in career best form in 2014. His stats are:
21 games
75 goals
Ave 12 kicks, 5 handballs, 6 marks, 3 tackles

Meanwhile Rough's stats are:
22 games
70 goals
Ave 11 kicks, 5 handballs, 5 marks, 3 tackles

Not very different at all. Tippett averages 11 disposals and 2.5 goals per game. Gunston is 16 and 2.5 goals and Breust 15 disposal and 2.3 goals. And then maybe there is Rioli.

Strange that nobody is asking how they will stop our forwards. Roughead's form is pretty imposing right now too. Let's hope this is the game when he finally stamps himself as a champion of the game and is the dominant forward in a premiership.

 

[benneth]

I'm worried. In 2012 we we were swamped by the crows at the final siren and the same yesterday.

We need to get angry and play out of our skin

Completely different seasons. In 2012 we peaked too early, this season we are going to peak this Saturday.

 

[Steven Tyler]

If anyone is expecting to hear how good we are this week then I hope your not holding your breath
It will be all about Sydney and Buddy and Tippett and Goodes and Parker and the bloodz etc

Not sure why anyone is expecting anything else!
Just like last year with the purple haze and pressure and Lyon etc

Hopefully with a similar result!

 

[Paul Kersey]

Love to see Goodes, Franklin, McVeigh and Hannebery feel the pain of big (legal) hits early on.

 

[MinerBoy]

Strange that nobody is asking how they will stop our forwards. Roughead's form is pretty imposing right now too. Let's hope this is the game when he finally stamps himself as a champion of the game and is the dominant forward in a premiership.

Because they have a great back line and we have a shit back line.

Or so the perception goes...........

 

[Hodgey 15]

A lot of very simplistic media conjecture for this game - based on each teams game on weekend.
If North had pushed Sydney and made a game of it, I wonder how Sydney would be perceived this week. Not in the holier-than-thou perception they are atm.
We're underdogs - pressure is on them to win.
So be it.