Preview Marsh Week 2 - Hawthorn v Melbourne - UTas Stadium - Friday March 6, 7.40pm

[Goldhawk]

Just watched the replay on Kayo. Yikes Hawks were rubbish. Going to be a long year....

Why just because we put in a shocker, yesterday. On paper we have a much better team this year and if you remember we played some of our best footy against good opposition last season we just need to gel but i'm still very confident for this season, it's a long year and finals are not won in March.

 

[Glacier]

For those saying “ it’s just a practice match”
You know the season is nearly upon us yes??
That performance was rank
No ifs or buts
Just crap

 

[Mercy Seat]

We’ve put in some absolute stinkers in pre season. Remember when tigers beat us by close to 100 a few years back? They’ve never shown any indication at all of how our season unfolds. Nothing to get stressed about just yet...

 

[hk89]

Why just because we put in a shocker, yesterday. On paper we have a much better team this year and if you remember we played some of our best footy against good opposition last season we just need to gel but i'm still very confident for this season, it's a long year and finals are not won in March.

I think we are very good on paper too, but certainly felt some erosion of confidence watching last night's game. Really hoping we click early. Watching teams worse than us making finals while we miss out because of poor starts in 2 of the last 3 seasons has been hard to take.

 

[Mrzohs]

Yes I agree, we are way too big and slow at the moment. A team like Richmond would destroy our current lineup with their power running, especially on a sunny day on a big ground like the MCG.

But Cegs is a legitimate top 5 starting AFL ruckman. The problem is we have two legitimate starting rucks in Cegs and Big Boy and it is causing issues to the balance of the side to fit them both into the 22.

I wish I knew what the answer is, the club tried using Cegs as a power forward last year which was a failure so I guess the Big Boy to CHB is another role of the dice.

Tigers,Pies,Dogs, etc no chance.
To slow all over the ground atm can be easily fixed with a couple quick changes.

Clarko must bite the bullet if he wants Bigboy,Cegs,Patton always on the field together then Tob plays ahead of Lewis.

3 things can make us a lot quicker side all over the balance and set-up easily fixed.

- Small defender bring Day in or play Hendo there or something radical put Poppy there.
- 1 more mid with a change of speed
causing turnovers (Finn or Jones) instead of Cousins.
-Gunston&Tob lead up fwds keep Patton deep. No lewis

 

[dazzledavey36]

Desperate for some footy positivity I went and watched Box Hill today.

Found plenty. Infinitely more watchable than last night's garbage.

But first the bad news - Will Golds did his ACL. Tragic for the kid, was playing well.

Ok, the good stuff - we won 11.7 73 to 2.12 24.

3.2 - 0.3
5.3 - 0.9
7.7 - 0.10
11.7 - 2.12

As far as I could tell the Dees had 11 listed players to our 10. The first half was pretty evenly fought, but Casey just couldn't find a goal. We rushed a lot of their points but they sprayed quite a few they should have got. Second half was dominated by Box Hill.

Our listed players were Golds, Day, Jeka, Maginness, Hartley, Moore, Ross, Jones, Pepper, Reeves.

Glass was there, in civvies. Didn't seem injured, not sure why he wasn't playing. Must be a niggle. No sign of O'Brien, Howe, Gunston or M.Walker (what's happened to him?).

Day, Hartley and Pepper lined up down back. Reeves, Maginness and Jones in the middle. Ross, Jeka, Moore and Golds up forward.

Dylan Moore started on fire - best player in the first qtr. Ross kicked our first 2, the first a really good snap. Cucinotta got the 3rd from a set shot. Reeves was great, winning all the taps and taking 4 or 5 marks, 2 of them good strong contested ones.

2nd qtr was a bit more of a slog. Casey off target, and Box Hill scrapping a couple of goals - Ross walking into an open goal and Jeka with a big snap around the body from distance. Golds injured early in the qtr.

3rd qtr we dominated but struggled to find the goals. Maginness and Jones really worked into it. Reeves serving it on a platter for our mids. Ross kicked his 4th and Will Day kicked a beauty late. Worthy of a description - Casey cleared from deep, Day sprinted hard to make the contest and spoiled the ball to ground wide on the boundary, somehow landing and pirouetting as he did, somehow emerging from the traffic with the ball tucked under his arm. Handpassed forward, then got it back and snapped across his body on the angle for a brilliant goal. We bemoan a lack of class in the senior side, well this kid has it in spades.

Last qtr foot came off the gas a bit and Casey snagged a couple, but it opened up for Box Hill as well. Jeka got on the end of a great passage of play, taking a big mark in the goal square. Kid can play. Reeves drifted forward and took a strong grab, dobbing it from about 25 out. Riley Bowman - new young ruckman - struggled most of the day but hit a purple patch with the last two goals, one a quick snap from a pack and then a good lead out mark and conversion.

HFC listed blokes:
Reeves - BOG by a mile for mine. I haven't seen a more dominant display by a Hawthorn ruckman since Salmon. Sure, I don't know who he was up against, but he was that dominant and impacted the game to a ridiculous extent. Every stoppage, he put it down a BH player's throat. Taps behind his head to blokes on the move, thumps into space where our blokes ran onto it, palms straight to Finn and Jones over and over again. I'll say again, I haven't seen anything like it for 20 years, and I've watched a lot of footy. Also took marks around the ground, kicked a goal, laid some heavy tackles. About 500% better than I've ever seen him play before.

Jeka - moved well, got up the ground, took marks, distributed well. Kicked a couple, could have maybe had one or two more as he had one touched on the line and one slipped through his hands in the square after he'd done all the body work to take the mark. Has a presence. Lot to like.

Day - got more and more prominent. Just after he kicked that great goal, he did a lazy kick on the wing that drifted wide of the mark and went to an oppo player. I watched him for a reaction - he took off toward the action like a mad man. I thought he's not going to impact this, it's just going back over his head. But he threw himself headlong and smothered the kick over the boundary. In the last quarter, he was everywhere, linking and driving forward. Took a big defensive mark in the goal square at full back. He's got me very very keen to see more.

Maginness - was workman-like. I'll stop short of saying he was great, but he played as well as any of our mids, and clearly knows how to play. Got ridiculous silver service at the stoppages from Reeves, and fed it out well most times. I tried to keep rough track of his possessions, I'd say he got around 20.

Jones - very very similar to Maginness. They actually play similar games. Finn actually looks the stronger, but Jones is slightly more manic and fights in and under.

Hartley - great game at full back. His ability to be in the right spot was a bit dare I say Mirra-like. He's a great kick, although he did bite off a couple of kickouts that were a bit over ambitious. He'll be a very handy player for Box Hill.

Pepper - this kid could be an absolute steal. The knock was his kicking, but he looks to have a nice compact action and hit all his targets today. (In fact Box Hill's overall skill made a mockery of what we saw last night - brrrr trying to forget). Pepper competes like crazy, has a great leap, and looks really composed. Like I said, he looks a steal.

Ross - has that happy knack of getting to the right spots at the right time. He's a very dangerous and clever player. Four goals is a good return. Did drift out of it a fraction in the second half but we were rotating forwards and he was still creating for others.

Moore - started on fire. Only played the first half, but was doing it all - marking, tackling, linking. Seem to be playing high HFF, not playing close to goal.

Golds - really sad. Was going pretty nicely, getting his share of touches pre injury.

Box Hill lads -
to be honest I was there more for the Hawks but these blokes stood out:

Mullenger-McHugh - played at CHB and looked more at home in defence than any time I saw him last year up forward. Very good game with some disciplined spoils and intercepts.

Bowman - young ruckman looked pretty tentative for the most part until taking his chances up forward in the last qtr. Box Hill might be very happy to have Brooksby to accompany Reeves cos Bowman doesn't look up to it (admittedly at first glance).

Deluca - stocky left footed midfielder, got involved a lot. Could be a handy replacement for Meadows, looks a similar type.

DeWit - after playing defence last year he was used as a tall wingman today and was quite prominent.

Otten was serviceable down back, Deledio didn't play.

I know this is all probably a little overly positive, but after last night I know I needed it. Was a good spectacle, and a fair bit to take away for Box Hill.

Walker was at his local footy club back home watching practice game.

 

[Tassie Cryptik]

Walker was at his local footy club back home watching practice game.

Isn't that now Box Hill, or Hawthorn?

 

[dazzledavey36]

Isn't that now Box Hill, or Hawthorn?

No back home in corowa

 

[Lickmesocks]

Tigers,Pies,Dogs, etc no chance.
To slow all over the ground atm can be easily fixed with a couple quick changes.

Clarko must bite the bullet if he wants Bigboy,Cegs,Patton always on the field together then Tob plays ahead of Lewis.

3 things can make us a lot quicker side all over the balance and set-up easily fixed.

- Small defender bring Day in or play Hendo there or something radical put Poppy there.
- 1 more mid with a change of speed
causing turnovers (Finn or Jones) instead of Cousins.
-Gunston&Tob lead up fwds keep Patton deep. No lewis

I agree.

If we go into games with Lewis Patto Big Boy and Cegs we are extremely vulnerable.

Clarko will need to get the mix right very quickly .

 

[Mojo]

I agree.

If we go into games with Lewis Patto Big Boy and Cegs we are extremely vulnerable.

Clarko will need to get the mix right very quickly .

And TOB - 5 players that are too immobile when the ball hits the ground.

The issue is compounded because, individually, all those players are best 22.

 

[Maybloomer]

The lead up forward bit has always been a concern for me - I can’t remember our forwards leading up for a long long time, and Friday night was no different. The game style just doesn’t allow it. We have too many at the ball with too many handballs making it impossible to time a lead.

Centre clearance players need to lower their eyes, too often I’ve seen Worpel and Mitchell just roost it into the forward line. We’ve got some big boys up front, we need to trust a 1 on 1, not handball sideways or switch until the 1 on 1 becomes a 3 on 1.

 

[Lickmesocks]

The lead up forward bit has always been a concern for me - I can’t remember our forwards leading up for a long long time, and Friday night was no different. The game style just doesn’t allow it. We have too many at the ball with too many handballs making it impossible to time a lead.

Centre clearance players need to lower their eyes, too often I’ve seen Worpel and Mitchell just roost it into the forward line. We’ve got some big boys up front, we need to trust a 1 on 1, not handball sideways or switch until the 1 on 1 becomes a 3 on 1.

For a few years now our forward system has been dated. Get everyone up in the middle and try and win the ball and then under pressure bomb it in and hope like hell Poppy can compete with 2 players hanging off him and keep the ball locked in.

The good old days with Gunners mobile and leading at the kicker and providing a mobile target were the best.

I hope we can somehow unlock that again and keep some sort of system forward of the ball this season .

 

[Pessimistic]

indeed Richmond look likely to go in with four guys 199 and over

I think you're being needlessly pessimistic. WCE won the 2018 flag with McGovern, Kennedy, Lycett and Vardy. McGovern is no more mobile than any of our big guys. McEvoy is clearly being set for a similar role, and so far so good. Yes it maximises our assets having Ceglar step into the ruck, but I have no doubt it's also partly to extend Ben's career - he's taken a weekly battering since Hale retired. I also notice we're not the only team loading up on talls in the starting 22.

I suggest that all those seriously concerned about this warm up game have a listen to Clarko's press conference:

Clarko not hung up on last quarter fall away

The official AFL website of the Hawthorn Football Club

www.hawthornfc.com.au

 

[burner1]

It’s fine for club to go tall, but you need the pacy smalls to support it - which we lack (but WC and Richmond have).

At it also helps if your talls are elite - Patton and BB are not Kennedy and McGovern at this stage.

We have a fair bit of work to do to make this new game-style work.

 

[threesixpio]

I think you're being needlessly pessimistic. WCE won the 2018 flag with McGovern, Kennedy, Lycett and Vardy. McGovern is no more mobile than any of our big guys. McEvoy is clearly being set for a similar role, and so far so good. Yes it maximises our assets having Ceglar step into the ruck, but I have no doubt it's also partly to extend Ben's career - he's taken a weekly battering since Hale retired. I also notice we're not the only team loading up on talls in the starting 22.

I suggest that all those seriously concerned about this warm up game have a listen to Clarko's press conference:

Clarko not hung up on last quarter fall away

The official AFL website of the Hawthorn Football Club

www.hawthornfc.com.au

Sack Clarko

 

[Mississippi]

Sack Clarko

is he still coaching?

i thought we must have had a different coach on Friday, who was clueless about a decent game plan!
i was going to say - bring back Clarko!!

 

[SA HAWK]

For those saying “ it’s just a practice match”
You know the season is nearly upon us yes??
That performance was rank
No ifs or buts
Just crap

It was but let’s judge on the proper seasons games.

 

[threesixpio]

For those saying “ it’s just a practice match”
You know the season is nearly upon us yes??
That performance was rank
No ifs or buts
Just crap

I still say it was just a practice match ...cos it kind of was

 

[Glacier]

I still say it was just a practice match ...cos it kind of was

Ok
I’ll put it this way
We are “practicing “ very very poorly

 

[threesixpio]

Ok
I’ll put it this way
We are “practicing “ very very poorly

Maybe but are we practice matching well?

 

[flinchfree]

Ok
I’ll put it this way
We are “practicing “ very very poorly

Not sure this has been surmised, but there is evidence we may simply be earlier in our preparation than some other teams.....
It was noted a number of times since we returned after the Christmas break, that we have had a couple other 'breaks' where some had expected further training sessions. Players on very different programs, workloads being carefully shuffled, some needing to be managed because they obviously got a little nicked early or have longer term physical constraints that need to be listened to.

Could it be that we are timing our prep to be nearer our best week 2-3 at the choosing of our coaching staff, and that all this supporter (Big Footy anyway) angst has merely been a bag of shells to the greater plan?
Quite possible I'll say, the one thing always noticeable each year upon practice match times is how easy it is to tell where a club looks against another in their readiness physically for the season, when skills are down, intensity is down, and players just don't look 'primed'.

I saw enough last year to think we were trending the right way, that our young players were trending the right way, and that our list I believe is better and healthier going into to this season.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

 

[threesixpio]

Not sure this has been surmised, but there is evidence we may simply be earlier in our preparation than some other teams.....
It was noted a number of times since we returned after the Christmas break, that we have had a couple other 'breaks' where some had expected further training sessions. Players on very different programs, workloads being carefully shuffled, some needing to be managed because they obviously got a little nicked early or have longer term physical constraints that need to be listened to.

Could it be that we are timing our prep to be nearer our best week 2-3 at the choosing of our coaching staff, and that all this supporter (Big Footy anyway) angst has merely been a bag of shells to the greater plan?
Quite possible I'll say, the one thing always noticeable each year upon practice match times is how easy it is to tell where a club looks against another in their readiness physically for the season, when skills are down, intensity is down, and players just don't look 'primed'.

I saw enough last year to think we were trending the right way, that our young players were trending the right way, and that our list I believe is better and healthier going into to this season.

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

What he said

 

[Mojo]

Sorry to be a Negative Nelly but 2,712 attendees to this game.

Hawthorn have been long-term partners with Tasmania (2001), and this is the commitment AFL/Hawthorn fans demonstrate against another Melbourne side two weeks out from Round 1.

 

[Zack]

Look I've been blonk harsh, based purely on performance.

But I also understand things, while Melbourne were using a full 8-10 bench all game and resting their Petracca types which they don't get with only 4 on the bench. Clarko was refusing to give anyone a go so it simulated match footy. We know that is what he does. Many complained about why we didn't put anyone on... he hasn't historically in the final practice match.

Were we a little bit poo... yes. Were we over, perhaps not.

 

[Brishawk]

Look I've been blonk harsh, based purely on performance.

But I also understand things, while Melbourne were using a full 8-10 bench all game and resting their Petracca types which they don't get with only 4 on the bench. Clarko was refusing to give anyone a go so it simulated match footy. We know that is what he does. Many complained about why we didn't put anyone on... he hasn't historically in the final practice match.

Were we a little bit poo... yes. Were we over, perhaps not.

Good pick up. We looked our best midway through the third when we had our intercept game going. Then we fatigues late on the term and they kicked a couple. Then we added all the young players and they got on top. It wasn’t a great display by us but reasonable foot skills and we would have lead into the last with less rotations. We aren’t as far away as many think but we do need to use it better.