Preview NAB Cup - Round 1. Hawthorn v North Melbourne v Richmond. Etihad Stadium 17th Feb 6:45pm.

[Leather Poisoning]

So what did everyone think?

Buddy and Cyril in the middle?

Schoenmakers up forward?

Gunston/McCauley in the brown and gold for the first time?

(how did we only have 2 first-gamers in that game???)

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Subbed

 

[MistyAvalon]

what;s a supergoal again please?

 

[TheSonicMaster]

what;s a supergoal again please?

9 points, kicked from outside 50

 

[illnino]

what;s a supergoal again please?

A goal kicked from outside 50 meters - worth 9 points.

Not a great half (quarter) of footy there against the Tigers....

 

[MistyAvalon]

that's it... thanks

 

[Baz_hawk]

Interesting first half against the tigers. Obviously we have lost a bit of class from the first game but we also seem to be playing a different game type to the first game. Strange that we haven't made as many changes as I expected. Thought Grimley would have been given a run but maybe next week.

Hoping for a better second half. Delivery to the F50 hasn't been great again

 

[LuvMyHawks]

A goal kicked from outside 50 meters - worth 9 points.

Not a great half (quarter) of footy there against the Tigers....

I can,t believe how pathetic our goal kicking has been already. I don,t think we I'll win, awful last game against tigers..

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I think Gunston might just boost Buddy's goal count by 10 or 20 this year.

 

[Messenger]

They're just practice matches, guys.

 

[grizzlym]

They're just practice matches, guys.

When you've been starved for so long, they're like bloody finals.

 

[Flamin Joe]

They're just practice matches, guys.

Doesn't change the fact our goal kicking is still crap.

 

[bungholes_premiers]

Shooey still POOing his pants in the back ... cost the game ... do something else with him

 

[MistyAvalon]

yes please practice winning...............not losing

 

[Stranglers]

When you've been starved for so long, they're like bloody finals.

Tigers supporters obviously feel that way, you'd think they'd just won the flag!

 

[dp_ramas]

Good hit out for the lads. Disappointed we lost to the Tigers but it's just the NAB cup. I still want to win.

I'm also bit disappointed we didn't get to see some more of the new recruits.

Poor Hill got about 5 mins of footy.

 

[SA HAWK]

No injuries is a good result in my book.

Liked the look of Gunston.

 

[JordanWCE]

Poor Hill got about 5 mins of footy.

This.

I was looking forward to seeing him out there, oh well, still more games ahead in this NAB Cup.

 

[Axle17]

Yeh good to get the guys back into playing uptempo footy. What's up with Stratton & Shoenmakers ??? These guys get paid to catch a ball right? Not a myth... ?

 

[Off The Couch]

Good hit out for the lads. Disappointed we lost to the Tigers but it's just the NAB cup. I still want to win.

I'm also bit disappointed we didn't get to see some more of the new recruits.

Poor Hill got about 5 mins of footy.

You would think with this new format there will be plenty of opportunity for all players to get some game time in to them

 

[Baz_hawk]

Shooey still POOing his pants in the back ... cost the game ... do something else with him

Was a poor effort but hardly cost us the game. Stratton was the one that gave the free away and we missed some easy shots on goal.

That said, it's a practise match and I don't really care what the results were. Came out in the first game and showed how good we can be. Then we changed a few things and experimented with several players. No one really stood out in the different roles. Mitchell was really good in the first half of game 1, really showed class and was at his best. Good signs going forward to the season proper.

The second game we took away a fair bit of experience and class and it was evident. Buddy stayed forward and we appeared to be playing a different structure to the first game from what I saw.

Few players of I looked out for-

Gunston- Lead well a few times and is a good mover. Took a couple of marks and set up a goal for Buddy. Needs to back himself when kicking from around 50 though. A few games should get him more confident and have a greater impact.

Hill- Played about a half and I don't think he touched it. Lurked around contests but never got in a good position. Needs some work which is understandable as he is only a kid.

Suckling- Got caught a number of times, his awareness was very poor and he made a few errors which could have been easily avoided with a quick disposal.

Was good to watch the footy again, I'm still disappointed that we didn't play more young guys in the squad.

 

[MinerBoy]

In terms of results, the Tigers game doesn't concern me too much. We had the better of it in general play but wasted the ball. Just need to tidy things up a bit.

In terms of actual play though, still some 'old problems' that I hope we iron out:-

• I still worry about our backline's ability to actually 'defend'. Opposition forwards winning the ball without much of a contest when we have 3 blokes all just floating around is annoying. Is it really that hard to cause and effective spoil?
• Get a little too cutesy at times and turn positive forward movements into turnover by just going for a little too much when it isn't required.
• Kicking for goal.

All in all not too bad though.

 

[Pharaoh]

Gunston looks a great pick-up. Bruce should have been delisted last year. Schoe does not have the skills. Broc looks like the new Simon Taylor.

 

[gohawkz1]

Good hitout for the boys...most disappointing for me was Suckling...got caught out and seems a little slow?

 

[Axle17]

One thing i noticed. Probably negative in a way but, our style of play tonight looked to have gone back to the 2010 style of play. There but just not there (fluent?). Perhaps its Clarko playing mind games on the rest of the comp and keep them guessing..