Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn - Conor Nash. Extends to 2029!

[Simon Crawshay]

I’ve had my fair share of pot shots at Nash over the journey but I admit he was very good on the weekend.

I think we need to understand that even though his athletic abilities would make you think he is a utility he is a midfielder pure and simple.

I said at the start of the year if he can. Up his disposal average up around 20 he keeps his spot. It if he gets 30 disposals on a regular basis he is probably top ten.

 

[Roddy]

I will not be surprised one iota if he’s a part of our next flag side…

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

I will not be surprised one iota if he’s a part of our next flag side…

Me too. But he is the cream on top.

He is such a weapon and so athletically gifted, but he just hasn't got the tools to lead the midfield.

I honestly got a shock on the weekend during the broadcast when they mentioned he was still only 24, feels like he has been around for ever.

Super unique player

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[Mr Meeseeks]

I will not be surprised one iota if he’s a part of our next flag side…

Me too. But he is the cream on top.

He is such a weapon and so athletically gifted, but he just hasn't got the tools to lead the midfield.

I honestly got a shock on the weekend during the broadcast when they mentioned he was still only 24, feels like he has been around for ever.

Super unique player

 

[lyger]

I will not be surprised one iota if he’s a part of our next flag side…

Agree, I think Nashy will only get better, remembering he is a convert and still young in training/ development age.

 

[Dewwwww]

I think Nash is exactly what they are trying to turn Maginness into. The problem is I can’t see them both playing in the same midfield and I see Connor with the bigger upside.

it’s all about building a midfield which has a variety of types of players in it (unlike our one paced midfield which we have run with for the past 5yrs) and having a 198cm Bull in the middle to take the hits is going to be a huge advantage for us!

 

[burger09]

I've been impressed with the way he has upped his physical presence this year.

Has brought a hardness that we really need and added a string to his bow which he needed to do to elevate himself above other mids waiting for a chance.

Well done Connor. I really hope he can keep improving, I do like him.

 

[tommyk72]

Me too. But he is the cream on top.

He is such a weapon and so athletically gifted, but he just hasn't got the tools to lead the midfield.

I honestly got a shock on the weekend during the broadcast when they mentioned he was still only 24, feels like he has been around for ever.

Super unique player

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I disagree. He's not the cream, he's the meat on the bottom (or the dough or the cake - sorry for mixing dishes/metaphors). He's the one doing the grunt work at the bottom of the packs/shepherding to let others shine. Very much in a Shiels/Sewell mode.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

What's the general 'Hawthorn Fan" assessment of how Conor is developing as an AFL player given his age, non-AFL background etc.?
He's from the same county as me back home so I try to follow his progress, but it's really difficult to get an accurate sense of how he's going this season as the opinions here after most games seem to range from "He played pretty well" to "He shouldn't be in the team."

This year he'll play every week because of the size and age of our midfield. This is the year we need him to take the next step. If not, there a lot of young players who could overtake him.

If he can make himself a permanent fixture, he could be anything.

 

[CHUBBSS]

I disagree. He's not the cream, he's the meat on the bottom (or the dough or the cake - sorry for mixing dishes/metaphors). He's the one doing the grunt work at the bottom of the packs/shepherding to let others shine. Very much in a Shiels/Sewell mode.

A 2m athletically gifted shiels would be a sight to behold… he might need a few more shots on goal to shine shiels boots though, his one wood is the handball in tight, would be one of the fastest at the club

We are building a rolling maul with jai, nash, long and day though, in 2 years they will be huge

 

[toomanysquibs]

A 2m athletically gifted shiels would be a sight to behold… he might need a few more shots on goal to shine shiels boots though, his one wood is the handball in tight, would be one of the fastest at the club

We are building a rolling maul with jai, nash, long and day though, in 2 years they will be huge

Nailed it.

Worpel not out of place in that group when he hits beast mode too, and Mackenzie has the mindset and frame if he fills out as well.

 

[natio]

Just heard a stat from the Champion Data bloke on SEN. Hawthorn have won a centre clearance 51% of the time Nash is in a centre bounce which is the 3rd highest in the AFL

I am assuming secondary bounces are counted as not winning a clearance so that is why 51% is so highly ranked

Glad to see this stat. That is bloody impressive! It confirms exactly what I've been saying. We are a better midfielder with him in it. His big body and competitiveness helps win the ball, block opp players, and makes our other midfielders better.

He definitely has limitations as a footballer but i think he still has upside to improve.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

I disagree. He's not the cream, he's the meat on the bottom (or the dough or the cake - sorry for mixing dishes/metaphors). He's the one doing the grunt work at the bottom of the packs/shepherding to let others shine. Very much in a Shiels/Sewell mode.

Fair enough it was a shit analogy.

I was trying to say that I think he is the sort of player premiership teams can have, but he needs guns around him to flourish. I didn't do a good job of it.


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[B&GBlood]

the player that made Sam’s life hell was Ling, the midfield we are building will as big as any other,if not bigger, so no one should be in Sam’s shoes being pushed around like Ling did to Sammy.

 

[tommyk72]

Fair enough it was a s**t analogy.

I was trying to say that I think he is the sort of player premiership teams can have, but he needs guns around him to flourish. I didn't do a good job of it.


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That makes a lot more sense. Will never be the go to guy, but makes the team around him stand taller.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

Five Round 5 performances that flew under the radar according to Champion Data

Here's who the coaches missed with their votes.

www.sen.com.au

Connor Nash (Hawthorn)

“Connor Nash had zero votes, but we had him as the third-highest rated player on the ground on the weekend.

“31 disposals, the most of his career, 18 contested possessions, the most of his career.

“The thing I noticed about Connor Nash as well that if there was one good aspect in Hawthorn’s game as well is winning clearance and centre-bounce clearance.

“When he goes into the centre-bounce Hawthorn are actually winning the centre clearance 51 per cent of the time, that’s the third-highest percentage of any player in the competition.

“His role, that Sam Mitchell has developed for him, has been a real win.”


That percentage is cooked! Very good mid.

 

[streetspirit]

Five Round 5 performances that flew under the radar according to Champion Data

Here's who the coaches missed with their votes.

www.sen.com.au

SEN could spell Conor's name right to start with

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[cryptor]

Fair to say, as a starting mid he has a bit to work on. Last 2 games combined:

1 marks
8 Kicks
2 centre clearance
0 Goals
0 points
0 goal assists

He's playing a defensive role. He's preventing the opposition from getting the clearance and making it easier for our other mids to win it. Hence the 51% clearance win rate when he's there in attendance.

 

[SSSSSS]

Like I said a few weeks back he's best 22. No doubt about it.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

He's playing a defensive role. He's preventing the opposition from getting the clearance and making it easier for our other mids to win it. Hence the 51% clearance win rate when he's there in attendance.

Not sure he's playing a defensive role in terms of stopping an opponent, as much as he's really helping create some space for the rest of the midfield.

Eg. Green had 12 touches and 5 of his 9 clearances in the second half.

 

[HeHateMe]

I mentioned it in a few GameDay threads he is fantastic at controlling our hit zones allowing the other guys a clean run at the footy. He works really well with Day.

 

[cryptor]

Not sure he's playing a defensive role in terms of stopping an opponent, as much as he's really helping create some space for the rest of the midfield.

Eg. Green had 12 touches and 5 of his 9 clearances in the second half.

Let's say "supporting role". He's the wingman. He's not necessarily the one getting the clearance but he's the one who makes it more likely that we do.

 

[hawkman]

Fair to say, as a starting mid he has a bit to work on. Last 2 games combined:

1 marks
8 Kicks
2 centre clearance
0 Goals
0 points
0 goal assists

So you think drop him next time he plays a poor one

 

[hawkman]

Let's say "supporting role". He's the wingman. He's not necessarily the one getting the clearance but he's the one who makes it more likely that we do.

Exactly, he is averaging just 1.6 centre clearances a week but has the 2nd most impact at centre clearances. He is also stopping the opposition from getting a clean clearance