Preview Round 5, 2019: Hawthorn v Geelong, 22 April 2019, 3.20pm @ MCG

[Taskmaster]

This will not be a close game....... cats easily.

I do know this:
1. We will make 2 flog defenders (Taylor and Blizavs) look like billionaire players
2. Danger will beat the crap out of our so called midfield by himself! If it was not for the 6-6-6 rule, the cats could play 3 extras in their forward line and Danger would walk it out of the square and have options a plenty.
3. Selwood will have a day out and have 10 free kicks by qtr time
4. Big Hawk will kick 6+
5. Sis will get 8 weeks for rubbing Abletts head....intentional, high contact to head and forceful rubbing!

I'm actually fearing the worst......Geelong pushing the 100 point flogging.

Hope I'm wrong!!

 

[PT Bar None]

Bit worried about this one, just quietly.

So, where did we end up? Frawley id defo out. Brand in; like for like. I reckon with the extra day, Stratts will get up. Hopefully JO'M comes in. Cousins must be sore. He might be an out. Another poster suggested Mirra for JO'M given the makeup of the Cat forward line. I quite like that idea too. Can't see project Nash being aborted now.

So for me, just the 2 changes. Let's see....

 

[TylerDurden]

Brand - Ken doll
Hardwick - God boy
Impey - Dalhaus/Miers
Stratton - AFLPA
Sicily - Ratugolea
Scrimshaw - Rohan

On point.

 

[The German Hunter]

Hawks by 21

 

[TylerDurden]

Won't be wholesale changes. We know Brand and JOM will come in.

Frawley out and whichever other injury that doesn't come up in time.

 

[Mississippi]

Our defence wasn’t a problem until Frawley and Stratton got injured and then the game completely changed.

.

Yes it was. Stratton was dreadful.

An awful fumble on his knees by Stratts gave away an easy goal. He’s struggling at present and his omission by injury, if that’s the case, gives an opportunity for a quicker younger fella to come in and show something.

Personally I’d like to see CJ come in. I know it’s a big call in a big game but I reckon we need to make some brave decisions right now because we’re looking old and sluggish. In the same way that Port and Geelong have. The enthusiasm of the younger players, including 1st year draftees, at those clubs has stimulated the rest of the player group.

If Stratts was manned up on Dangerfield on Monday he’d be murdered.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Yes it was. Stratton was dreadful.

An awful fumble on his knees by Stratts gave away an easy goal. He’s struggling at present and his omission by injury, if that’s the case, gives an opportunity for a quicker younger fella to come in and show something.

Personally I’d like to see CJ come in. I know it’s a big call in a big game but I reckon we need to make some brave decisions right now because we’re looking old and sluggish. In the same way that Port and Geelong have. The enthusiasm of the younger players, including 1st year draftees, at those clubs has stimulated the rest of the player group.

If Stratts was manned up on Dangerfield on Monday he’d be murdered.

Yeh Stratts has been ordinary so far this year. Even the latter stages of a 2018 I thought he showed signs of his form dropping away which made the decision to make him captain a bit perplexing for mine. I am not sure that burdening him with the captaincy has been a positive for his overall game whereas if it had of gone to JOM or Mitchell I believe they wod have thrived on the extra responsibility. Mind you this is only an observation from the outside looking in so take it for what it's worth (probably not much!)

 

[Mississippi]

Just to add to my last post, Stratton was on the ground 60% for 5 possessions - 4 uncontested. I stand to be corrected, but most of his possessions as I recall were via the dinky side kicking stuff on the backline.

Personally, I’d rather see someone like CJ putting his turbo jets on, getting involved in the game and putting the opposition under serious pressure. Admittedly he’d make a few mistakes along the way but Stratts is doing that already.

I’m not really advocating dropping the captain for a rookie - I guess I’m just hoping Stratts is injured so someone like CJ can show us what he’s got (but I don’t really think that’s going to happen).

 

[hamohawk1]

Have to start giving lewis a crack. Roughy been a champion of the game and can possibly play in another position but lewis deserves 5-10 games. FFS felt like we gave TOB 3 seasons to crack into form and didnt work.

 

[hk89]

Correct. And JOM was in the stands.

I'm confused, which game are you talking about? I gave stats from round 2 2019. JOM was our leading possession getter, and we were completely smashed in centre clearances despite our massive hitout dominance.

 

[Hawk_francais]

People put far too much emphasis on single mistakes made by defenders.

Stratton lost one contest against dixon rnd 2, and had one fumble on the weekend which ended up being an oppo goal. This is after about a decade of hardly ever being beaten, not even mentioning that he's our captain, and that our defence has looked better this year than it has since about 2015... and people would like to see him dropped. Christ on a bike. You don't want much do you?

I think Brand should come in, but it wouldn't surprise me if we brought Jom in for Frawley and left it at that. Mirra could be seen as our best match up for Hawkins (Brand has the height and speed but is physically lacking).

 

[Off The Couch]

 

[Brishawk]

Out: Frawley, Ceglar, (Stratton), Smith (inj)
In: brand, O’Brien/Lewis, (jiath C.), omeara

Expecting and a little hoping for something like this...

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

If Stratton doesn't get up, reckon we are going to see Scrimshaw getting the job of minding Danger. Only needs to do a few good things for it to be a good education for the lad. He just has to keep his positive focus and back himself to attack the ball. If he goes body on body he's gone.

Danger doesn't go body on body, it's full steam ahead attack on the ball at all times. Throws himself at marks in the air with abandon which would suit Scrimmers as I think he could go with him in the air. It's on the ground were the problems start. Than you have Ablett buzzing around as well. You would think Dimma gets him as he is the next best 1 on 1 defender. The problem is they have a group of road runners down there that will cause matchup problems if we don't select the right players. Miles should get a gig next week for this exact reason and Glass would have been in the frame if he wasn't struggling with an injury. Mirra will get badly exposed if we stick with him next week. O'Brien would be a better match-up for Esava who launches at the ball and crashes packs. O'Brien has the leap to make him honest. Interesting dilemma ahead.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

People put far too much emphasis on single mistakes made by defenders.

Stratton lost one contest against dixon rnd 2, and had one fumble on the weekend which ended up being an oppo goal. This is after about a decade of hardly ever being beaten, not even mentioning that he's our captain, and that our defence has looked better this year than it has since about 2015... and people would like to see him dropped. Christ on a bike. You don't want much do you?

I think Brand should come in, but it wouldn't surprise me if we brought Jom in for Frawley and left it at that. Mirra could be seen as our best match up for Hawkins (Brand has the height and speed but is physically lacking).

It's not just his defensive efforts I am talking about. When Stratton was at his peak he was a very decent contested mark and generated a reasonable amount of rebound 50s from those. I can't recall the last time he snagged a contested mark in the defensive 50 unlike Sic and Scrimshaw who are very adept at this. Being a defender in modern AFL is not just about locking down your man and limiting goals. It is a sum total of your ability to master the defensive side of your game whilst at the same time have a offensive/rebounding side as well.
To me Stratts is basically giving 0% offensive output (as opposed to Sicily who is 2nd in the league for meters gained) and his defensive output is dropping as well. It is not unreasonable to suggest he needs to lift.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

CJ is a smoky to make a shock debut I think he is nearly ready IMO.

 

[TylerDurden]

I'm confused, which game are you talking about? I gave stats from round 2 2019. JOM was our leading possession getter, and we were completely smashed in centre clearances despite our massive hitout dominance.

I thought you were talking about yesterday.
Spot on re the Dogs game. But the week after we smacked North in there and he had 5 Centre clearances. Most on the ground.
He’s a ferken jet. Can’t wait to have him back this week.

 

[Mississippi]

People put far too much emphasis on single mistakes made by defenders.

Stratton lost one contest against dixon rnd 2, and had one fumble on the weekend which ended up being an oppo goal. This is after about a decade of hardly ever being beaten, not even mentioning that he's our captain, and that our defence has looked better this year than it has since about 2015... and people would like to see him dropped. Christ on a bike. You don't want much do you?

I think Brand should come in, but it wouldn't surprise me if we brought Jom in for Frawley and left it at that. Mirra could be seen as our best match up for Hawkins (Brand has the height and speed but is physically lacking).

Who’s talking about single mistakes ?

Stratton has been a passenger this year - one game excepted.
He looks tired and hasn’t been a serious contributor on our backline. Perhaps he’s been carrying an injury or maybe he’s just reached his use by date. It’s a tough caper, especially when you’ve banked a few premierships, and there’s no room for sentiment - just ask Lewis, Mitchell or Hodge or Michael Tuck.
No club gives decorated players a bonus year.
I’d love to see Stratts play out 2019 and 2020 like any Hawk supporter, but on present indications wouldn’t be betting on it.

 

[TylerDurden]

It's not just his defensive efforts I am talking about. When Stratton was at his peak he was a very decent contested mark and generated a reasonable amount of rebound 50s from those. I can't recall the last time he snagged a contested mark in the defensive 50 unlike Sic and Scrimshaw who are very adept at this. Being a defender in modern AFL is not just about locking down your man and limiting goals. It is a sum total of your ability to master the defensive side of your game whilst at the same time have a offensive/rebounding side as well.
To me Stratts is basically giving 0% offensive output (as opposed to Sicily who is 2nd in the league for meters gained) and his defensive output is dropping as well. It is not unreasonable to suggest he needs to lift.

Correct. Intercept marks are way down. Took 11 grabs v the Dons late last year. Absolutely miles off that form this year. The captaincy has to be affecting him.

 

[Dewwwww]

CJ is a smoky to make a shock debut I think he is nearly ready IMO.

I have been thinking along the same lines

 

[WWSD]

Isn’t Jiath a category B rookie?

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I have been thinking along the same lines

I hear this kid has a prodigious leap on him. Looking forward to seeing it firsthand at some stage.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

I have been thinking along the same lines

Has that x factor that would catch the cats off guard I rekon

Isn’t Jiath a category B rookie?

Thought he got upgraded. He should be he is the sort of player the side needs. A ball of pacey energy with x factor.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Geez I think we are going to get smashed. Injuries are killing us.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Stratton was dreadful and should be dropped??


You lot are loco.