Tim O'Brien: Corner turned. 2yr extension announced.

[PhatHQ]

I hope we sort out the second ruck role sooner rather than later.
As fun as it is watching him, jumping into guys that are 15-20kg heavier will only lead to an injury.
Vickery coming good soon is a priority for me to keep TOB healthy now he has unshackled himself.
...he probably likes tucking for all I know????

Anyone got any first hand knowledge on his desires or lack of for the ruck role?

 

[B&GBlood]

As an opposition coach you would only put one of your KPD on him if he started tearing up the game.
There's no way I would let Gunners, Rough & especially BB to have the 3rd defender inside 50 to mark the footy.
The best bet would be to get an aggressive runner with him & force him up the ground & get him away from taking marks for a shot on goal.
I would rather see him get 20 posessions up the ground & a few marks than 12 posessions 8 marks 3 goals & create scoring opportunities for our smalls as an opposition coach.

I think it was Hunt on him in the first half, who is a runner as you describe, but he moved forward in the third.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

10 marks, 5 contested. When was the last time a hawk achieved this?

 

[threesixpio]

10 marks, 5 contested. When was the last time a hawk achieved this?

Maybe Lakey?

 

[Dank You Steven]

Maybe Lakey?

Gibbo? Not many of his would have been contested though.

 

[Dank You Steven]

Can you imagine if we did! 7 game rebuild before back to winning flags. Opposition supporters would implode!

Whilst we won't rebuild in 7 games ( we all wish), don't put it past Clarko to have us in the mix from 2019 onwards. The blokes a genius.

 

[threesixpio]

Or Hale/Roughy

Sizzle wouldn't be far off.

But yeah - TOB was Mr Reliable

 

[butchy]

he is almost unbeatable when given a run at the marking contest.
And you can see he is jumping with so much confidence, like he finally realises that he is meant to be doing what he is doing.
Really enjoying watching him blossom this year. Amazing what confidence can do to a player.

 

[Teamwork Talks]

I think we can have both TOB and TV in the same side.
TV takes the Hale role as a forward/part time ruck man.
TOB is more of a flanker coming in from the side of a pack to take marks. Also being a link man marking further up field. Bit like a tall Buckenara.

 

[Gold Member]

10 marks, 5 contested. When was the last time a hawk achieved this?

Probably Paul Salmon

 

[Big Hotdog]

I think we can have both TOB and TV in the same side.
TV takes the Hale role as a forward/part time ruck man.
TOB is more of a flanker coming in from the side of a pack to take marks. Also being a link man marking further up field. Bit like a tall Buckenara.

What about Shcoey?

 

[HairyO]

What about Shcoey?

I cant imagine a team with Roughie, Gunston, Vickery, TOB, Big Boy and Schoey.

It seems like Vickery is well ahead of Schoey at Box Hill at the moment, so would be the most likely to next step up. But for the time being, I cannot imagine Clarko omitting TOB.

 

[PhatHQ]

I hope we sort out the second ruck role sooner rather than later.
As fun as it is watching him, jumping into guys that are 15-20kg heavier will only lead to an injury.
Vickery coming good soon is a priority for me to keep TOB healthy now he has unshackled himself.
...he probably likes tucking for all I know????

Anyone got any first hand knowledge on his desires or lack of for the ruck role?

So someone had a similar idea to mine with upgrading & selecting Fitzy

 

[Hawthorn United]

How quickly we forget.

Lake is one of the best contested marking defenders of all time.

Lake is a weird one as he does take his marks in contested situations, but the ease at which he out bodies his opponent, it actually looks uncontested.

 

[threesixpio]

Lake is a weird one as he does take his marks in contested situations, but the ease at which he out bodies his opponent, it actually looks uncontested.

I also remember many marks where no one else was anywhere near it - even in the forward 50.

In retrospect...maybe they were scared...

 

[Thaihawk]

I also remember many marks where no one else was anywhere near it - even in the forward 50.

In retrospect...maybe they were scared...

Scared that he would start a pitch for one of Brian's Bargains.

 

[burger09]

Lake is a weird one as he does take his marks in contested situations, but the ease at which he out bodies his opponent, it actually looks uncontested.

Yeah he read the ball off the boot and in flight better than most forwards and would often beat them to the drop despite an apparent lack of leg speed.

 

[threesixpio]

Yeah he read the ball off the boot and in flight better than most forwards and would often beat them to the drop despite an apparent lack of leg speed.

Awesome reader of the ball in flight

 

[LuckyHawk]

There was a game he played last year when l thought for the first time he showed real intent and desire (Sic, you listening?)
needed to play the game and bit by bit he has improved, more mentally l think than anything else. l for one never thought
he'd make it, its a credit to himself and Hawthorn for their perseverance.

 

[HolyWars]

Another solid game by O'Brien today. Really starting to string some good games together now. Great to see.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

How quickly we forget.

Lake is one of the best contested marking defenders of all time.

Completely agree. It is different though as a defender versus a forward. No one is trying to stop you marking as a defender...

 

[ZAD1]

The Fitzpatrick inclusion made little sense to begin with and after watching the game I stand by that view. O'Brien is doing a good job as the 2nd ruckman. He leaps, competes well, and most importantly it keeps him in the game! He still has those 10-15 minutes where he goes missing but pushing him into the ruck really forces him to stay engaged. I hope he goes back to sharing the duties with McEvoy next week.

 

[HolyWars]

The Fitzpatrick inclusion made little sense to begin with and after watching the game I stand by that view. O'Brien is doing a good job as the 2nd ruckman. He leaps, competes well, and most importantly it keeps him in the game! He still has those 10-15 minutes where he goes missing but pushing him into the ruck really forces him to stay engaged. I hope he goes back to sharing the duties with McEvoy next week.

Agreed.

McEvoy has hit a new level this year, and O'Brien does just fine in small spells in the ruck.

 

[JoeHawk]

I have been a doubter but very pleased to see he is finally presenting himself and has found confidence and taking the game on.

Always thought he was a step or two behind Sicily in development, but has now suddenly lept ahead and with great team attitude.

 

[HairyO]

Another solid game by O'Brien today. Really starting to string some good games together now. Great to see.

I think he actually performs better pinch hitting in the ruck. I do wonder if we are better replacing Fitzy with TV, so that TV and TOB swap ruck roles and play forwards, while Big Boy can ruck and play the floating around the ground game where he shines.

Also means we would never have to have Roughie in the ruck. He can do it, but he is far more damaging as a midfielder, if not playing forwards.