Toast Welcome to Hawthorn, Finn Maginness “absolute Hawthorn nuffie” and a Hawk to 2027

[Simon Crawshay]

I wonder if any VFL watchers can explain to me why he can regularly post 30+possession games in the VFL yet struggle to get mid teen possessions in the seniors?

Is the problem we are asking him to be too negative when he gets the call up?

I would like to let him loose in a more freewheeling role in the seniors to see if he can replicate his VFL ball winning form.

Like Worps at the moment I am willing to cop a few errant kicks if he is getting the pill because as they always say when you have the ball the oppo doesn’t.

 

[KermitJagger]

I wonder if any VFL watchers can explain to me why he can regularly post 30+possession games in the VFL yet struggle to get mid teen possessions in the seniors?

Is the problem we are asking him to be too negative when he gets the call up?

I would like to let him loose in a more freewheeling role in the seniors to see if he can replicate his VFL ball winning form.

Like Worps at the moment I am willing to cop a few errant kicks if he is getting the pill because as they always say when you have the ball the oppo doesn’t.

It's tough for a player who can only really do one role at a time in the AFL, particularly in the midfield. Cousins is a good example in previous years - he could come in and play a decent stopping role but his output suffered offensively, he could come in and play a pretty good attacking role but he'd finish games without laying a tackle. Maginness is similar in that he is very single minded about his game, and if you want to play that way you can only really do it as a star attacking mid.

Nash is managing to combine the two aspects of his game much better than Finn can, so he is in the side. Pretty simple.

 

[H00t]

I wonder if any VFL watchers can explain to me why he can regularly post 30+possession games in the VFL yet struggle to get mid teen possessions in the seniors?

Is the problem we are asking him to be too negative when he gets the call up?

I would like to let him loose in a more freewheeling role in the seniors to see if he can replicate his VFL ball winning form.

Like Worps at the moment I am willing to cop a few errant kicks if he is getting the pill because as they always say when you have the ball the oppo doesn’t.

I missed the game yesterday. But generally he’s played a lot more freely at VFL level when he’s collected big disposals.

But what’s probably the biggest thing is just how big a step up it is currently from VFL to AFL.

 

[Rocket72]

I wonder if any VFL watchers can explain to me why he can regularly post 30+possession games in the VFL yet struggle to get mid teen possessions in the seniors?

Is the problem we are asking him to be too negative when he gets the call up?

I would like to let him loose in a more freewheeling role in the seniors to see if he can replicate his VFL ball winning form.

Like Worps at the moment I am willing to cop a few errant kicks if he is getting the pill because as they always say when you have the ball the oppo doesn’t.

There's more to it, but the gap between the VFL and AFL is as large as it has been in my memory.

You definitely make a good point, when he plays seniors he seems to be preferred as a tagger or off the HBF. Even at Box Hill, I don't think he has cracked 30 possessions very often, so more 36 disposal games will give the coaches more confidence in him. He showed more composure on the weekend too, which was a step.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I missed the game yesterday. But generally he’s played a lot more freely at VFL level when he’s collected big disposals.

But what’s probably the biggest thing is just how big a step up it is currently from VFL to AFL.

I actually walked past Williamstown oval a couple of weeks ago and watched a little bit of the game.

You are right, it was a very messy slog (of course it’s always windy as hell down at Willy) and if I didn’t know better I would have thought I was watching a high level ammo or country league game.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

The speed of the game is different and his dodgy kicking gets more exposed at AFL level because he is more rushed and the turnovers hurt more. It is that simple.

To be honest Porter would be a better go at AFL level at present. I think it’s sad as he was given every opportunity at AFL level last season and the commencement of this season but right now, he has 3 months to save his AFL career at Hawthorn.

 

[Rocket72]

The speed of the game is different and his dodgy kicking gets more exposed at AFL level because he is more rushed and the turnovers hurt more. It is that simple.

To be honest Porter would be a better go at AFL level at present. I think it’s sad as he was given every opportunity at AFL level last season and the commencement of this season but right now, he has 3 months to save his AFL career at Hawthorn.

What did you think of his game on the weekend? I thought I saw more composure, interested in other views to check that I'm not suffering from a positivity bias, would love another Maginness to succeed at Hawthorn!

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

What did you think of his game on the weekend? I thought I saw more composure, interested in other views to check that I'm not suffering from a positivity bias, would love another Maginness to succeed at Hawthorn!

He was good without being brilliant. The tempo and pressure were not high. He can use his endurance to his advantage at this level and this distorts his level of impact.

I think we all wanted him to succeed but he is up against it if we are being honest

 

[hardway]

I wonder if any VFL watchers can explain to me why he can regularly post 30+possession games in the VFL yet struggle to get mid teen possessions in the seniors?

Is the problem we are asking him to be too negative when he gets the call up?
I would like to let him loose in a more freewheeling role in the seniors to see if he can replicate his VFL ball winning form.

Like Worps at the moment I am willing to cop a few errant kicks if he is getting the pill because as they always say when you have the ball the oppo doesn’t.

The effectiveness of those touches would be low.

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

VFL player by player RD10: Each AFL-listed Hawk in review​

Finn Maginness (36 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles) ​

“For Finn to finish with 36 disposals is great reward. As we know with Finn, he works super hard all day. He had a little role on one of their small forwards and was able to get that locked away and then find the footy himself which is really pleasing. It was another step forward for Finn as a defender. He’s just got to keep learning now and keep growing that area of his game.”

 

[Dewwwww]

Can’t underestimate Finns impact restricting Josh Kelly to 6 disposals whilst racking up 15 himself.

My question is will he be on the list in 2024?

Don’t think we can carry all of Long / Hustwaite / Stephens and Finn on the list for 2024.

 

[parsons nose]

Can’t underestimate Finns impact restricting Josh Kelly to 6 disposals whilst racking up 15 himself.

My question is will he be on the list in 2024?

Don’t think we can carry all of Long / Hustwaite / Stephens and Finn on the list for 2024.

I can’t see a spot for him. Good on him yesterday, concentration is his one wood. Outside of that, the cupboard is bare.

 

[play2win]

Hoping he gets the gig on daicos when we play the pies.

 

[tommyk72]

I know tagging is not in fashion currently, but gee it's a valuable trait to have at our fingertips to deploy. Imagine coming into a grand final against, say, Richmond, and having a guy who you are 90% certain will keep Dusty/Cotching/Taranto to 10 touches. I'd be doing that in a heartbeat, even if Finn were to only get 5-10 touches himself.

(I know Richmond isn't the best example right now, but I've not followed other teams as closely this year - maybe pick a Melbourne/Port example).

 

[Bugs1977]

I know tagging is not in fashion currently, but gee it's a valuable trait to have at our fingertips to deploy. Imagine coming into a grand final against, say, Richmond, and having a guy who you are 90% certain will keep Dusty/Cotching/Taranto to 10 touches. I'd be doing that in a heartbeat, even if Finn were to only get 5-10 touches himself.

(I know Richmond isn't the best example right now, but I've not followed other teams as closely this year - maybe pick a Melbourne/Port example).

You just know if we only offer him a 1 year deal then another club that’s a contender will come and snap him up with a multiple year deal where he’ll slot in there solely to play a shutdown role and look incredible

 

[cryptor]

At this point I think he’s worth re-signing purely for his tagging ability, even if he spends most games playing with Box Hill.

Nullifying the impact of one of the opponents best players through tagging is effectively the equivalent of providing the same impact as that player while not being tagged and cancelling them out on balance. And that’s before accounting for what he might provide on top of the tagging role, like some clearances or a goal.

That said, I don’t think we’re going to necessarily want or need to use a tagger every week. Based on this season it’s a specialist role and not a key component. And I stand by my thoughts that his disposal and speed of mind are still VFL quality at this time.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

At this point I think he’s worth re-signing purely for his tagging ability, even if he spends most games playing with Box Hill.

Nullifying the impact of one of the opponents best players through tagging is effectively the equivalent of providing the same impact as that player while not being tagged and cancelling them out on balance. And that’s before accounting for what he might provide on top of the tagging role, like some clearances or a goal.

That said, I don’t think we’re going to necessarily want or need to use a tagger every week. Based on this season it’s a specialist role and not a key component. And I stand by my thoughts that his disposal and speed of mind are still VFL quality at this time.

Agree

and when it comes down to limited list spots at years end, I wonder if he would be preferred by the coaches over a more established Morrison type?

 

[lethalselbow]

You just know if we only offer him a 1 year deal then another club that’s a contender will come and snap him up with a multiple year deal where he’ll slot in there solely to play a shutdown role and look incredible

Swans.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Absolutely dominated Kelly. That's another scalp to add to his list of quality scalps last season.

 

[I got the outside word]

As our kids improve Finn’s role as a shutdown player will win us games. At the moment teams still have an edge even when their most damaging player is being Maginnessed but as we evolve it will become much more valuable. Probably.

 

[toomanysquibs]

At this point I think he’s worth re-signing purely for his tagging ability, even if he spends most games playing with Box Hill.

Nullifying the impact of one of the opponents best players through tagging is effectively the equivalent of providing the same impact as that player while not being tagged and cancelling them out on balance. And that’s before accounting for what he might provide on top of the tagging role, like some clearances or a goal.

That said, I don’t think we’re going to necessarily want or need to use a tagger every week. Based on this season it’s a specialist role and not a key component. And I stand by my thoughts that his disposal and speed of mind are still VFL quality at this time.

I think as long as he's improving, and the coaches think we've got an open list spot for a specialist tagger we'd be crazy to get rid of him.

Definitely fits the bill as being a player who is elite at something at AFL level (high level endurance running tagger).

Composure with ball in hand looking a little better than last year too.

Going to be in trouble if he's at his ceiling now, but I do think there is improvement to come still.

We're loaded with tall mids who can run for the first time in forever. Finn probably has the lowest skill level, and Nash took the spot that might have been his. But now there's Long too who can also run, and Hustwaite waiting in the wings with far greater flair and creativity.

 

[tommyk72]

At this point I think he’s worth re-signing purely for his tagging ability, even if he spends most games playing with Box Hill.

Nullifying the impact of one of the opponents best players through tagging is effectively the equivalent of providing the same impact as that player while not being tagged and cancelling them out on balance. And that’s before accounting for what he might provide on top of the tagging role, like some clearances or a goal.

That said, I don’t think we’re going to necessarily want or need to use a tagger every week. Based on this season it’s a specialist role and not a key component. And I stand by my thoughts that his disposal and speed of mind are still VFL quality at this time.

Not quite the equivalent of a punter in the NFL, but definitely useful to have on the list of 40+ players is my thought.

 

[tommyk72]

Absolutely dominated Kelly. That's another scalp to add to his list of quality scalps last season.

Makes me think about what other scalps he would have taken should he have played all year.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

2 year contract, i think he has improvement left in him. An as the side improves overall so will his game. It only takes one injury and not every list can be filled with a super star.

Finn wants to learn and is developing with the rest of the list.

 

[Bugs1977]

I think as long as he's improving, and the coaches think we've got an open list spot for a specialist tagger we'd be crazy to get rid of him.

Definitely fits the bill as being a player who is elite at something at AFL level (high level endurance running tagger).

Composure with ball in hand looking a little better than last year too.

Going to be in trouble if he's at his ceiling now, but I do think there is improvement to come still.

We're loaded with tall mids who can run for the first time in forever. Finn probably has the lowest skill level, and Nash took the spot that might have been his. But now there's Long too who can also run, and Hustwaite waiting in the wings with far greater flair and creativity.

IMO there would 20-30 worse list cloggers than Finn on AFL lists atm and not one that can do the shutdown job that he can. I would be offering him a 1 year deal and see if he takes it. If he doesn’t then you either have to be prepared to give him a 1 + 1 or let him go.