Hawks ace footy’s hardest challenge
Mike Sheahan
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 02:40pm
THE merit of Hawthorn’s brave win against Adelaide on Saturday night has been grossly underplayed. The timing - Saturday night in Adelaide - is the only obvious explanation. A landmark result was “lost” among the Bulldogs’ awesome demolition of the Brisbane Lions earlier in the day, Buddy Franklin’s report from Saturday night, and Carlton’s spectacular success against Collingwood on Sunday. For the record, Adelaide at AAMI Stadium at night in winter is football’s toughest assignment. Bar none. The Crows have lost just three of 22 games at night in the months of June, July and August this decade.
Be it a rising water table at West Lakes or something in the Adelaide air, the surface can be waterlogged even after a perfect winter’s day.
As brave as Hawthorn was throughout the night, it trailed at every change, albeit by less than a goal each time. Given the venue, given the history, Adelaide looked a certainty at three-quarter time.
In the corresponding game last year, the Crows won by 71 points. They had won all eight games between these teams at AAMI Stadium since 1994 by an average of 45 points.
The Hawks this time went into the game minus Brad Sewell, Trent Croad, Shane Crawford, Simon Taylor, Brent Guerra and Ben McGlynn, all automatic selections in their best 22. Chance Bateman, probably in the top 4-5 in the best-and-fairest in the first half of the season, was out of the game before halftime.
One more detail - the Hawks fielded the youngest team in the competition at the weekend: average age of 23 years and 150 days.
No wonder coach Alastair Clarkson and company were so excited in the coaches’ box when the siren sounded. It was a famous win, the sort that can launch a successful premiership campaign. It was a night for leaders to lead, and lead they did.
Luke Hodge had 12 possessions in the last quarter, including the kick that clinched the game, the goal that followed a clean take and an ice-cool sidestep.
Sam Mitchell was good yet again, Campbell Brown and Clinton Young very good, and Franklin produced a last quarter to match his reputation: nine possessions, a goal, long, scything runs that drag teammates along in the wake.
The Hawks had 110 possessions to 90 in the final term and were rewarded with their 11th win from 12 starts. Their only loss this year was to the Bulldogs in Launceston in Round 10, they are third on the “points for” table and fourth for “points against”.
If you include Launceston as interstate (yes, I am aware it is situated in Tasmania, but it’s also Hawthorn’s second home ground), the Hawks are five from six on the road, having won in Perth, Brisbane, Launceston and Adelaide. It is a super form-line.
Franklin and Jarryd Roughead have 98 goals between them, Mark Williams, Michael Osborne and Cyril Rioli all have 14 or more. The Hawks play North Melbourne and West Coast at the MCG in the next two rounds before a 16-day break to prepare for Sydney at the MCG.
The Swans will provide the first of two more significant tests within three weeks, with Geelong to come (finally) in Round 17. Sydney has treated the Hawks like juniors in recent years; it promises to be different next time. Wayne Carey tipped Hawthorn in the Herald Sun a week ago as premier this year. Only time will tell if he is on the money, yet there is undeniable evidence it is a genuine chance.
Normally I think Mike Sheehan is full of it....but I think he got this one spot on.
Mike Sheahan
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at 02:40pm
THE merit of Hawthorn’s brave win against Adelaide on Saturday night has been grossly underplayed. The timing - Saturday night in Adelaide - is the only obvious explanation. A landmark result was “lost” among the Bulldogs’ awesome demolition of the Brisbane Lions earlier in the day, Buddy Franklin’s report from Saturday night, and Carlton’s spectacular success against Collingwood on Sunday. For the record, Adelaide at AAMI Stadium at night in winter is football’s toughest assignment. Bar none. The Crows have lost just three of 22 games at night in the months of June, July and August this decade.
Be it a rising water table at West Lakes or something in the Adelaide air, the surface can be waterlogged even after a perfect winter’s day.
As brave as Hawthorn was throughout the night, it trailed at every change, albeit by less than a goal each time. Given the venue, given the history, Adelaide looked a certainty at three-quarter time.
In the corresponding game last year, the Crows won by 71 points. They had won all eight games between these teams at AAMI Stadium since 1994 by an average of 45 points.
The Hawks this time went into the game minus Brad Sewell, Trent Croad, Shane Crawford, Simon Taylor, Brent Guerra and Ben McGlynn, all automatic selections in their best 22. Chance Bateman, probably in the top 4-5 in the best-and-fairest in the first half of the season, was out of the game before halftime.
One more detail - the Hawks fielded the youngest team in the competition at the weekend: average age of 23 years and 150 days.
No wonder coach Alastair Clarkson and company were so excited in the coaches’ box when the siren sounded. It was a famous win, the sort that can launch a successful premiership campaign. It was a night for leaders to lead, and lead they did.
Luke Hodge had 12 possessions in the last quarter, including the kick that clinched the game, the goal that followed a clean take and an ice-cool sidestep.
Sam Mitchell was good yet again, Campbell Brown and Clinton Young very good, and Franklin produced a last quarter to match his reputation: nine possessions, a goal, long, scything runs that drag teammates along in the wake.
The Hawks had 110 possessions to 90 in the final term and were rewarded with their 11th win from 12 starts. Their only loss this year was to the Bulldogs in Launceston in Round 10, they are third on the “points for” table and fourth for “points against”.
If you include Launceston as interstate (yes, I am aware it is situated in Tasmania, but it’s also Hawthorn’s second home ground), the Hawks are five from six on the road, having won in Perth, Brisbane, Launceston and Adelaide. It is a super form-line.
Franklin and Jarryd Roughead have 98 goals between them, Mark Williams, Michael Osborne and Cyril Rioli all have 14 or more. The Hawks play North Melbourne and West Coast at the MCG in the next two rounds before a 16-day break to prepare for Sydney at the MCG.
The Swans will provide the first of two more significant tests within three weeks, with Geelong to come (finally) in Round 17. Sydney has treated the Hawks like juniors in recent years; it promises to be different next time. Wayne Carey tipped Hawthorn in the Herald Sun a week ago as premier this year. Only time will tell if he is on the money, yet there is undeniable evidence it is a genuine chance.
Normally I think Mike Sheehan is full of it....but I think he got this one spot on.
