Zac Dawson - The Key

[TheWhiteRhino]

I posted this on the main board, but i'd appreciate some feedback from some Hawks supporters particularly.

It is amazing that the fate of Hawks each week so closely mirrors the ability of their young backman to contain the opposition key position forward. There is no wonder why the performances of Zac Dawson have come under such great scrutiny over the past few weeks....

Look at the results:

Hawks vs Fremantle (win)
- Pavlich : 1 goal

Hawks vs Collingwood (loss)
- Rocca: 8 goals

Hawks vs Geelong (win)
- Kingsely: 0 goals

Hawks v Carlton (win)
- Fev suspended. Not sure who Dawson took, but no Carlton forward contributed much.

Hawks v Bombers (win)
- No Lloyd. Hille: 1 goal

Hawks vs Kangaroos (loss)
- Thompson: 8 goals

Hawks vs Brisbane (loss)
- Brown: 8 goals

Hawks vs Dees (loss)
- Neitz: 6 goals

The issues are:
- does this merely reflect the midfield dominance of the opposition in those respective games? (i.e. more supply)
- does the rest of the Hawks backline deserve more blame?
- was the whole team off their game in these losses?

Ceratinly, on the stats alone it seems a simple winning formula for the Hawks:
Zac stops his opponent = Hawks victory

He'll certainly need some luck against Hall this week!!

 

[illnino]

Ceratinly, on the stats alone it seems a simple winning formula for the Hawks:
Zac stops his opponent = Hawks victory

He'll certainly need some luck against Hall this week!!

Very good observation....

It's a must to put Smith, Roughie or Jacobs on Hall this week and have Dawson chopping leads

If our team is switched on this week(like rd 1,2,3,4)..........Its gonna be a good one!

 

[grimlock]

Very good observation....

It's a must to put Smith, Roughie or Jacobs on Hall this week and have Dawson chopping leads

If our team is switched on this week(like rd 1,2,3,4)..........Its gonna be a good one!

Isn't this the exact same tactic you guys tried in R22 last year?

 

[Nightwolf]

Smith was on Pavlich..

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Zac wasn't on nietz for all six goals.

I'm so tired of people trying to bring the kid down.

 

[illnino]

Zac wasn't on nietz for all six goals.

I'm so tired of people trying to bring the kid down.

I actually really admire the kid.....just not sure hes ready for Big Bad Bazza.....not sure he even thinks hes ready!

 

[TheWhiteRhino]

Zac wasn't on nietz for all six goals.

I'm so tired of people trying to bring the kid down.

Not bringing the kid down. I was merely inquiring whether all the citicism he's receiving is justified? I personally don't think so and it seems you agree...

The point of my thread (which some persons here and many on the main board don't seem to realise) is that when the Hawks can shut down the opposition's key forward they tend to win games. I, like Hawks supporters, should therefore be very interested in knowing how this can be done. Of course, before you can come up with a solution you must identify the problem. Hence I ask, why are these KPF running wild? Is it because Dawson has been underforming, his teamates haven't played their roles properly or the midfield is getting smashed?

 

[Bantum9]

I was at the game. Neitz kicked four goals on Jacobs and only two on Zac.

 

[CyberKev]

Isn't this the exact same tactic you guys tried in R22 last year?

The tactic then was to let Roughead & Dawson double-team him.

Dumb idea at any time, and all it succeeded in doing was confusing the two youngsters, with both of them constantly diverting focus to what the other was doing, moreso than what Hall was doing.

As I think that Roughead is a very unsettling prospect for opposition sides operating out of the goal square, I'd prefer to see him start there this week, with Smith given the first run on Hall. I also feel that Roughead needs settle time in a key forward role if we're serious about him ascending permanently to such a role.

I'd also like to see Franklin back at CHF and Matthew Little afforded a debut on one of the flanks.

If nothing else, Little would be an unknown commodity for the Swans and would offer suprise value.

 

[Buster the hawk]

Zac has been given a good run but i think it's about time for a spell in the seconds ,other players of the same age with a lot better form overall e.g Lewis,Young ,Franklin have not been given near as many opportunities as he has had even after he has been consistently beaten .The only forward who he has done any good on is Kingsley from Geelong who i think is grossly overrated anyway and a good reaon why the Cats aren't doing as well as they thought they would.Thurgood's been in good form for BH and IMO should be given a chance this week.

 

[MightyFighting]

I'd like to see how he goes up forward.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Thurgood hasn't been in that good'a form to be selected.

 

[JackHawk]

For a guy so young in a KP, I'm impressed with his persona. His hip and shoulder on Robbo was highlight on a low night at the MCG........he's now got 10 games, and won't celebrate 50 until the 2008 season, "the" season a lot of us see HFC as a genuinely primed finals campaigner. By then who knows, by then he might be our gun CHF,.....but watchout for ZAC in '08....GO HAWKS.