Realistically, where do we all think the Hawks will finish in 2010?

[Brishawk]

You tipping a Saints slide next year Bradway? I am interested in your thoughts as to why. Do you think they just got lucky with injuries this year and won't be so lucky next year?

I reckon they got lucky with injuries. I think they have shown over the last few years that when they get their best team out there, they are a good team but when they have injuries they fall away sharply. I think this explains their up and down seasons prior to last. In truth they are an injury to Riewoldt away from disaster.

I think the Hawks would be aiming for top four next season. The feeling is we have more soldiers on the training track this year than last so hopefully that stays the case throughout the year and we can perform close to our best.

 

[Hoppers Xing]

Which is quite likely if they can't get his knee in check.

 

[Trent Berger]

Top 4, hopefully top 2. I think a decent run with injuries and recovery will see it possible. Ruck stocks are a worry but WS may end up the main man.

 

[Hawkhead#2]

OK, here's my 'realistic' expectation of season 2010 (in no particular order):

Geelong - peaked, but on the slide. Will still be a force for 2010

Saints - will be a strong side in 2010, but NO team relies as heavily on the performance of one player. If Nick is held, or his dodgy knee flares, then the Saints will come back to the pack.

Hawks - horrendous run of injuries aside, we will be top 4. I am very excited about the group of players and the incredible 'upside' in so many of them. This could be the start of 3-5 years of dominance!

Bulldogs - will be top 4. Barry Hall is a good fit for them. Classy team.

Pies - Have a chance of top 4, with great additions of Ball and Jolly. Big ? over who will kick their goals. Cloke and Anthony need to fire.

Lions - I think they will continue to be a strong team in 2010. Look out for them. Good kids and proven experienced players.

Crows - yes, I have hated them since their 1st game in the AFL (can Hawk supporters ever forget it?), but I honestly believe they are set to stall. I think they will miss Otten.

Blues - will stall. Who will kick goals?

Bombers - will be 7th-10th. I hope we repay them for 2009!

Don't worry about the rest.

The teams in the GF will come from Cats, Saints, Hawks, Bulldogs or Pies. Discount the rest. GF will be between Hawks and Bulldogs!

 

[fr_303]

4th - 5th

 

[cradle of filth]

there's no good reason why we shouldn't make the top 4. I believe we can win the premiership next year IF Simon Taylor and Brent Renouf can hold it together in the ruck and Ryan Schoenmakers has a massive year at the age of 19 ala Jonathan Brown 2001.

 

[Godzke]

I initially tipped Hawks for a top 4 finish in 2010 but downgraded to 3rd-6th considering none of the top 4 sides of 2009 should slip (with the possible exception of Geelong, which I'm expeceting will remain more or less the same for one more season).

Probably fight the Crows and Pies for 4th. I'd say there's still question marks over your backline which may see you finish 7th/8th instead.

Bombers - will be 7th-10th.

Same thought here.

 

[Bayer_]

The same backline (less Croad, plus Schoe/Gibson) that helped us win the 08 Premiership?
I can't see us losing to any team if we come to play.
We are better than Geelong and the others aren't up to it.

You sure we have enough indigenous players?

 

[hawksfor2010]

Top four with only 3 other teams a threat.

 

[Teamwork Talks]

St Kilda set a new benchmark for defence in 2009. Our defence around the ground needs to improve in 2010 if we are to finish top 4.

 

[CyrilIsDelicious]

Hi everyone im so happy to be part of this forum. i hope we can be good friends.

i think hawthorn is gonna finish on the top in 2010 because we have cyril, buddy, burgy (sorry i dont know his nickname yet) and dewy.

geelong stink i think they will finish 5th.

 

[eldorado]

Good grief

 

[Great 2008]

Good grief


(Top four by the way)

 

[Buddy Guy]

Hi everyone im so happy to be part of this forum. i hope we can be good friends.

i think hawthorn is gonna finish on the top in 2010 because we have cyril, buddy, burgy (sorry i dont know his nickname yet) and dewy.

geelong stink i think they will finish 5th.

Have you come to join us from the Nikelodeon board?

 

[Brown Blood]

Realistically - Premiers!

 

[CyrilIsDelicious]

Have you come to join us from the Nikelodeon board?

hello bradway sorry but i dont know about that site. is it just about the mighty hawks or all footy? i like this site because you can talk about all clubs.

 

[DannyJ]

Good grief

 

[Bayer_]

hello bradway sorry but i dont know about that site. is it just about the mighty hawks or all footy? i like this site because you can talk about all clubs.

Such a cute troll.

 

[CyrilIsDelicious]

hehe i had one of those troll dolls when i was a kid. but why would you put a picture of one on this football site?

i hope you hawks guys are nice people. i want to become really good at the supercoaching game but when i tried to learn more about it on another site people teased me a lot.

 

[James Buchanan]

Last year taught me to not take anything for granted.

I'm not going to place any expectations on the boys, other than that they make every effort to win every game. There's no way we can tell what sort of luck we'll have with injuries this year, which are probably the most significant factor, so any attempts to predict the ladder next year will be a crapshoot.

Realistically, I think we're gonna see a fired up Hawthorn outfit next year, so I'm hoping for the best; we'll have to see how it turns out in the new year.

Of course, it should be noted that 2008 started with a game against Melbourne aswell.

 

[Buddy Guy]

hehe i had one of those troll dolls when i was a kid. but why would you put a picture of one on this football site?

i hope you hawks guys are nice people. i want to become really good at the supercoaching game but when i tried to learn more about it on another site people teased me a lot.

This isnt the new account of Jeffrey from Bay 13 is it?
He has been missing for a while.

 

[CyrilIsDelicious]

This isnt the new account of Jeffrey from Bay 13 is it?
He has been missing for a while.

no my name is billy. i dont really live near the beach either before i lived on the farm with nan and pa but this year i moved to the city to work in a box factory. its my first job and i enjoy it very much.

 

[DannyJ]

Billy the Kid!

 

[WeneedyoungJarmans]

realistically, injuries can be the difference betwee being a big flag contender or flopping out and struggling to make the 8.

every side in the afl, well almost every side has a best 22 that is pretty solid that is capable of being competitive against any side.

AFL is about having the cattle but having the depth of players to cover position.

It's also about setting the pace and making others follow you. Not the other way around.

It is this logic which leads me to the point - I expect Hawthorn's backline and midfield to be astounding in 2010. Quick ball movement through the backline, straight through the middle and long to our forwards with options to crumb will make Hawthorn the benchmark side of the competition. They will adopt a game plan similar to that of 2008 but taking a leaf more out of the Cats book in that they will see to own the corridor and take it on at all costs.

They core playing group and depth players will have enough physical size and development in them to be strong and imposing enough to execute such a plan.

Injuries and player preparation going well, the Hawks can and should finish top 2. They are capable of finishing 1st even a game or two clear. They are certainly capable of going all the way and winning the flag.

StKilda's depth is questionable. Ball is a loss to their inside midfield group. If Hayes goes down, their clearance abilities can fall apart.

Geelong are still our nemesis. Even without Harley, they will likely compensate with Drum and get Hunt back into their backline. IMO - Hawkins is coming of age. He is a very imposing power forward who commands the footy and will become their premier forward taking the pressure off Mooney. Their midfield is still young enough to go around for years. It's Scarlett and Ottens that may prove to be their greatest dependencies. Both on the wrong side of 30, Ottens does not look good phyisically for 2010 and with Mumford gone, their ruck division might take a hit. Scarlett is the backbone of their defence. Only look back to the 2nd time the Hawks played the Cats to lose by 1 pt, what I take from that match is how vulnerable the Cats defence is when under pressure without Scarlett in it. He is structurally their greatest asset and makes the most difference to their premiership hopes. He is a robust player that doesn't seem to get injured or lose form due to injury.

The advantage the Hawks have over the Cats is that the Hawks backline can stop the Cats forward line. Vice versa, the Cats backline cannot stop the Hawks forward line when in full force. Now with a bolstered midfield group including Burgoyne, a fit Hodge and Rioli maturing into a mid, the Hawks midfield may be considered the best in the comp by rd 10. Hard inside, strong leadership, great ball use, pace, evasive skills, goal scoring abilities - the full gammit. The Cats I believe will be found wanting against us.

The Dogs and Collingwood strangely enough I fear moreso that the Cats and Saints.

Both sides have made ideal tactical top ups addressing the key weaknesses which prevented those sides from making grand final appearances.

The Dogs, IMO, can be devastating. How they perform so well with no power forward is astonishing. Hall will give them great structure and players that have had to fight above their weight division will suddenly find their duties that much easier.

Collingwood, the team we all love to hate and starting to shown signs of an improving youth division, quality wise. Sidebottom and Beams are quality and complement Thomas and Pendlebury. The thing that hurts them the most is the absence of a key forward that can command the footy at CHF. Cloke plays the HFF by nature, Tarrant style, providing a wide link up. A player his size and frame should not be considered key position unless they learn to command the ball at true CHF in the corridor. I cannot criticise this player enough. He is an enormous disappointment for them. A player who can change their fortuned plays so stupidly and negatively. I dont rate him at all at present. On a positive note for the pies, even with downhill skiers like Didak, Thomas and Davis, the Pies with the inclusion of an A-grade ruckman and A-grade clearance mid have injected 2 players in their key area of weakness. Their current list of clearance mids runs thin and lacks polish. Their rotation half forwards mentioned earlier forced to play in roles they simply will never dominate. 2010 looms as the Pies big chance to go the next step.

All in all, the cream rises to the top. On paper, list wise, with the right preraration, the Hawks are set to wipe the floor with the competition in 2010 at take all before them including their 11th flag.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Something stinks of 'Robber Barron' in this thread.