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

[SSSSSS]

Would be close to leading the B&F at the moment.

 

[Nick the Pig]

As a coach how do you counter a defensive mid who plays like a wrecking ball and not only completely disrupts his direct opponent's game but is now routinely getting as high possesion stats as any mid on the field?

 

[A Diakos]

Another of our players to be written off by small-minded, short-sighted morons on here....

calm down Roddy ....no need to call fellow hawks morons ......even if they make the odd boo boo

 

[Randy Campbell]

As a coach how do you counter a defensive mid who plays like a wrecking ball and not only completely disrupts his direct opponent's game but is now routinely getting as high possesion stats as any mid on the field?

Get him as far away from the contest as possible and move.

Wrecking ball needs to be taken to a stationary target.

 

[Denver Day Lewis]

Nash was like a metronome though. Just kept finding the pill and distributing.

And when defending he explodes into players. Like an angry, coiled spring ready to punish.

His visible improvement on the ball this year is right up there with Newcombe's meteoric rise as something to celebrate for the club and its fans. Nash still has plenty of upside too. He appears to be so focused and determined, he could be anything as his ball handling and skills continue to develop.

 

[CHUBBSS]

Nash Jai Mackenzie Day MacDonald Ward - stop one but you won’t stop the rest. Building a really well balanced midfield each offering something different

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

I always thought this guy was best 22, but that as we improved as a side he needed to add a string or two to his bow or else he would become a solid depth option.

He didn't just add a string to his bow, bloke swapped it out for a ****ing rocket-propelled grenade.

We all know improvement isn't linear but he has gone from a fringe, impactful but defensive-minded mid to a legitimate AA squad-level player that wins his own ball while making his opponent's life hell. He is on track to eclipse peak Shiels. Ridiculous stuff.

 

[KermitJagger]

Nash is now the 4th highest rated 25 year old to play at least 8 games.

Granted it's not the strongest age bracket in the league, but to be behind only Bolton, Darcy and Simpkin is pretty bloody impressive.

 

[AussieToffee15]

His decision making and ball use has improved dramatically. One of the stories of the season.

 

[hardway]

This man is dangerous. I love it!

 

[Slainte]

Nash is now the 4th highest rated 25 year old to play at least 8 games.

Granted it's not the strongest age bracket in the league, but to be behind only Bolton, Darcy and Simpkin is pretty bloody impressive.

Especially when you consider the none of the above grew up playing Gaelic football and rugby. Nash still has plenty of upside.

 

[SSSSSS]

One thing I've noticed with Conor in stoppages is his uncanny ability to rake the ball with his foot like a hooker (although he was a full back so he wouldn't have seen any scrums). Sometimes to advantage too.

Union background > basketball background.

 

[Yardie]

Hey mods, Smash is spelt wrong in the thread title.....

 

[Judd2Sewell]

What a run of form, his last six weeks have been incredible.

31 touches (18 contested)
7 clearances
9 tackles

28 touches (15 contested)
7 clearances
1 goal
7 tackles

26 touches (9 contested)
3 tackles

26 touches (12 contested)
8 clearances
8 tackles

27 touches (9 contested)
4 tackles

30 touches (14 contested)
8 clearances
8 marks
8 tackles

But IMO most importantly he is able to create some space for our other midfielders.

If this continues watch other teams desperately trying to develop 195cm+ midfielders.

Hard to see even his most ardent fans believing he'd be able to turn out these kinds of performances, never mind people like me who had written him off halfway through 2021.

 

[badgrill]

Keeps going he will push the AA squad

got plenty of love from the commentators, too - mentioning he's pretty much the first Irish recruit to excel as a midfielder (tho obv. Stynes was a 'midfielder')

 

[hardway]

What a run of form, his last six weeks have been incredible.

31 touches (18 contested)
7 clearances
9 tackles

28 touches (15 contested)
7 clearances
1 goal
7 tackles

26 touches (9 contested)
3 tackles

26 touches (12 contested)
8 clearances
8 tackles

27 touches (9 contested)
4 tackles

30 touches (14 contested)
8 clearances
8 marks
8 tackles

But IMO most importantly he is able to create some space for our other midfielders.

If this continues watch other teams desperately trying to develop 195cm+ midfielders.

Hard to see even his most ardent fans believing he'd be able to turn out these kinds of performances, never mind people like me who had written him off halfway through 2021.

You left out the stat for the opponents buried alive.

 

[Stard Picket]

What a run of form, his last six weeks have been incredible.

31 touches (18 contested)
7 clearances
9 tackles

28 touches (15 contested)
7 clearances
1 goal
7 tackles

26 touches (9 contested)
3 tackles

26 touches (12 contested)
8 clearances
8 tackles

27 touches (9 contested)
4 tackles

30 touches (14 contested)
8 clearances
8 marks
8 tackles

But IMO most importantly he is able to create some space for our other midfielders.

If this continues watch other teams desperately trying to develop 195cm+ midfielders.

Hard to see even his most ardent fans believing he'd be able to turn out these kinds of performances, never mind people like me who had written him off halfway through 2021.

Would be good to see his opponents stats from these games also.

 

[CHUBBSS]

What a run of form, his last six weeks have been incredible.

31 touches (18 contested)
7 clearances
9 tackles

28 touches (15 contested)
7 clearances
1 goal
7 tackles

26 touches (9 contested)
3 tackles

26 touches (12 contested)
8 clearances
8 tackles

27 touches (9 contested)
4 tackles

30 touches (14 contested)
8 clearances
8 marks
8 tackles

But IMO most importantly he is able to create some space for our other midfielders.

If this continues watch other teams desperately trying to develop 195cm+ midfielders.

Hard to see even his most ardent fans believing he'd be able to turn out these kinds of performances, never mind people like me who had written him off halfway through 2021.

I’m pretty sure it was completely sam lead, and the moment he got into the midfield at vfl it was such a natural position for him.

That continuity and speed of the game has come quickly for him but his still growing so much, it’s hard to work out where he gets to now with how quickly he has improved in his second season playing midfield…In his life

 

[Randy Campbell]

Everyone has to learn to play.
But not everyone can learn to play like him.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Anyone doubting Sam's coaching ability need only look at him asking Conor why he was playing in the forwards when he was clearly a midfielder back when Sammy was doing his season at Box Hill. Absolutely nailed it.

 

[KermitJagger]

Anyone doubting Sam's coaching ability need only look at him asking Conor why he was playing in the forwards when he was clearly a midfielder back when Sammy was doing his season at Box Hill. Absolutely nailed it.

Every week that goes past I understand more and more why the kids really pushed for Sam to take over sooner.

 

[SSSSSS]

Would be good to see his opponents stats from these games also.

Round 10 - Kelly - averaging 28.7d (12k, 17hb), 385 metres gained, 5.7 clearances, 59% DE - kept to 26 touches, 300mg, 6 clearances and 46% DE

Round 9 - Oliver - averaging 33d (16k, 17hb), 483 metres gained, 6.8 clearances, 67.3% DE - kept to 34 touches, 438mg, 5 clearances, 58% DE

Round 8 - Serong - averaging 30.3d (16k, 14hb), 455 metres gained, 7.4 clearances, 68.4% DE - kept to 24 touches, 528mg, 5 clearances, 66% DE

 

[Noel Gallagher]

Anyone doubting Sam's coaching ability need only look at him asking Conor why he was playing in the forwards when he was clearly a midfielder back when Sammy was doing his season at Box Hill. Absolutely nailed it.

This and pretty much identifying Newcombe as a special talent very early on in his days at Box Hill

 

[Judd2Sewell]

You left out the stat for the opponents buried alive.

Waiting for the Homocide Squad investigation to conclude first.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

I’m pretty sure it was completely sam lead, and the moment he got into the midfield at vfl it was such a natural position for him.

That continuity and speed of the game has come quickly for him but his still growing so much, it’s hard to work out where he gets to now with how quickly he has improved in his second season playing midfield…In his life

It was most definitely lead by Sam Mitchell. He saw a level of potential there that Clarko seemingly did not.