Hawthorn 2015

[Nallad]

Will anyone stop this football club in 2015? Their list is formidable. They are not only strong in every position on the field, they have players that are more than capable on the sidelines who are ready to make an impact. Again, they've recruited better than most clubs this off-season without having access to top draft picks. They really are the benchmark of the competition and in my opinion will be invincible in 2015.

My question to you all is, can this football side go undefeated throughout the whole 2015 season? It's a scary thought, but after looking at their list from top to bottom, it is not unreasonable to suggest they will.

 

[Scotland]

Four prelims in a row under a goal.

Very good, but not unstoppable.

 

[The GOAT]

Certainly won't go undefeated but strong depth should see Hawthorn in the fix for the flag again. Port (with Ryder) and Sydney will be hard to beat.

 

[Fastback]

You can't win a marathon by sprinting the whole way.

 

[TheWeapon]

Undefeated surely you jest. Their midfield is their weakest link by far and that's where they'll get exposed by fast teams

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Port to give them a run for their money.

 

[Iron]

Of course they will. Didn't you see the grand final? How can they lose if they play that way every week, without any lapses in concentration or pesky injuries or any other million and one things that can go wrong during a year?

 

[matty_hawk]

We lost 5 games last year. We won't go undefeated for a few reasons. Not least if which being, we may not even be the best team in the league next year. Add to that the fact that if we are on our way to the top 4 again we will rotate players in and out of the side. Then injuries will most likely become a staple for guys in their 30s.

 

[Adz]

Backline isn't much chop.

 

[Milux]

Solid team but they wont go undefeated. Im pritty confident they can make it 3 straight though.

 

[HeHateMe]

Will anyone stop this football club in 2015? Their list is formidable. They are not only strong in every position on the field, they have players that are more than capable on the sidelines who are ready to make an impact. Again, they've recruited better than most clubs this off-season without having access to top draft picks. They really are the benchmark of the competition and in my opinion will be invincible in 2015.

My question to you all is, can this football side go undefeated throughout the whole 2015 season? It's a scary thought, but after looking at their list from top to bottom, it is not unreasonable to suggest they will.

Wow wow wow. Gellong after 07 looked unstoppable to. Someone will challenge.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

Undefeated surely you jest. Their midfield is their weakest link by far and that's where they'll get exposed by fast teams

LOL, we've heard that for years.

Midfield did pretty well in the GF too.

Won't be undefeated, but I think we'll be around the mark again. 3 in a row is bloody hard to do and will again need things to go well for us to salute

 

[QuietB]

Undefeated surely you jest. Their midfield is their weakest link by far and that's where they'll get exposed by fast teams

No chance the Hawks go undefeated but the comment about the Hawks midfield is plain wrong. Numerous A graders, best pair of wingers in the AFL and Langford coming through with others. The Hawks midfield is massively underrated.

 

[Big Fresh]

Undefeated surely you jest. Their midfield is their weakest link by far and that's where they'll get exposed by fast teams

They've got a great midfield. Smith, Hill, Hartung if needed can provide plenty of pace. Their defence isn't amazing though.

 

[QuietB]

They've got a great midfield. Smith, Hill, Hartung if needed can provide plenty of pace. Their defence isn't amazing though.

Like except the defence isn't amazing bit - Frawley a massive in. Gibbo third nan all year

 

[Headless]

Call me biased, but I think Melbourne will get within fifteen goals of Hawthorn in 2015. They're not as great as one may think.

 

[Jaeger]

Backline isn't much chop.

Their defence isn't amazing though.

Key defenders in the mix: Lake, Gibson, Frawley, Spangher, Schoenmakers
Medium/smalls: Birchall, Stratton, Hodge, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Duryea, Suckling, Litherland

Not sure what our best back 6 is as we change things up all the time, but for arguments sake let's say

Gibson, Lake, Stratton
Birchall, Frawley, Hodge

Not many better backlines than that.

 

[tangolikelama]

Hawks for 3 in a row then Port to topple them in 2016

 

[Bardo State]

Backline isn't much chop.

Really? I'd say Hawthorn's backline is almost as good as its forwardline.

 

[JohnHinckleyJr]

That port team but

 

[HawkNation]

Key defenders in the mix: Lake, Gibson, Frawley, Spangher, Schoenmakers
Medium/smalls: Birchall, Stratton, Hodge, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Duryea, Suckling, Litherland

Not sure what our best back 6 is as we change things up all the time, but for arguments sake let's say

Gibson, Lake, Stratton
Birchall, Frawley, Hodge

Not many better backlines than that.

Easily the best backline in the game

 

[seysearles]

My question to you all is, can this football side go undefeated throughout the whole 2015 season? It's a scary thought, but after looking at their list from top to bottom, it is not unreasonable to suggest they will.

They (we) definitely wont do that. We're a really good team with a great structure and leadership but we are not unstoppable like Geelong 2007 or Essendon 2000. We just need to look at previous seasons to see how expectations at the end of seasons can be so misleading. This time last year we expected Fremantle to improve in 2014 which they didn't do. Collingwood were supposed to dominate for years after 2010 and they fell away. Hawks in 2009 didn't even make the 8 after winning the flag in 2008. I expect us to push hard for top.4 and face a number of improving teams like Port, Gold Coast and even teams like Brisbane. Sydney aren't going anywhere either and Fremantle are still there about.

 

[seysearles]

Backline isn't much chop.

Hehehe either you forgot to use your sarcasm fault or you have not a clue.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

As long as the desire is there, they will be in the mix. You have to take your chances though when your team gets momentum, otherwise Hawks score too heavily when they have the momentum. They can kick 5 goals in a row in 5 mins and completely change the game.

 

[seysearles]

They've got a great midfield. Smith, Hill, Hartung if needed can provide plenty of pace. Their defence isn't amazing though.

Hawthorn's biggest challenge is less about talent than is about leadership. We have effectively excised all our 30+ brigade Hodge Mitchell Burgoyne and Sewell from the midfield already and replaced them with Shiels Lewis Smith Langford and Hill. This new crew, whilst not being as classy as Sydney or Port's midfields, is holding up pretty well. What we need though is to make sure we have the personnel to cover the leadership of the 3 guys mentioned above when they retire over the next 2 seasons. I mean Luke Hodge is almost like having a senior coach playing on the field. He gives such incredible organisation to the team. Lewis has certainly picked up some of that role but, if I do worry about anything it's how much of an effect that will have on the squad when it's gone.