noosa hawk mad
21 May 2008, 13:44
http://insidefootballonline.com/schwarz.html
BLINDERS!
Mitchell a knockout as Hawks’ leader
Sometimes players produce football that flies under the radar with very little fanfare or notoriety attached. Sam Mitchell was one of these players until he received the Hawthorn captaincy at the start of the year. Now he is regarded as an elite midfielder who is creative, an in-and-under ball-winner with wonderful disposal of the football. Not to mention a great leader on and off the field. Last Saturday against Port Adelaide he proved he was mentally and physically tough. When he was knocked out with five minutes to go in the first term it looked like his day was over. For him to come on 20 minutes later and have another 20 possessions not only lifted his team, but proved to everyone how valuable he is to the Hawthorn side. When the choice was made between him and Luke Hodge many thought going with Mitchell was the wrong decision and that Hodge would have made a better leader. Both are outstanding, but no one could argue with the choice now that Mitchell has developed into the perfect man to lead the club. After writing many letters and getting his chance to play AFL the unconventional way, he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and taken off. He obviously enjoys doing what he does and you get the impression he does everything possible to ensure that his body and his team are right to go for every match that they play. He has surprised many with his development and absolute class. Mitchell is a wonderful story about not giving up on yourself and getting the most out of what you have been given. The story hasn’t finished and he just may be holding up the premiership cup at the end of the year, which would cap off an amazing journey.:thumbsu:
Hawks take big bite of Apple Isle
Hawthorn has rejuvenated itself into a powerful entity. Not only does it have a good playing list, but all the hard work and suffering they experienced a few years ago is starting to pay off. Off the field the Hawks have made some incredible decisions that will see them go forward with confidence and their growth guaranteed. Moving into Tasmania will prove to be one of the great decisions in the club’s history. Boasting 5000 members already in the Apple Isle, I have no doubt this figure will double and possibly treble within five years. While visiting Tassie last Saturday I was amazed at the excitement the AFL was generating down south. Our plane was full of Hawthorn supporters and when we arrived at the airport in Launceston there was brown and gold everywhere. This is a football-mad state and tapping into it only makes sense. Jeff Kennett and the Hawthorn board have to be applauded for this decision. To have a home away from home cannot be underestimated. The Hawks will capture the hearts of a lot of Tasmanians and if they continue to build on their recent success it could turn out to be the best marketing decision by a club in AFL history. Until you attend one of these matches you won’t understand just what Tasmania has to offer and the passion and excitement the locals have for the game. It almost makes me want to be back in the Hawthorn cheer squad.:thumbsu:
So hard to know when to go
Deciding when to hang the boots up is often the hardest decision a footballer will make in his career. When the money is as great as it is and the benefits outweigh the negatives it is tough to walk away thinking you still have more to give. Often it is the tap on the shoulder that players dread most as the decision has been made already. I always said to myself that I would be making the decision to leave and not someone making it for me. Sometimes it is poor self-analysis that brings players’ careers to a halt, believing that their bodies and minds are going better than what they actually are. Players like Fraser Gehrig, David Neitz, and Shane Wakelin may have gone one year too long. These three players need their bodies in perfect condition to be competitive at the highest level. Even when this is the case the speed of the game can go past players who are in their 30s. The game is hard enough physically, but mentally being in the system for 10 years can wear down even the best of them. Gehrig should have stuck to his guns and stayed retired rather than trying to get another year out of his body. It was a hard decision for Neitz being the captain of the club. A new coach and not wanting to leave the Dees in a poor position would have made the decision even harder. Wakelin had earned the right to another season as he was very good last year. As I said before it is tough to walk away from a lucrative career, but it is even tougher to stay involved and receive criticism about not making the decision to quit.
Long-range bombers a weapon
Players who can kick goals from outside 50m are much more valuable than those who can kick them inside 50m. The ability to be dangerous outside the arc provides an added dimension and is a real threat to the opposition. Accountability is now a must where in years gone by the defence only had to focus its attention inside the arc. But with the players getting faster and more powerful it’s no wonder many are consistently kicking the ball more than 50m. Watching Hawthorn last Saturday it was evident that half the team is able to kick goals from distance. Lance Franklin, Grant Birchall, Luke Hodge, Clinton Young, Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman, Brent Guerra, Trent Croad, Robert Campbell and Stephen Gilham are all threats from outside 50m. Sides that have multiple 50m goalkickers are proving to be very dangerous; those who don’t are behind the eight ball. Recruiters may even take this into account when looking at young talent coming through the system. Those who are able to kick further may get more of a look in purely because they have another weapon in their arsenal.:thumbsu:
Hawks’ ruck stocks soaring
Some players fly under the radar and that has always been the way of things. In the 1980s a bloke named Leon Baker came off the street and asked for a game with Essendon. He won a flag then wandered off into obscurity. Now a couple of low-key blokes called Robert Campbell and Simon Taylor are producing the goods at Hawthorn. When Peter “Spider” Everitt took his colorful arms to Sydney under not too happy circumstances, people were worried about the ruck situation at the Hawks. I have been closely watching these young ruck giants at Hawthorn this year and they have been collecting plenty of scalps along the way. They talk about Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Brad Sewell being dominant in the centre, but someone has to get the ball down to them and these two are doing the job. Last week they took Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan to the cleaners:thumbsu:
.http://insidefootballonline.com/crackers.html
BLINDERS!
Mitchell a knockout as Hawks’ leader
Sometimes players produce football that flies under the radar with very little fanfare or notoriety attached. Sam Mitchell was one of these players until he received the Hawthorn captaincy at the start of the year. Now he is regarded as an elite midfielder who is creative, an in-and-under ball-winner with wonderful disposal of the football. Not to mention a great leader on and off the field. Last Saturday against Port Adelaide he proved he was mentally and physically tough. When he was knocked out with five minutes to go in the first term it looked like his day was over. For him to come on 20 minutes later and have another 20 possessions not only lifted his team, but proved to everyone how valuable he is to the Hawthorn side. When the choice was made between him and Luke Hodge many thought going with Mitchell was the wrong decision and that Hodge would have made a better leader. Both are outstanding, but no one could argue with the choice now that Mitchell has developed into the perfect man to lead the club. After writing many letters and getting his chance to play AFL the unconventional way, he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and taken off. He obviously enjoys doing what he does and you get the impression he does everything possible to ensure that his body and his team are right to go for every match that they play. He has surprised many with his development and absolute class. Mitchell is a wonderful story about not giving up on yourself and getting the most out of what you have been given. The story hasn’t finished and he just may be holding up the premiership cup at the end of the year, which would cap off an amazing journey.:thumbsu:
Hawks take big bite of Apple Isle
Hawthorn has rejuvenated itself into a powerful entity. Not only does it have a good playing list, but all the hard work and suffering they experienced a few years ago is starting to pay off. Off the field the Hawks have made some incredible decisions that will see them go forward with confidence and their growth guaranteed. Moving into Tasmania will prove to be one of the great decisions in the club’s history. Boasting 5000 members already in the Apple Isle, I have no doubt this figure will double and possibly treble within five years. While visiting Tassie last Saturday I was amazed at the excitement the AFL was generating down south. Our plane was full of Hawthorn supporters and when we arrived at the airport in Launceston there was brown and gold everywhere. This is a football-mad state and tapping into it only makes sense. Jeff Kennett and the Hawthorn board have to be applauded for this decision. To have a home away from home cannot be underestimated. The Hawks will capture the hearts of a lot of Tasmanians and if they continue to build on their recent success it could turn out to be the best marketing decision by a club in AFL history. Until you attend one of these matches you won’t understand just what Tasmania has to offer and the passion and excitement the locals have for the game. It almost makes me want to be back in the Hawthorn cheer squad.:thumbsu:
So hard to know when to go
Deciding when to hang the boots up is often the hardest decision a footballer will make in his career. When the money is as great as it is and the benefits outweigh the negatives it is tough to walk away thinking you still have more to give. Often it is the tap on the shoulder that players dread most as the decision has been made already. I always said to myself that I would be making the decision to leave and not someone making it for me. Sometimes it is poor self-analysis that brings players’ careers to a halt, believing that their bodies and minds are going better than what they actually are. Players like Fraser Gehrig, David Neitz, and Shane Wakelin may have gone one year too long. These three players need their bodies in perfect condition to be competitive at the highest level. Even when this is the case the speed of the game can go past players who are in their 30s. The game is hard enough physically, but mentally being in the system for 10 years can wear down even the best of them. Gehrig should have stuck to his guns and stayed retired rather than trying to get another year out of his body. It was a hard decision for Neitz being the captain of the club. A new coach and not wanting to leave the Dees in a poor position would have made the decision even harder. Wakelin had earned the right to another season as he was very good last year. As I said before it is tough to walk away from a lucrative career, but it is even tougher to stay involved and receive criticism about not making the decision to quit.
Long-range bombers a weapon
Players who can kick goals from outside 50m are much more valuable than those who can kick them inside 50m. The ability to be dangerous outside the arc provides an added dimension and is a real threat to the opposition. Accountability is now a must where in years gone by the defence only had to focus its attention inside the arc. But with the players getting faster and more powerful it’s no wonder many are consistently kicking the ball more than 50m. Watching Hawthorn last Saturday it was evident that half the team is able to kick goals from distance. Lance Franklin, Grant Birchall, Luke Hodge, Clinton Young, Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell, Chance Bateman, Brent Guerra, Trent Croad, Robert Campbell and Stephen Gilham are all threats from outside 50m. Sides that have multiple 50m goalkickers are proving to be very dangerous; those who don’t are behind the eight ball. Recruiters may even take this into account when looking at young talent coming through the system. Those who are able to kick further may get more of a look in purely because they have another weapon in their arsenal.:thumbsu:
Hawks’ ruck stocks soaring
Some players fly under the radar and that has always been the way of things. In the 1980s a bloke named Leon Baker came off the street and asked for a game with Essendon. He won a flag then wandered off into obscurity. Now a couple of low-key blokes called Robert Campbell and Simon Taylor are producing the goods at Hawthorn. When Peter “Spider” Everitt took his colorful arms to Sydney under not too happy circumstances, people were worried about the ruck situation at the Hawks. I have been closely watching these young ruck giants at Hawthorn this year and they have been collecting plenty of scalps along the way. They talk about Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Brad Sewell being dominant in the centre, but someone has to get the ball down to them and these two are doing the job. Last week they took Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan to the cleaners:thumbsu:
.http://insidefootballonline.com/crackers.html