Tom Hawkins

[Partridge]

If we came up against StK in the NAB cup, I'd like to see him on Riewoldt for a quarter or two. He'd get smashed, but he see first hand what a champion forward's work rate needs to be.

He was playing that night, so unless his eyes were shut he should have noticed that already.

 

[Partridge]

I have been calling for a year to play him at CHB - or on the tallest, slowest opposition forward. He needs to be led to the ball - and just spoil. This will take the pressure of marking and this will help his confidence.

Sure he is not fit enough yet - but he is the same height as Lonergan - and I think has more talent and potential than Lonergan - who plays in the backline. So I cannot see why Hawkins cannot have a go at this position - and be as effective, if not more so, than Lonergan.

I am still a believer that we cannot afford to play Lonergan and Hawkins in the same side. Both are not yet really good enough in a KP - and so we can only experiment with one at a time.

Perhaps both will come on in the next season - and then, and only then, can we afford to have both in the team at the same time.

I don't believe Hawkins is a viable defender in any way, shape or form. He's a forward, and unfortunately the softly-softly approach hasn't done him any favours.

To me the solution is simple. He has to be run into the ground over the pre-season, and as mentioned above Riewoldt showed the fitness and workrate required to be an elite key forward. He needs to get to that point. Fast.

Then, he needs to be played as a key forward next season for an extended period. We have to find out once and for all if he's up to it. If Pods or Mooney therefore have to play seconds tough (my money would be on Pods keeping his spot on form). We learnt the tough way what happened when you keep older guys in at the expense of younger ones. The forward line cannot be structured around 2 guys at or over 30 when there's a 22-year-old waiting. That would be a massive step backward.

 

[Silverado]

I'm not sure for the reason but he seems to still carry 'puppy fat' for want of a better word. Surely a young man who has been training and playing at his level he should seem to be a little more hardened in body shape? I know he missed a bit with injury and thats not going to help but I think if they dropped some size off him he could possibly turn things around. He would be more agile, less chance of stress injuries, better capacity to become defensive in the forward line and perhaps a little more usefull in other areas of the ground if need be

 

[FoxC]

I don't believe Hawkins is a viable defender in any way, shape or form. He's a forward, and unfortunately the softly-softly approach hasn't done him any favours.

To me the solution is simple. He has to be run into the ground over the pre-season, and as mentioned above Riewoldt showed the fitness and workrate required to be an elite key forward. He needs to get to that point. Fast.

Then, he needs to be played as a key forward next season for an extended period. We have to find out once and for all if he's up to it. If Pods or Mooney therefore have to play seconds tough (my money would be on Pods keeping his spot on form). We learnt the tough way what happened when you keep older guys in at the expense of younger ones. The forward line cannot be structured around 2 guys at or over 30 when there's a 22-year-old waiting. That would be a massive step backward.

This. Hawkins does not have the defensive nous and speed to be a backman of the modern game. The forward line is where he should play all of next year, when he is picked to play. 2011 will be a make or break year for him.

 

[ninjacat]

We can't have Mooney, Hawkins and Pods in the forward line at once, and we just don't have the luxury of keeping one of these guys on the bench now.

Add to that the possibility of Brown making a show in the seniors next year, and things don't look rosy for Hawkins' development next year. For me this is one of the great mysteries, how all these guys are going to fit together. Maybe he'll do well as second ruck.

 

[thegerman]

Like a few posters have stated, yet another opportunity for those with a negative view on life to post their 'what he should do' responses.

Awesome!

 

[Ninty]

Chucking him at CHB and in the ruck is useless.

He just needs to get fit, have a big pre-season and make CHF his. If his form isn't good enough, play him at VFL level... But I believe he will make it. He is definitely not a ruckman, and making him play on Riewoldt won't prove anything. I'm sure he's well aware of what he can do.

Just give him a break. I'm not sure what you expect of a 22 year old with the injuries he's had and putting him in a position that he can't play and is not even good for said injury. (like having to jump ((he wasn't even jumping at all because of this at times)) with his foot...)

Either way, I'll always love him for his big time goal in the 2009 GF.

 

[Beth]

Like a few posters have stated, yet another opportunity for those with a negative view on life to post their 'what he should do' responses.

Awesome!

Hang on a minute, my life is 100% kittens unicorns and rainbows, I also just happen to think Tommy is a little ..."husky"