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

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At the moment, he's not best 22 when that specific role isn't needed, and the danger is, unless he can improve his skills, quickness of mind, and decision-making, he will fall further from best 22 over the next few years, as the younger ones come through.
That suggests that he won't improve his skills, quickness of mind and decision making.

I'm confident he will on all 3. He has clearly ticked the box learning to be a defender at BH to get a recall to the AFL side. Suggests his growth is going ok. More games at the top level adjusting to the speed will help his game significantly. I agree with others his kicking has also shown improvement.
 
I'd be shocked if he's not on the list next year.

Seems Finn is a specific weapon Sam wants in his kit bag moving forward. He's unique really.

We should have won last week, and Finn's game would have been significant to that. You find a place on your list for a young player who can impact results.

I think he's more likely to be on our list in 2025 than Stephens for example. Stephens is really far down the depth chart in his area of strength.
 

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The main objection to Finn seems to be ... we can't afford to have a purely defensive onballer , or the idea that in "the modern game" every player must be an offensive weapon. I'd like to make three points:

It seems to me that (non key-position) individuals seem to be having as big an influence on the outcome of games as I can remember in my 30+ years of watching it. Players like Petracca and Daicos are having the proverbial picnic because opposition teams have no means to stop them (ie these fabled "systems" don't seem to have a plan B). Watching clubs trying to "put some work into" star players is deadset comical. How many times has Daicos been shadowed (read ghosted) by opposition players completely ill-equipped for the job. The great Lachie Jones V Nick Daicos head-to-head will live long in the memory. Clubs clearly recognise the problem but have no solution (a player that can actually tag on their list). And I agree that a pure tagger will not be needed every game, but so what? Every team has 3 or 4 players who come in and out according to match-ups.

Secondly, Finn has shown he can tag wingman (Ed Langdon) and forwards (Shai Bolton) very effectively - so there will be games where Finn can shut down the opposition's best outside player, without "contaminating" the midfield.

Finally, as others have said, Finn has improved year on year, and I think he will become a more well-rounded player (tagger) with time. His game against Tim Kelly at the G last year was a model of this (kept Kelly to 21 and had 21 himself along with 12 score involvements).

A couple of interesting articles on Finn's tagging efforts from last year ...

 
No doubt Nash is stopping him being that big bodied defensive mid, but game against Giants was outstanding. When we are back in finals contention will our system need a tagging role like Finn, or is this only while we are in our development phase
There is no reason he can't become a high quantity, low quality mid that can sometimes take a game away form the opposition once we no longer require the tagging role, his tank is the kind that makes him come into the game more and more as it wears on. We know we aren't going to get 100% efficiency games out of him, but I can see him in the future running opponents ragged like hill used to do, and having 16 possession final terms.
 
His biggest issue is the anxiety when he has the ball. His mechanical skills aren’t terrible, but the anxiety and panic is.
A little but understandable given his position in the team isnt guaranteed and all eyes are on every disposal.
 
That suggests that he won't improve his skills, quickness of mind and decision making.

I'm confident he will on all 3. He has clearly ticked the box learning to be a defender at BH to get a recall to the AFL side. Suggests his growth is going ok. More games at the top level adjusting to the speed will help his game significantly. I agree with others his kicking has also shown improvement.
There are very, very few players that improve them after being so bad.
 
A little but understandable given his position in the team isnt guaranteed and all eyes are on every disposal.
Understandable doesn’t keep you on a list.

I like what Finn does and I think he will be a weapon when the team improves overall. Without wanting to sound offensive to him, we can essentially have a b-c grade player completely nullifying an A grader in games which means our developed midfield will essentially have the advantage.

I’m drinking wine, I think that makes sense.
 
Just in t
His biggest issue is the anxiety when he has the ball. His mechanical skills aren’t terrible, but the anxiety and panic is.

I think the question to ask is, was this anxiety and panic there in his junior days, or was he able to avoid it because the AFL level refinement wasn't required at that level?

If the answer to both is no (and maybe he can learn the second part of that at AFL level anyway), then this can probably be addressed.

It's looking more and more like he wants the ball when he's free in transition now. That didn't always seem the case before.
 

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And also had 19 going at 89% de and 7 score involvements and 3 intercept possessions.
Had a good game today, but we don’t play North every week.
 
Had a good game today, but we don’t play North every week.
Played well last week too with similar numbers while completely taking kelly out of the game. Today he played half back, half forward and wing. Why wouldn’t you be happy with what he has shown since coming back into the side?
 
Had a good game today, but we don’t play North every week.

He did blanket Kelly the week prior who destroyed Adelaide.
Sheezel had 22 or 23 to half-time. Completed negated his impact after the switch was made.
I don't think Finn is a world-beater but he has a very clear role and he's executing well. Was the same last year.
It was only really the start of the year where he wasn't fulfilling his role.
 
Put the clamps on TT in the first half and Sheezel after.

He's doing well. Liked how he got involved on transition and put himself in dangerous positions.

Hopefully he gets another year.
 
Played well last week too with similar numbers while completely taking kelly out of the game. Today he played half back, half forward and wing. Why wouldn’t you be happy with what he has shown since coming back into the side?
I’m happy with what he’s doing, but I do have big question marks on his composure, decision making and skills at the level, and North are a basketcase.

He had a good game today though.
 
Finn is slowly becoming a 'Liam Shiels type' player in my eyes.

Not due to the similarities in playing style, output on the stats board or anythinglike that; but simply a good honest footballer who will turn up each week and perform his role perfectly for the team around him

Still too early to tell if he will lock in a best 22 spot, but even if he doesn't, we still have a really solid squad player on our hands. His tagging roles have been very important for us
 
Finn is slowly becoming a 'Liam Shiels type' player in my eyes.

Not due to the similarities in playing style, output on the stats board or anythinglike that; but simply a good honest footballer who will turn up each week and perform his role perfectly for the team around him

Still too early to tell if he will lock in a best 22 spot, but even if he doesn't, we still have a really solid squad player on our hands. His tagging roles have been very important for us

I don't think it's a coincidence that we've been a lot harder to score against since Finn has come into the side.

Actually does a power of defensive running and puts himself in really good positions to block space all the while simultaneously keeping his direct opponent quiet. Teams would easily cut through us on transition as our mids are too slow to get back and over commit forward. Finn has the running power to fill those gaps and slow down the opposition movement letting our back 6 settle.

Has shown he can play in the forward half, out wide or in the centre. That versatility is something that Sam is seeking.

Not a world beater disposal wise but thought his composure has improved and is taking some safe options.
 
Well done to Finn. He played quite well today. He's played himself back into form and earned his spot in the side once again. His disposal was really good, and he did a good job on Sheezel. He should hold his head high and use this performance to close out the season well.
 

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

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