Preview Round 5, 2017: Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles , 23 April 2017, 4.40pm @ MCG

[Strapping Young Lad]

Willsmore being talked up as a possible debutant this week, by the HFC site.

After weeks upon weeks of being talked up in previous years after solid games at Box Hill, this might actually be his biggest chance.

 

[OzJohnnie]

I was considering not going on Sunday as I've got some significant travel coming up. But then it's Mitch's "retirement" game and it could be the game where it finally clicks. I would hate to miss that click. It will be glorious.

 

[Mappa]

whats wrong with him? still suffering from that corky? of all our stars he is the biggest worry atm, elite talent playing like a shadow of himself. at least breust etc have the excuse that they are human.

He should be ready to rain merry hell down on whoever gets in his way. This week it just happens to be the Eagles. Geelong supporters chanting "Cyyyrrriiilll" and taking the piss is such an insult, and if he has even the smallest amount of pride (which I have no doubt he does), he needs to kick the doubters to the kerb.

I'd love Clarko to pull him aside and say "just play mate. Just do YOUR thing"

 

[Dinsdale]

I'll be there with my bro from Perth, who is a weagles supporter. The last time we were at a game together was the '15 GF... dare to dream thats my motto.

 

[tige19]

Kurt was back in training today. But it's my understanding he is going to retire at the end of this year as he's not going to be offered another contract.
i think there's a chap called Connor Nash who has in a very short time gone ahead of Kurt. A kid called Surman might also have been identified as being ahead of Kurt. Of course there might be an addition to the list at end year that trumps all of 'em.

Kurt is another one of those tweener sized defenders that our recruiters love, no position for him at afl level.

 

[threesixpio]

Willsmore being talked up as a possible debutant this week, by the HFC site.

After weeks upon weeks of being talked up in previous years after solid games at Box Hill, this might actually be his biggest chance.

Still too early for JOR?

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Kurt is another one of those tweener sized defenders that our recruiters love, no position for him at afl level.

I'm not sure they love them as such, it's just all we have to choose from. There is no-one sensational on our list out of the younger brigade as we have had such crappy draft picks for years (as in high numbers) and international rookies are very hit and miss. There will be maybe one gem out of the lot of them. Hard yards ahead.

 

[LuckyHawk]

I'm not sure they love them as such, it's just all we have to choose from. There is no-one sensational on our list out of the younger brigade as we have had such crappy draft picks for years (as in high numbers) and international rookies are very hit and miss. There will be maybe one gem out of the lot of them. Hard yards ahead.

I think Connor Glass will be the one, reckon he'll play next year for sure.
Good size, pace, strength, skill and mentally looks great too. Just needs a bit more time.

 

[Watsclarkosmob]

Shiels to BHH for mine!!!!

I too would like to see changes just even to send a message, but would Clarko be the man to ask a vice-captain to head back to the two's or step up and lead?

 

[Qlder_19]

Let's see Cyril, Izzy and Pup have all received bad corkies and may not have got fully over them
Prepared to give them the benefit fo the doubt

 

[Roughies Boys]

Kade Stewart needs to play.

 

[Taskmaster]

Has anyone suggested Bruest to be dropped? If not, I am! Yep there are probably 18 that deserve to be dropped at the moment and he is most definitely 1 of them.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Kurt is another one of those tweener sized defenders that our recruiters love, no position for him at afl level.

And yet Ben Stratton...

The size is not the issue, there are a lot of mid sized forwards like Gunston, Crameri, 'the Package', Darling, McGovern... in the 189 - 192 cm mark.

If Heatherly is good enough their is a role.

 

[Gralin]

Looking forward to a Friday or Saturday game, all we get tomorrow is the squad

Hope Dimma and Sis stay

 

[tige19]

And yet Ben Stratton...

The size is not the issue, there are a lot of mid sized forwards like Gunston, Crameri, 'the Package', Darling, McGovern... in the 189 - 192 cm mark.

If Heatherly is good enough their is a role.

Our whole defence save KB are tweeners, there's no role for Heatherly. We need a 195-198cm defender so Chip can take the 3rd tall, he isn't big enough or long enough to compete with the monster forwards.

 

[nickrebellious]

If Willsmore plays this week, it means that every player on our main list bar our new draftees (Morrison & Lewis) have played at AFL level.

 

[Lethality]

Kurt is another one of those tweener sized defenders that our recruiters love, no position for him at afl level.

There are plenty of defenders in the AFL who are 'tweener sized'.

 

[satan1]

Our whole defence save KB are tweeners, there's no role for Heatherly. We need a 195-198cm defender so Chip can take the 3rd tall, he isn't big enough or long enough to compete with the monster forwards.

There are barely any backs good/big enough to go with the monster forwards or else they play at the other end of the ground.

Frawley is adequate size and has shown to do a fine enough job on the best so long as we actually break even in the middle.

Our full ground pressure is the biggest current issue, not the height of our players. I also would think Frawley would likely get burnt mobility wise on the typical third tall, so if he doesn't take 1 or 2 he probably doesn't play.

 

[Bumps"N"Grins]

There are barely any backs good/big enough to go with the monster forwards or else they play at the other end of the ground.

Frawley is adequate size and has shown to do a fine enough job on the best so long as we actually break even in the middle.

Our full ground pressure is the biggest current issue, not the height of our players. I also would think Frawley would likely get burnt mobility wise on the typical third tall, so if he doesn't take 1 or 2 he probably doesn't play.

I see this as a case some saying my team would be structured this way or another and others crystal balling about what we should have in order to structure a team the way they see it should be.
I see it as after checking player bios the players you want tige19 are either Surman or Mitchell-lewis both who are clearly not ready or just wishing we did things different with past drafting, every other player north of 193cm tall is or has been played.
Think we just need to get on working with what we have at the moment and address the rest in the off season.

 

[Briar Gold]

In: O'Meara, Vickery, O'Rourke
Out: Hardwick, O'Brien, Henderson

 

[Dank You Steven]

Kurt is another one of those tweener sized defenders that our recruiters love, no position for him at afl level.

Spot on about tweeter size defenders - we always draft the same sized players - 191cm, string beans who are neither here nor there.

 

[tige19]

There are plenty of defenders in the AFL who are 'tweener sized'.

Thanks captain obvious. You're missing my point, I'm saying we are overloaded with them. Do I have to name every single one for you?

 

[tige19]

Spot on about tweeter size defenders - we always draft the same sized players - 191cm, string beans who are neither here nor there.

Highly frustrating

 

[lethalselbow]

Problem with throwing out all the experienced, big bodied senior players for kids is that the kids will get belted, battered and bruised. You still need to keep a competitive mix.

Hawthorn can win this game, if heads are screwed on right. Something just hasn't clicked, as yet. Not going to be a world beating side, but better than what has been on display to date.

 

[tige19]

There are barely any backs good/big enough to go with the monster forwards or else they play at the other end of the ground.

Frawley is adequate size and has shown to do a fine enough job on the best so long as we actually break even in the middle.

Our full ground pressure is the biggest current issue, not the height of our players. I also would think Frawley would likely get burnt mobility wise on the typical third tall, so if he doesn't take 1 or 2 he probably doesn't play.

Chip has showed in spurts with us that he still has top end quality, but on more occasions than not he has been underwhelming. He isn't long enough to really kill contests against the monsters, he is poor by foot, gives away free kick after free kick. Despite the bombardment our defence has cooled KB has out performed Chip 2fold, he has easily been our most stable and reliable defender.

There's plenty of good quality key backs in the league, most clubs have them. Thompson x2, Talia/Hartigan, Rance, Mackenzie, Mcgoven/Barass, Carlisle, May, Mcdonald x2, Lonergan, Tarrant, Schade/Reid, Tomlinson etc etc I could go on and on. It simply comes down to the fact our recruiters don't value the big key backs, they have relied more on team defence and tweener types to peel off to kill the contest. This isn't working now, and it wasn't working last year.