Analysis Hawthorn rebuild: are they tanking?

[hawkman]

Hawthorn were never making finals

Probably not, but if there almost no injuries and a couple of young players like Ward and Mackenzie make a decent leap I thought there may have been an outside chance. Didn't expect it but no fun being a pessimist coming into a season.

It hasn't happened and a lot of the team has gone backwards instead. We will find out how far backwards on Sunday

 

[The 747]

Kick straight against the Bombers and take that last minute chance against the Pies and we're 2-2.

Got those rose coloured glasses on again SYL:

 

[Gavin Excell]

Easy to say that now though.

Never any hope

 

[peetoo]

Ah now the ledger is stacked because Hawthorn haven't had the same access to top picks as another side.

But when Hawthorn were winning their premierships stacked with first round talent whilst other clubs had to rebuild without the top picks due to GC and GWS drafts the ledger was perfectly square right?

5 players?

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Squiggle aligned algorithms still tipping us for 8 wins, and I can see us getting there if we can keep our spine on the park.

I like the squiggle but it generally overestimates bottom sides and underestimates top sides.

4-7 wins is likely.

 

[sr36]

Easy to say that now though.

It's been easy to say it for a few years now.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Got those rose coloured glasses on again SYL:

View attachment 1959669

Don't leave home without them. The Sun's rays are very bright as we saw last night.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Easy to say that now though.

I think anyone who had them in the finals was drinking the Kool-Aid of the late season form a bit.

It's a young side, there was always going to be too many ups and downs for a finals push at this stage over the course of a season.

I had them middling a bit this year, finals contenders next year, top 6 the year after.

Haven't seen much to change that tbh, and I'd say that trajectory would be considered a success in terms of how most rebuilds go.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Never any hope

SYL lol?

Hawthorn have a solid backline, 3rd rate midfield, poor forward line.

Even with best field on park they are a 10-14th team

 

[Red Bull]

Hawthorn were never making finals

Try these on …



Now take them off …

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I think anyone who had them in the finals was drinking the Kool-Aid of the late season form a bit.

It's a young side, there was always going to be too many ups and downs for a finals push at this stage over the course of a season.

I had them middling a bit this year, finals contenders next year, top 6 the year after.

Haven't seen much to change that tbh, and I'd say that trajectory would be considered a success in terms of how most rebuilds go.

Midfield has been the major issue.
Despite that we've still been able to transition the footy and get shots on goal. Before last night we were 6th for Marks per inside 50(13th in 2023),7th for Marks inside 50(15th) and 9th for Inside 50's.

If we can start winning some midfield battles again with Day back in the side the scoreboard should tick over.

 

[SSSSSS]

If I had to pick a captain I would prefer Moore but I'm not unhappy about Sicily.

 

[boncer34]

SYL lol?

Hawthorn have a solid backline, 3rd rate midfield, poor forward line.

Even with best field on park they are a 10-14th team

No you see Hawthorn were a chance of finals. But the 0-5 start is also perfectly fine and going according to plan.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

SYL lol?

Hawthorn have a solid backline, 3rd rate midfield, poor forward line.

Even with best field on park they are a 10-14th team

Yeah I lolled because it’s so easy to say “this happened, therefore it was always going to”.

 

[Maxabillions]

Kick straight against the Bombers and take that last minute chance against the Pies and we're 2-2.
Need to get some players back and build through the middle again.

No you’d be 2-3 with a percentage of about 70%. But in reality you’re 0-5 with a percentage of 65%

 

[Maxabillions]

We lost by a kick last week to the premiers. Last night was awful and the worst we have played since Gold Coast last year but we haven't been like that all year.

Apparently you always beat Collingwood though

 

[Saab NLAW]

Squiggle aligned algorithms still tipping us for 8 wins, and I can see us getting there if we can keep our spine on the park.

8-10 wins would be disastrous for your mob, although i can see it happening. Hawks desperately need some elite talent to compete in about 3-4 seasons, your list is completely void of it and this year is the best chance you've got. Really poor trading has not helped too.

The general consensus from Hawk fans are that they have a top 5 midfield group, BF hawk fans were obsessed with this last year. I didn't see it back then and certainly not this year. Although it is funny seeing the angry responses trying to argue the view

 

[boncer34]

Saying Hawthorn were no chance of finals pre-season = Troll
Saying Hawthorn were no chance of finals now = Hindsight hero.

Saying Hawthorn were a finals hope pre-season and shifting to 0-5 is a perfectly acceptable start now = Insightful football opinion.

Strange lot down Dingley.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

8-10 wins would be disastrous for your mob, although i can see it happening. Hawks desperately need some elite talent to compete in about 3-4 seasons, your list is completely void of it and this year is the best chance you've got. Really poor trading has not helped too.

The general consensus from Hawk fans are that they have a top 5 midfield group, BF hawk fans were obsessed with this last year. I didn't see it back then and certainly not this year. Although it is funny seeing the angry responses trying to argue the view

In what alternate universe is a list as young as ours winning 8-10 games a disaster.
We had 12 players under 50 games last night, if we get that back down to 8-9 and win some games it's great for their developlment.

There was no general consensus Hawthorn had a top 5 midfield, don't lie.
We did however brain much more experienced sides from the centre clearances last year, which we've not done this year without Day, and with Newc and Nash being ordinary.

 

[Gavin Excell]

8-10 wins would be disastrous for your mob, although i can see it happening. Hawks desperately need some elite talent to compete in about 3-4 seasons, your list is completely void of it and this year is the best chance you've got. Really poor trading has not helped too.

The general consensus from Hawk fans are that they have a top 5 midfield group, BF hawk fans were obsessed with this last year. I didn't see it back then and certainly not this year. Although it is funny seeing the angry responses trying to argue the view

Surely nobody was talking up Hawks midfield as top 5 league

 

[fnerd]

Saw the same thing being posted last year.

But you didn’t have the injuries you do now , you said it yourself

 

[Saab NLAW]

In what alternate universe is a list as young as ours winning 8-10 games a disaster.
We had 12 players under 50 games last night, if we get that back down to 8-9 and win some games it's great for their developlment.

There was no general consensus Hawthorn had a top 5 midfield, don't lie.
We did however brain much more experienced sides from the centre clearances last year, which we've not done this year without Day, and with Newc and Nash being ordinary.

Read my post again, it's that that hard to work it out

And yes, Hawk fans were very bullish about being a top 5 midfield, and generally got very lippy if anyoen dared to disagree with them.

You're very, very good at rewriting history, you'd be perfect working for our current Government

 

[Saab NLAW]

Surely nobody was talking up Hawks midfield as top 5 league

Hawk fans were, absolutely they were.

 

[HairyO]

Are you sure you're not a Hawthorn fan?

Im sure he hasnt seen a Carlton flag. Certainly not one won without brown paper bags.

 

[SSSSSS]

Hawk fans were, absolutely they were.

Who?