Where do Hawthorn lack real depth?

[MaccaHawk]

As brightly as things are looking, I'm interested to see if there is a consensus on what everyone thinks is the one area of the park where we have a worrying lack of depth at the minute.

For me it is a shallow pool of talent in the backline. While our rucks are generally unproven (Robbie had a good 2006, but he needs to repeat and improve on that form in 2007, while Max still has "L" plates and Taylor is 3rd rate) there is hope, but we seem to have a very leaky defence. I am hopeful for Dawson's eventual metamorphosis into a solid backman, but we do look shaky there, and are at least 2 very good defenders (be they new guys or existing players who work on their game) away from allowing me to sleep at night again...

Thoughts?

[hawkaz1]

Yep, I agree, need some quality backs. 1 more good ruck should fix up that area.

[burner1]

Kpp's. We have no depth at all.

Assuming (and thats if they all make it, no injuries, form slumps) buddy, roughie and dowler are our 3 targets up fwd, and croad and dawson hold down the key defensive posts then boyle is our only backup. our kpp depth consists of boyle. and thats it. No other developing talls no nothing and thats only assuming that our all youngsters make it.

We would need a far less case of kpp injuries than the bulldogs to be totally decimated - i mean we only have 6 players who are really kpp (and thats including dawson, buddy, dowler and only one real proven kpp in croad).

Reckon we need to pick up at least 2 but possibly 3 kpp in the draft.

As for the rest:
We're covered for inside mids, small defenders, third talls, got a good batch of young mids in ellis, muston, tuck plus other mids already there (maybe a few more pacy and skilled mids would be nice), rucks is the only other area we lack a bit, a good prospect in the ND would be good but thats not going to solve our short term ruck problems, but maybe we can get say cartledge in the rookie draft and not sure whats happening to mcentee. A crumber would be nice as would maybe a top line tagger but their not as urgent.

[PAOKTSIS]

Like I mentioned in a previous thread, we DESPERATELY need KPP! We are fine in the midfield, and we can always pick up mids in the next few drafts that can slot right into the team immediately.

Our forward KPP seem complete (Dowler, Roughie, Buddy), but our defence looks extremely weak (we ONLY have Croad and he will be turning 27 next season - and as much as Ive tried, I just cannot see Dawson developing into anything. Not having a go at the kid, but thats just how I see it. And our other defenders are 3rd talls, not KPP.Thus, we need to recruit our CHB and FB for the next decade).
I am hoping like hell that we pick up 2 KPP with our first 2 picks.

The other area where we are lacking is in the ruck department.
We have Robbie and Max. I cannot really see Taylor developing into a useful ruckman. At best he will be a back up if the rest get injured. And McEntee is a very big unknown.
Robbie will be 25 next season. Thats still relatively young, HOWEVER I want to have at least 2 rucks that are 20 yrs and under, thus knowing that they will be around for 10 years. Max is one of them...we have to pick one more up in this draft. Jacobs at pick 33 could be an option?!

Basically, 2 KPP, 1 ruck, Josh Kennedy (inside mid) is what we should be looking for.
I would only refrain from selecting a ruckman at pick 33 if there is a real classy midfielder still around (e.g. Houli)

[Roughie]

We lack alot of depth in a lot of areas.

The most obvious is our lack of depth in the keyposition ranks of the backline. I feel we have good small defenders in Ozzie, Sewell, Brown and Guerra but we lack depth at the key position area. This is mostly because we dont even have a dominating Fullback, it seems like Murph's, Jacobs, Gilham, and Smith are just third talls and they need to stand up and begin to take on opponents. Dawson needs to put on some muscle this season and hopefully Murph's or Gilham will also help out taking key position forwards. I believe we still need 2 more key defenders. We have plenty of good rebounding players though in Batman, Birch, and Hodgie so we are covered in that area.

We also lack depth in outside midfielders. Well I dont know if we would call it "depth" or proven talent. Bateman and Crawf seem like the only outside mid I am confidant in, but with Crawf going to decline more in pace we need more pace. We will hopefully find this in the likes of Ellis, Young, Tuck and Muston, but like our problems in the defence they need to step up. Unfortunalty these guys are still young and it will take 2 years before they begin really dominating and it wouldnt hurt having a couple more pacier options if God Forbidd if any of these players fail to make it.

And Key Forwards is another position we lack depth. It may not seems like an issue but Franklin will never be a full time CHF, this only leaves Roughie, Dowler and Boyle. Now Boyler is on his last straw and needs to begin showing something, but luckily for our current tall forwards they have been seriously helpt out by the likes of Willow and Dixon which has left the pressure off them for a bit. Franklin seems like the X factor of the team so it will be hard to rely on a consistant showing from him so we need to see Roughie and Dowler begin dominating or atleast kicking 30 goals a piece. But the problem is if any or either of Rough, Dowler or Frangas get injured we are left with an unproven Boyle and after him there is no one! So we basically have 1 big forward who has shown a bit, 1 forward who cant be to heavily relied on as a big marking option and 2 forwards in dowler and boyle who havent proven much (dowler has plenty of time though). This is why we need some more key position players at the forward area. Id hate to see us rely on throwing the likes of Taylor down there just to force match up issues. I believe we are still 2 more forwards off feeling comfortable coming into a season.

I think next season we are going to have to use the PSD just to pick up some older more experienced big bodies to help out the team even for depth reasons. We dont need too play them every week we just need them there incase of injury.

[mulhollanddrive]

In terms of numbers and quality for depth:

Key Defenders - Croad is the only genuine KP defender we have. I would say we would need another outstanding tall to play FB, plus at least 1 more genuine tall whether that be Dawson/Gilham (long shots in my opinion) or another drafted kid.

Ruck - Campbell is the only established ruckman, Bailey is probable. Another speculative pick is probably needed, so we have 3-4 maybes, thats good odds.

Quick Midfielders (not the Harry Miller type) - Can never have enough.

[Mitchell Madness]

Backline needs at least one solid KPP, although i believe roughy could hold this position down finely.

Forward, needs probably one good tall, strong overhead and accurate kick. Franklin is this, but is far to agile to be playing CHF, and as i have said before, i see him spending a lot of time on the wing in the near future

Center is fine, probably have the greatest amount of depth in the comp in this area with the likes of Mitch, Hodge, Crawf, Clarke, Lado, Vanders, Bateman, Birch, Young, Lewis all IMO in our best 22, and the likes of Ellis, Muston, Kennedy, Tuck all going to make a big push, and McGlynn who has already made an early impression and boarders between both groups. thats 15 Mids, most teams are lucky to have 4 quality mids, yet we have 10 quality ones.

We could use one more ruck, although we do have 3 as it is. Taylor is extremely underrated, even at our club. Many forget in his first season he was playing in the ruck vertually by himself, because of spida with all his "problems" and robbie out with his knee. I have a feeling this year Robbie will start in the Ruck, Bails up forward and Taylor on the bench. When robbie needs a rest, he will move down back, Bails will go into the ruck, and taylor will go up forward, with the player robbie replaced down back going off the ground.

[The Kipster]

Depends whether long term or short term....personally IMO we need a KPP backman which is why I have heard Thorp is on the radar if available...in the meantime Gilly has stepped up to the plate and I think he will continue his good work add in Murph and Co it is not looking that bad....everyone seems to bag Tails yet how many opportunities has he had? (not many) his tap work is far better than Max's at the minute and he is a strong target if needed in the goal square, my mail is that he won't get a sniff this year if Max steps up to the plate.

All in all we are not far off the mark though we need several more years depth, so by 2010 we will still have kids on the backburner not getting games and experience at the front end fighting out for flags....

[Macquarie Eagle]

I have a feeling this year Robbie will start in the Ruck, Bails up forward and Taylor on the bench. When robbie needs a rest, he will move down back, Bails will go into the ruck, and taylor will go up forward, with the player robbie replaced down back going off the ground.

I reckon you are spot on here^

I think the option of having all three ruckman in our starting 22 is not as stupid as people think. I still remember that pre season game where Max was one on one in the goal square with Rutton (AA Full Back) and nudged him out with the strength and skill of a seasoned player. Just my opinion but I really think it can work!

Make or Break year for Taylor though!

[FatBoy's Wombats]

I reckon you're right Roughie, we lack depth everywhere except ball winning midfielders.

[Gary Shadforth]

All interesting reading, guys and gals. But season 2007 will not be 2006 or 2005. No doubt Clarko and his assistant honchos are working hard at many of the afore mentioned deficiencies.

Who knows which players will step up this season to assist lessen our depth probs? Maybe there will be some more of the ilk of Birch.

[medusala]

Who knows which players will step up this season to assist lessen our depth probs?

Hopefully Ellis and Muston will show a bit this year.

[Bennycoff]

1 more decent backman and ruckman and outside midfielder also need one of forwards to dominate.

[PatientHawk]

I thought Robert Cambell played a great game on Brown at Carrara against the Lions.
Has R.C. got the speed to be a key full back, if so can we do with Taylor as backup ruck to Bailey (or vice versa).
If R.C. was capable to fill this position, the team setup would look so much better.

[Mitchell Madness]

so far the hawks have answered all our needs, great to see. only player under 190 is Kennedy, at 189, so our holes in ruck, defence and forward have covered, great work by the club

[Bennycoff]

Really need Taylor to develop, this is his big chance.

Make or break year for Taylor and Dawson IMO. Guerra, Osborne, Boyle all need to produce as well.

[Mitchell Madness]

Really need Taylor to develop, this is his big chance.

Make or break year for Taylor and Dawson IMO. Guerra, Osborne, Boyle all need to produce as well.


goo? he was one of our most consistent players this year, and really held our backlien together with DJ's absence

[Hawk Dork]

unfortunately Goo was absent for too long too

[Bennycoff]

He only managed 15 matches due to suspension and form.

Hasn't really cemented his place yet so the pressure is on. Needs to play 18+ matches and play really well to stay on the list.