Analysis Hawthorn rebuild: are they tanking?

[Strapping Young Lad]

What? McGrath went to ground and the Essendon teammates made a beeline for Sicily.

I'm not saying that should be a suspension in the current game, but I think you must be too young to realise how taboo kicking was. That was a definite suspension if an umpire saw it in times gone by.

They went to Sicily because it was premeditated to go for Sicily.

McGrath told the media almost the next day that he didn’t even know that Sicily had “attempted” to kick him.
This was somehow declared inadmissible by the tribunal.

It was a nothing incident and it got what it deserved.

 

[sr36]

They went to Sicily because it was premeditated to go for Sicily.

McGrath told the media almost the next day that he didn’t even know that Sicily had “attempted” to kick him.
This was somehow declared inadmissible by the tribunal.

It was a nothing incident and it got what it deserved.

Opposition player testimony has been considered inadmissable for years - for obvious reasons - it is incredibly inaccurate and dodgy.

 

[Wormkilla]

A player kicking another player when they're on the ground is a dog act - fullstop, and I think it deserves a week. Add Sicily's record and history - well. And he's captain! He literally came out a day before and said he wants to turn a leaf and play clean.

He's the biggest dog in the comp by a long way.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Opposition player testimony has been considered inadmissable for years - for obvious reasons - it is incredibly inaccurate and dodgy.

It was stupid that is was discounted, particularly when you could see that there was no contact made.

 

[Crankyhawk]

Slightly terrified at the amount of Hawks fans who are going to tag me in this thread when Hawthorn beats North this week.

You should be excited by the prospect of tagging us if north win. If our mids pull out the same effort this week you cannot lose.

 

[Dangerousfield]

Opposition player testimony has been considered inadmissable for years - for obvious reasons - it is incredibly inaccurate and dodgy.

Just like Lehrmann and Higgins!

Hawks already looking like pick 1 or pick 2

 

[sr36]

It was stupid that is was discounted, particularly when you could see that there was no contact made.

If you could see that there was no contact made, there would have been no need for his testimony, but you can clearly see that there was contact made. I think a fine was the right call. I'm commenting on the changed attitude to kicking like that, and do understand why Robbo carried on like he did.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

15th, 14th, 13th, 16th and now sitting winless. No finals won for over 3100 days. Only playing a handful of home games at their actual home ground the MCG after selling their soul to play at a university park in front of 10,000 for some taxpayer cash, a racism saga still not completely over and a rebuild plan that isn't panning out - its lucky their irrelevance saves them from the harsh spotlight of media scrutiny that other teams have to endure. And this irrelevance will be further diluted when the Tassie team comes in. Them and North will be lucky to pull 25k this weekend. Meanwhile the eagles pulled 47,000 against Richmond.

Needs more hyperbole.

 

[Chadwiko]

15th, 14th, 13th, 16th and now sitting winless. No finals won for over 3100 days. Only playing a handful of home games at their actual home ground the MCG after selling their soul to play at a university park in front of 10,000 for some taxpayer cash, a racism saga still not completely over and a rebuild plan that isn't panning out - its lucky their irrelevance saves them from the harsh spotlight of media scrutiny that other teams have to endure. And this irrelevance will be further diluted when the Tassie team comes in. Them and North will be lucky to pull 25k this weekend. Meanwhile the eagles pulled 47,000 against Richmond.

Your parts about the onfield results, the racism saga, and their rebuild plan are all valid observations and criticisms - Hawthorn is definitely in a position where they've potentially mislead their fanbase in regards to the reality of their list and progress through a rebuild.

However, your argument loses merit when you try and make it about West Coast and a comparison to a two-team state homegame vs Melbourne-based crowds.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Slightly terrified at the amount of Hawks fans who are going to tag me in this thread when Hawthorn beats North this week.

If our midfield plays poorly again and Larkey kicks a bag then you'll absolutely win this.

My frustration about this season has gone into hibernation until Day, Watson, Jiath and Lewis in particular can play some games together.

 

[Back One Out]

Grey Plover​

Average size: 29cm
Average weight: 250g
Breeding season: Late May to August.

Description: The Grey Plover is a medium-sized, long-legged plover, with a large head and large dark eyes, and a heavy black bill. It is pale grey above with fine mottling, a whitish forehead and eyebrow and a strongly barred white tail. The underparts are whitish grey with diagnostic black wing-pits in flight. When breeding, the plumage is boldly marked with black and white.

This species is also known as the Black-bellied Plover or the Grey Sandpiper.

Distribution: The Grey Plover breeds around the Arctic regions and migrates to the southern hemisphere, being a regular summer migrant to Australia, mostly to the west and south coasts. It is generally sparse but not uncommon in some areas. It is occasionally found inland.

Habitat: The Grey Plover is almost entirely coastal, being found mainly on marine shores, inlets, estuaries and lagoons with large tidal mudflats or sandflats for feeding, sandy beaches for roosting, and also on rocky coasts.

Seasonal movements: Grey Plovers are found in Australia between August and April. They have been known to roost on an island artificially created by dredge-spill in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. It is shy and tends to stay far out on the mudflats. Threats on their migration route to Australia include economic and social pressures such as wetland destruction and change, pollution and hunting.

Feeding: Grey Plovers are mainly diurnal (day-active), feeding on molluscs, insects, crustaceans, polychaete worms, and occasionally vegetation and seeds. They feed with stop-start running, pecking and probing in mud, using their large eyes to locate prey.

When the Grey Plover feeds it it has a hunched stance and lethargic behaviour giving it a dejected appearance.

Breeding: Grey Plovers breed in the Northern Hemisphere from late May to August. Eggs are laid in a shallow scrape, lined with stones and vegatation. Both parents share all incubation and feeding duties. The parents' black and white breeding plumage is good camouflage on the tundra, which is dark and boggy and may still have snow cover. They feed mainly on insects when breeding.

 

[Chadwiko]

If our midfield plays poorly again and Larkey kicks a bag then you'll absolutely win this.

My frustration about this season has gone into hibernation until Day, Watson, Jiath and Lewis in particular can play some games together.

Our crappy defense vs your crappy forward line.

Let the worst man win!

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Slightly terrified at the amount of Hawks fans who are going to tag me in this thread when Hawthorn beats North this week.

I doubt hawks posters will be as desperate as you’ve been, bumping it after a quarter of a game or even after preseason trial games even if we do win.

This week’s game will tell us nothing much at all, both teams are in poor form, one team will win, it will just shift the focus of the media onto one team.

 

[peetoo]

A player kicking another player when they're on the ground is a dog act - fullstop, and I think it deserves a week. Add Sicily's record and history - well. And he's captain! He literally came out a day before and said he wants to turn a leaf and play clean.

He's the biggest dog in the comp by a long way.

He wasn’t on the ground. It was more a trip or crazy dance move. Nothing like Robbo context

 

[Chadwiko]

I doubt hawks posters will be as desperate as you’ve been

We'll see.

 

[SA HAWK]

Just like Lehrmann and Higgins!

Hawks already looking like pick 1 or pick 2

We will probably win some late games and miss out on those picks once again.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

We'll see.

I'm already getting notifications from you loll'ing at posts from last October...

You might need the win for your own mental health.

 

[Chadwiko]

I'm already getting notifications from you loll'ing at posts from last October...

Yeah that's true. I was trying to find my post where I predicted the Wins/Losses for Hawthorn and in doing so saw some pretty great posts from Hawthorn fans back then.

And since it's the main board, I'm allowed to react without fear.

 

[Philhawk]

Slightly terrified at the amount of Hawks fans who are going to tag me in this thread when Hawthorn beats North this week.

 

[spudmaster]

I doubt hawks posters will be as desperate as you’ve been, bumping it after a quarter of a game or even after preseason trial games even if we do win.

This week’s game will tell us nothing much at all, both teams are in poor form, one team will win, it will just shift the focus of the media onto one team.

You're brave ruling out the possibility of a draw. I'm not discounting anything this season!

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

You're brave ruling out the possibility of a draw. I'm not discounting anything this season!

Nil all?

 

[spudmaster]

Nil all?

I'm not willing to run the risk of jinxing anything haha.

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Yeah that's true. I was trying to find my post where I predicted the Wins/Losses for Hawthorn and in doing so saw some pretty great posts from Hawthorn fans back then.

And since it's the main board, I'm allowed to react without fear.

10 wins minimum/expectation was one of my favourites from SYL.

The Hawks would need to go 10-8 from here for this season to not be a massive fail.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

10 wins minimum/expectation was one of my favourites from SYL.

The Hawks would need to go 10-8 from here for this season to not be a massive fail.

Don’t think I knew or predicted we’d lose so many players before Round 1?

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Don’t think I knew or predicted we’d lose so many players before Round 1?

Can the Hawks go 10-8 from here? Or will 2024 be a massive fail as they struggle to meet minimum expectations?