The up to Round 8 go hard strategy

[Phil McCreviss]

....will be what makes us or breaks us this season. That is the team strategy according to my source.

Go hard in the first 8 rounds with serious finals-like intensity, then a "maintain" period as we enter mid season. Expect the lull to be around Round 14-18 all going according to plan and wouldnt be surprised if we drop 2 or 3 in a row. The gauge to our success in the finals (presuming we make it) will be the results of round 21 and 22. Keep a very close eye on these last two rounds. Even if we finish top 4, the last 2 or 3 rounds results will be the form guide for our 2010 finals campaign.

Cheers, thankyou for listening and a big Happy New Year to all posters

 

[HolyRioli]

Sounds alot like 2008

 

[Bayer_]

....will be what makes us or breaks us this season. That is the team strategy according to my source.

Go hard in the first 8 rounds with serious finals-like intensity, then a "maintain" period as we enter mid season. Expect the lull to be around Round 14-18 all going according to plan and wouldnt be surprised if we drop 2 or 3 in a row. The gauge to our success in the finals (presuming we make it) will be the results of round 21 and 22. Keep a very close eye on these last two rounds. Even if we finish top 4, the last 2 or 3 rounds results will be the form guide for our 2010 finals campaign.

Cheers, thankyou for listening and a big Happy New Year to all posters

So how is Jordan Lewis going?

Very interesting post, btw!

 

[Phil McCreviss]

So how is Jordan Lewis going?

Very interesting post, btw!

Why thankyou. I get turned on significantly at the thought of Jordan Lewis.

 

[Phil McCreviss]

Sounds alot like 2008

Indeed this is true. Tip - watch our training and the blocks that the boys are doing right at the moment. It is all set up to reach optimum fitness in certain months of the year. The reason we won 2008 was because of the blocks of training the boys did in Nov, Dec and Jan 07.

 

[CaptainHodgey]

all well and good but our first 8 rounds is actually pretty tough. I hope the team doesnt get deflated if they lose a few early, particularly the first 4 rounds

 

[sgbn77]

This would be a standard Hawthorn strategy to a season, I'd imagine, especially having a young team...need the runs on the board...then need to hopefully be in form and coasting...lull to come around 14-18 as you say, but this is due to training loads, and fatigued youngsters. Then ramp up for a tilt at the finals.

 

[hawker5]

I think that this is a standard stratergy for all AFL sides - I have been told by a number of people in the past that clubs know that to be genuine contenders they must have a win loss ratio of between 70 to 80% for the first 10 games - when a team achieves this ratio it means that their win loss ratio for the remainer of the season needs to be 65% to get a top 4 chance or 50 to a chance for finals footy.

The above strategy means that in the second half of the year when grounds become heavy that they can rest players ensuring that they are reasonably fresh for the run into the finals. If you look at injuries during this period for a side leading the charge near the top of the ladder you will find that key players may be given an extra week recovery time. The real key is that you have your best available squad from round 17 / 18 onwards so that they can get 5 or 6 games in a row before the finals.

 

[pacman]

Indeed this is true. Tip - watch our training and the blocks that the boys are doing right at the moment. It is all set up to reach optimum fitness in certain months of the year. The reason we won 2008 was because of the blocks of training the boys did in Nov, Dec and Jan 07.

It's no secret that this is Andrew Russells formula but was very hard to do last year with so many late clean ups and injuries.

 

[WeneedyoungJarmans]

The middle period is the most interesting IMO.

If you look back on 2008, it was a period where Hawthorns form was not as good however it played a significant part in their premiership success.

It was the period where the club had the luxury of playing players in different positions or roles in order to refresh their motivations, stretch the player out of their comfort zone and prepare them for the unknown that is finals.

 

[Phil McCreviss]

I think that this is a standard stratergy for all AFL sides - I have been told by a number of people in the past that clubs know that to be genuine contenders they must have a win loss ratio of between 70 to 80% for the first 10 games - when a team achieves this ratio it means that their win loss ratio for the remainer of the season needs to be 65% to get a top 4 chance or 50 to a chance for finals footy.

The above strategy means that in the second half of the year when grounds become heavy that they can rest players ensuring that they are reasonably fresh for the run into the finals. If you look at injuries during this period for a side leading the charge near the top of the ladder you will find that key players may be given an extra week recovery time. The real key is that you have your best available squad from round 17 / 18 onwards so that they can get 5 or 6 games in a row before the finals.

Very perceptive Dr Watson. My crystal ball also indicates a new conditioning structure that has been taken from the NFL. Blueprint is the Patriots from a few years back. Make of that what you will

 

[Ordovician]

The middle period is the most interesting IMO.

If you look back on 2008, it was a period where Hawthorns form was not as good however it played a significant part in their premiership success.

It was the period where the club had the luxury of playing players in different positions or roles in order to refresh their motivations, stretch the player out of their comfort zone and prepare them for the unknown that is finals.

It was a period where the club at a lot of injuries to its first and second line midfielders and was forced debut Kennedy and Morton.

 

[The Kipster]

I've heard we have Top 4 as our prime motivator as well...

in regards to the first 8 rounds, the majority of teams in that patch are Premiership contenders thus our ability to win those games is a must if we are to improve...

 

[Johnny Tapp]

Very perceptive Dr Watson. My crystal ball also indicates a new conditioning structure that has been taken from the NFL. Blueprint is the Patriots from a few years back. Make of that what you will

Very true - if you read "The management secrets of the New England Patriots" hawthorn and new england seem very similar. New England surprised a few won the NFL superbowl, missed the finals the next year (just, like the hawks) then won the next 2 or 3.... The new england team is also focused on drafting the best player for a position, rather than the best available like hawks seem to have done over the last few years.

Hopefully the hawks follow this structure with the same results