Review Hawks v Cats Match post mortem ...

[mrcurly]

Plenty of positive signs, a bit like a replay of the '08 for three quarters (almost), or even the second round clash of 2008.

The umpiring was just average, plenty of cases of one hand disposal in the Geelong backhalf that went unnoticed, I don't know how they manage to get away with it when they are constantly taking on the man. Overall the men in white didnt do a bad job letting the game flow.

We looked like we were totally out of puff from late in the third term, all the run went out of the midfield and then the skill errors started creeping in - mainly because the defence were exposed to zero break out options and responded with some pretty ordinary handovers.

In those instances i wish the backs would just kick the cover off the ball along the line, instead of trying to spot a man in amongst two or three cats. Seeing Shoes kick a dinky little (intercepted) kick to CHF was really torture, hes got a big hoof on him - why not use it and land the ball on the wing along the boundary line.

Peterson justified the faith again, he is a real talent - given time he will approach Rioli in terms of value to the team. The wrap up of the slippery Ablett was brilliant.

Morton showed a bit, and Shiels game was fantastic. We may have lost this little skirmish, but there is plenty of upside to come.

Buddy started like he was going to dominate, had a few rough umpiring decisions, then started trying to body his opponent instead of running to space. He is a far better player than this performance, I'm sure he will learn from this game.

BTW - anybody doubting the value of a decent pair of ruckman to the team need only watch this game. Renouf did his best and held his own for the first half, as the game progressed his lack of impact reflected the change in momentum between the teams. When the run starts to go out of the game first use of the ball can be the difference between winning and losing.

 

[crawf_legend]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

Awesome analysis if true. Geelong are not at full strength. No Rooke, no Milburn, no Stokes, and also a list of veterans who didn't even start pre-season until January the 4th. Geelong are underdone big time. Your lads should have won today against a rusty Geelong. In fact, the GFC are expecting loses early this season due to the late/'light on' preparation (where players should peak later in the year). A win like is a a happy bonus to Geelong at this point in time.

Mate, Geelong arent underdone. Geelong has alot of depth in their structure and can cover the gaps pretty well if a few players are out. Your injuries arent as serious as ours, your team is strong and well equipped in every field. Forwardline, backline, midfield, ruck - all fine. Hawthorn should have won, but Geelong was not rusty; Hawthorn overpowered them for most of the game. I dont think Geelong are expecting losses; how would you know anyway? Are you a coach? Your players seemed pretty annoyed that they were struggling.

 

[josephine666]

The free kick count was 18 to 6 in the second half. McBurnie was there at every stoppage to hand the ball to geelong. That's good umpiring? We were slaughtered, but not by the cats.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

Your average age is also better
The average number of games played 124 > 80.
You were dead set favourites
You are reigning premiers

Don't give me that crap about expecting losses early - no team wants that just ask the hawks. While they may have returned to training on the track later than others each vetran was given a modified training program to do elsewhere so no they weren't underdone. Be happy with the win and leave it at that.

I am happy with the win. Very happy. Even surprised. Which is precisely the point of my previous thread. Geelong are a bit underdone right now. Winning against quality opposition like Hawthorn is a bit of a bonus, as Geelongs best will not be seen until mid-late season.

And Geelong are not "dead set favorites". They are a team many experts and pundits believe to be past its best.

 

[Silly Season]

Murphy.....got to go!!!!!
Re: Rabbit in headlights.

 

[Flamin Joe]

Hooper injured?

Yeah looked like he did his hammy in the first QTR. Went to bend down to gather the ball in the forward line, but pulled up short and limped off. Spent the rest of the game with his hammy on ice.

 

[bigbuddyboy]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

Disgusting game by the hawks. I'm pretty perplexed at people saying "we did well" or "more positives than negatives"

The fact is, we didn't play anywhere near our best. So we have nothing to be happy about today. Absolutely nothing to be pleased about.

Umpiring was shocking, Never seen a clearer display of favouritism in an AFL game before in my life.

Backline... a rabble (against a pretty bad forward line). I'd like to see Murphy out (i was at the game today, off the ball he is shocking - and all pre-season i've heard he has been played out of position... well today, we had a full strength backline and he looked atrocious). I'd like to see Stratton in for murphy.

Mids... With a second ruck, would have looked better.

Forwards... I have no idea what was going on in our forward line. it's never an open forward line like other teams seem to be. we have two of the best tall forwards, but they never seem to lead! (maybe a bit rough on roughy here).

we are not top 4 if that's our best.

 

[crawf_legend]

Yeah looked like he did his hammy in the first QTR. Went to bend down to gather the ball in the forward line, but pulled up short and limped off. Spent the rest of the game with his hammy on ice.

I saw it, happened right in front of me. Saw his reaction and thought 'hammy' 4/5 weeks. Poor guy, very unfortunate.

 

[crawf_legend]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

Disgusting game by the hawks. I'm pretty perplexed at people saying "we did well" or "more positives than negatives"

The fact is, we didn't play anywhere near our best. So we have nothing to be happy about today. Absolutely nothing to be pleased about.

Umpiring was shocking, Never seen a clearer display of favouritism in an AFL game before in my life.

Backline... a rabble (against a pretty bad forward line). I'd like to see Murphy out (i was at the game today, off the ball he is shocking - and all pre-season i've heard he has been played out of position... well today, we had a full strength backline and he looked atrocious). I'd like to see Stratton in for murphy.

Mids... With a second ruck, would have looked better.

Forwards... I have no idea what was going on in our forward line. it's never an open forward line like other teams seem to be. we have two of the best tall forwards, but they never seem to lead! (maybe a bit rough on roughy here).

we are not top 4 if that's our best.

Calm down my fellow Hawk! Thats not the way! We have alot to be pleased about. We were brilliant, great match and performance by most of the boys!

 

[Franko Armani]

Geez we do an amazing amount of hammies at Hawthorn.

 

[HawkGirl9]

Perhaps if everyone is so frustrated with Frankie then put him in the ruck to help Renouf. We killed ourselves taking the most potent forward out of out forward line to help in the ruck.

 

[Milkman_Joe]

Great effort today however we just ran out of legs.

A lot of positives to come out of tonight but some glaring negatives for me:

- Our defense really struggled at defending the high ball. Gilham had a day to forget.

- Kick in's. Numerous times we had no idea what to do when kicking the ball in. Geelong defensively set up well and we really struggled to find a way out. I can recall 4 different occasions in the third quarter alone where we coughed the ball up in the back 50. This could partly coincide with our fitness levels.

- Entries into the forward 50. It really is frustrating seeing Buddy standing there flat footed, flapping his arms for the ball carrier to bomb it towards him. It would be ideal to see a better structure where he would occasionally change directions and lead up.

- We really missed Sewell today. While I think Shiels will be a fantastic player, he is not yet developed enough to handle the likes of Bartel, Corey, Ling and Ablett in the middle. If we are to have a decent crack at the premiership this year we need all of Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell, Lewis and Burgoyne in the middle and fit.

Nonetheless we can take a lot of positives out of todays game. With the likes of Sewell, Burgoyne, Young, Taylor and/or Bailey, and a bit of luck injury wise, I think we will have a good chance at this years title.

 

[grizzlym]

More later, just got back from the skirmish, but off the top of my head these things stood out:

Buddy started well, but he's playing too and is fairly static. Roughy and Buddy, to me, look a little confused about where to lead etc. He should be pushed up the ground more.

Our kicking across goal and switching the play through defence was lamentable. We turned the ball over many times this way.

Our kicking in was a worry too.

Once Roughead started leading in the 3 quarter we looked so much better. As did Roughy.

I'm sorry, and I know this will open a can of worms, but our forward system didn't look great today.

Geelong's defence and composure under pressure are outstanding - they are a seasoned side with quality players.

Salivating about the prospect of Young, Sewell and Burgoyne coming into that side.

Renouf battled manfully, but the ruck is a huge issue.

 

[bigbuddyboy]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

Calm down my fellow Hawk! Thats not the way! We have alot to be pleased about. We were brilliant, great match and performance by most of the boys!

I would agree with you if we played like we all know we can play. Some of those kicks around the ground were horrible!
lol. we'll see how i feel tomorrow after i've slept on it. But right now i'm feeling pretty down about the loss.

PS what will come out of this game from the MRP? both in terms of Hawks and Geelong. I saw several players laying on the ground for a while, but was at the game so didn't get a good look at it.

 

[Ugottabjokin]

Hooper we can cover but not much mention of Lewis????

Her went off limping in the last and didn't come back on.

Beside the terrible umpiring the lack of bench roatations in the last really hurt. Hot day Hooper down in the first and Lewis in the last with an underdone Rioli ( fantastic in the first half ) and Laddo and OSborne borth sore and added up to a lack of run.

Luck was not on our side both injury and especially umpiring wise.

The non decision of holding the ball of Ablett on our goal line had me frothing at the mouth. Also Mitch Duncan push in the back and goal in the same quarter and then in the last another fantanstic non call on Morton for exactly the same thing as Duncan as in the third.

Reading through here and some saying umpiring was ok and some even suggesting umpires went Hawthorns way were not at the groung today as the non calls for Geelong rather than the frees for is what had all Hawks supporters screaming robbery, and justly so.

 

[JoondalupJ]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

Umpiring was very good today.

I think Geelong got the last seven frees in a row. From television replays I would suggest nine points was a little close for comfort for them. I also saw two missed blatant frees we didn't receive but the cats would say that too I suppose. But the point being that a run of frees against can stymie any confidance a team might regain. I think the Buddy Franklin against in that last quarter was a fifty/fifty and should have been bounced as well he was making the play and had got away.
I 've think our modern game is so grey now and excess frees from "maybe" umpire calls can kill you. No excuses though we would have taken them if they'd been called our way.
But its frustrating. So umps not so good.Any one got frees statistics?

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

Why Buddy starts his leads from 45m out i'll never know.

 

[Cosmo Kramer]

I'm going to think before I post rather than letting out some of the expletives I used during the last quarter. Excluding 2008 grand final, that's 4 games in a row we have gone down to them by a goal or so (just ridiculous).

Shiels is the first guy that comes into my mind, this bloke is an absolute running machine (the new Bateman maybe, tries his guts out)

Renouf, the guy is working his backside off, he is only 20/21 and rucking against big bodies week in week out, I thought he was solid.

Roughead, I really liked his leading today, our best foward.

Franklin, I think our players forgot who he was today at times, a number of times we could have gone long to Buddy 1 on 1 but chose instead to hold the ball. Played up the field alot today.

Mitchell, I thought he was our best today by a mile.

Murphy, I thought he had a really good game today actually.

Guerra, did a good job on Johnson.

Gibson, did well but can get exposed one out.

Gilham, didn't like his game at all today, really got shown up as a third defender rather than that Trent Croad style body we are searching for.

Cyril, delicious, magic, I mean there are no words really

Peterson, very good second game

 

[shagger_grant]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

bad luck today guy's,great game of footy and if you had some things going your way you would have one,does anyone know the extent of rick ladsons injury?is it serious or will he get up for next week,thanks guys

 

[JoondalupJ]

Hooper we can cover but not much mention of Lewis????

Her went off limping in the last and didn't come back on.

Beside the terrible umpiring the lack of bench roatations in the last really hurt. Hot day Hooper down in the first and Lewis in the last with an underdone Rioli ( fantastic in the first half ) and Laddo and OSborne borth sore and added up to a lack of run.

Luck was not on our side both injury and especially umpiring wise.

The non decision of holding the ball of Ablett on our goal line had me frothing at the mouth. Also Mitch Duncan push in the back and goal in the same quarter and then in the last another fantanstic non call on Morton for exactly the same thing as Duncan as in the third.

Reading through here and some saying umpiring was ok and some even suggesting umpires went Hawthorns way were not at the groung today as the non calls for Geelong rather than the frees for is what had all Hawks supporters screaming robbery, and justly so.

Umps good!!!! Which ground were these people at?

 

[bigbuddyboy]

More later, just got back from the skirmish, but off the top of my head these things stood out:

Buddy started well, but he's playing too and is fairly static. Roughy and Buddy, to me, look a little confused about where to lead etc. He should be pushed up the ground more.

Our kicking across goal and switching the play through defence was lamentable. We turned the ball over many times this way.

Our kicking in was a worry too.

Once Roughead started leading in the 3 quarter we looked so much better. As did Roughy.

I'm sorry, and I know this will open a can of worms, but our forward system didn't look great today.

Geelong's defence and composure under pressure are outstanding - they are a seasoned side with quality players.

Salivating about the prospect of Young, Sewell and Burgoyne coming into that side.

Renouf battled manfully, but the ruck is a huge issue.

i agree. it can get really frustrating watching our forward line set up like that. 2 of the best KPF in the game, yet we NEVER seem to have an open forwardline, but on the blue moon when we actually do, we wait and wait and wait and then pass it to a wrestling contest... which we lose 80% of the time.

Consider the can opened.

 

[Ricmel]

Not having a back up ruckman probably cost you the game....Ottens was telling in that final 15 minutes.

What it did tell me was Geelong will not be as domiant this year. Except for the way they steadied and ran on in the last, very unimpressive.

 

[spudmaster]

While its good and dandy to say we almost got there and only just lost against the premiers, we did the exact same thing last year, twice, with an arguably worse off team. I would have thought we'd make ground this year but it was the same deal with playing 2-3 quarters of football then dying when it matters. Missing the old hawthorn spirit of finding something special in the last in those close games.

As has been mentioned, we may have won the first half and them the second, but we could well have been thrashed that 2nd quarter if it wasnt for their kicking yips.

Smashed in the ruck, smashed in the clearances in the 2nd half. Definitely agree we need a 2nd ruckman, not a makeshift 'lets pinch someone from some other spot' ruckman.

Some very worrying signs in the backline when kicking in after a behind, shows they are unable currently to deal with any kind of forward pressure from the oppositsion, like what we did against the dees.

Typical losing a player in the first 10-15min too to hamper rotations, that in itself is getting pretty damn old to watch time after time again.

Hoping they do some serious work on moving the ball out of the defensive 50 this week, too much handballing to guys already under pressure and then fumbling. If we do that against the dogs, we're in strife!

All in all, a disappointing result and a rather disappointing effort apart from early on. Still a long way to go but thankfully its a long season and hopefully we'll only get better. Lucky we only lost by 9 too so our % didnt take as bad a hammering as it perhaps should have.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

Mate, Geelong arent underdone. Geelong has alot of depth in their structure and can cover the gaps pretty well if a few players are out. Your injuries arent as serious as ours, your team is strong and well equipped in every field. Forwardline, backline, midfield, ruck - all fine. Hawthorn should have won, but Geelong was not rusty; Hawthorn overpowered them for most of the game. I dont think Geelong are expecting losses; how would you know anyway? Are you a coach? Your players seemed pretty annoyed that they were struggling.

Obviously i am not a coach. Nor have i claimed to be. But it is a well known fact that GEE had a very late pre-season to try to keep its veterans list (which is now more or less its list period) fresh for the latter part of the season. It is a reasonable assumption that that means GEE will not be at its best early in the season. I would assume the club would be happy with with a 4-2 win loss scenario come Rd 6. Winning against a potential top 4 sides like Hawthorn who have had a full pre-season and are hungry is a very big TICK for us.

All the best for the rest of the season. I'm sure the Hawks will be there or thereabouts in 2010.

 

[Ledger]

Re: Hawks v Cats Match Review ...

I'm still amazed at how many times Ablett drops the ball or incorrectly disposes of it yet doesn't give away a free kick, absolutely annoys the **** outta me. That one in the third quarter, right in front of our goals when he dropped the ball after being tackled just made no sense to me; had to be a free.

For the most part, I think we did good but didn't play our best especially in the 2nd half - we need to keep pressure up after half time.