Blues 2001, I think you're right, a lack of key position players did cost you dearly in the end. SOS clearly outplayed Hay in the early part of the game, until we figured out the advantage of dropping a player back to cover. You did enough, notwithstanding some poor shooting at goal, to win easily. And some of the Carlton players were clearly busting a gut for the first three quarters.
I thought the standard of the game fluctuated wildly. Some long passages were very poor indeed - and the worst aspect was that fumbles by some players weren't punished by the opposition. The number of times a Carlton guy would handball inaccurately, or drop a pass, and Hawthorn failed to bottle it up or take possession, was criminal. That said, it was obviously pressure and hard physical presence that kept the game alive as a spectacle. It was great to watch, and the most glaring difference between the two teams was Carlton's coolness under intense scrutiny, and the crispness of the passes and marks when they did come off. Hawthorn, on the other hand, always struggled to get clean possession, and the old habit of running the ball sideways out of the backline and stalling at the half forward line was in evidence again.
It was only sheer determination that kept us in the game. That, and a lot of luck, care of wild shooting at the Carlton goals.
Carlton are still a good side. Having Whitnall, Kouta, Porter and co back will improve your overall performance - but seriously, it wasn't the lack of good players that cost you, it was your inability to nail the game shut when you had the chance.
I thought the standard of the game fluctuated wildly. Some long passages were very poor indeed - and the worst aspect was that fumbles by some players weren't punished by the opposition. The number of times a Carlton guy would handball inaccurately, or drop a pass, and Hawthorn failed to bottle it up or take possession, was criminal. That said, it was obviously pressure and hard physical presence that kept the game alive as a spectacle. It was great to watch, and the most glaring difference between the two teams was Carlton's coolness under intense scrutiny, and the crispness of the passes and marks when they did come off. Hawthorn, on the other hand, always struggled to get clean possession, and the old habit of running the ball sideways out of the backline and stalling at the half forward line was in evidence again.
It was only sheer determination that kept us in the game. That, and a lot of luck, care of wild shooting at the Carlton goals.
Carlton are still a good side. Having Whitnall, Kouta, Porter and co back will improve your overall performance - but seriously, it wasn't the lack of good players that cost you, it was your inability to nail the game shut when you had the chance.
