2012 - What is Hawthorns biggest weakness?

[starbux]

As i always state when starting a thread - I apolgise if there is already something similar and if so please feel free to delete, or stop, or do whatever it is you do mods! ....I did do a search first and think it was clear!

I was just interested to know from all my fellow Hawthorn supporters what everyone thinks will be Hawthorns biggest weakness in 2012?

Ever since losing Croady in the 2008 GF i've been praying we find a 'Gorilla' sized KPD to fill the hold Croad left, I was pleased we recruited Gibbo but wonder how good he really could be if he was allowed to play against the 2-3 best forward in the opposision - it'd be great to have 190cm+, 90kg+ defender to help him out!

So, we'll have Gilham and Stratts coming back in 2012 to help out Gibbo, Shoey, Murph and Co down back -- Roughy coming back and allowing us the options of Max, Renouf, Hale and Roughy as ruck options (even though i'm sure Rough will play majority Forward post-achillies) -- and also the introduction of Smith, Savage, Suckers, Pop, etc to help with our apparent lack of pace...KPD check, Rucks check, Pace check.

WHAT WILL BE HAWTHORNS BIGGEST WEAKNESS IN 2012??

 

[Glebehawk]

I'll have a crack.

FB - is the biggest weakness for sure.

A 2nd goal sneak along side Rioli would be the other area for improvement.

Does Bruest fill this role? Maybe, not sold.
whitecross - average at best.

can young wanganeen come through and add more dynamic pace, tackling pressure inside 50?

apart from that - maybe strengthen our stocks of young mids.
We're not far off at all.

 

[Parse]

I'll have a crack.

FB - is the biggest weakness for sure.

A 2nd goal sneak along side Rioli would be the other area for improvement.

Does Bruest fill this role? Maybe, not sold.
whitecross - average at best.

can young wanganeen come through and add more dynamic pace, tackling pressure inside 50?

apart from that - maybe strengthen our stocks of young mids.
We're not far off at all.

25 goals or there about with being the sub 6 times tells me you haven't watched him to intently

 

[QuietB]

Hopefully it is a premiership hangover

 

[jive]

Although we have pace added from Smith, Savage and Pop, we'll still need the addition of someone thats a fast and powerful runner, not just elusive. An explosive runner that can burst through tackles and small gaps going forward in the mid field would cause headaches for opposition. Would give Cyril and Buddy even more time to burn their corresponding defenders.

 

[Bardo State]

Not sure if this will happen so much in 2012 with Stratts coming back but this year I have noticed that when we play the good sides and our 2nd KPD (this year Shoe/Lisle with Murphy/Birch if not available) is getting beaten then we flood the backline like crazy to stop the big forwards from leading into space. It is then a lot harder to create run off half back and there isn't enough space for our players to lead into if we want to do our short-kick thing. And even on the odd occasion when we do get it out there will be 1-2 people there and we will procede to bang it long and hope only for the 3 on 1 to win for the other team and put it into their forward line again.

God I miss Stratts and Roughead

 

[RIOLIUSTAR]

Hopefully it is a premiership hangover

HHhmmmm...I think I'll take that

 

[bumsonseats]

FB is probably the most obvious, but with the focus now on team defence I dont see this as such a problem. I would love to have a ready made 195cm KPD, but fact is we dont. The question is, do we need to try trade

Everyone looks back to Trent Croad, but remember he was only 190cm. Gibbo is 189cm and perhaps not a strong as Croady, but certainly not a stick figure either. Matthew Scarlett is only 192cm........Schoey is 193 so I dont think the extra inch will make so much difference. Schoey just hasnt got the experience of Scarlett, and hence his decision making is questionable.

If you are looking for a someone a little taller, then we already have a bigger bodied 196cm KPD we can call on........Jordan Lisle. Did a great job on Dawes a month or so back and no reason he can play that role on a Jonathon Brown or Trav Cloke. I wouldnt play him at FB, but can certainly play do a run with role on these so called Gorrilla forwards.

Tom Curran (195cm) also expected to come to the club in the draft this year. Can play forward or back.........also said to be a little slow......how is this any different to Lisle. Both in that 195cm range, big strong blokes that can take a grab, and not the most nimble.

Food for thought






Even Matthew Scarlett is only 192cm, and 94kgs......compare to Schoey who is 193cm and 86kgs, so once his body fills out and he builds up some more, maybe he can play that role in the future.......just needs to build his awareness.

 

[KOLOKOTRONIS]

A midfielder with blistering speed that can win his own ball. Tough to find, however such player do exist.

If Lisle steps up, our problems are solved in the backline. Hopefully Lisle can develop without the need of a player not currently on our list to perform the role.

KOLOKOTRONIS

 

[Glebehawk]

hey Parse, I've watched Bruest pretty closely, although 25 goals is a great return and he is just starting out in senior footy - I think those numbers flatter him slightly.

Still think a quality crumbing forward in combination with Rioli is an area we can improve in.

 

[MC_9]

25 goals or there about with being the sub 6 times tells me you haven't watched him to intently

Agreed, I think he is going to be an absolute star.

Watch him next year kick 40 - 50 goals.

 

[Hawkforce]

Hopefully it is a premiership hangover

Lol. /thread

 

[Whirling Dervish]

hey Parse, I've watched Bruest pretty closely, although 25 goals is a great return and he is just starting out in senior footy - I think those numbers flatter him slightly.

Still think a quality crumbing forward in combination with Rioli is an area we can improve in.

Bruest, a first year player, has 23 from 14 sub-affected games and you think those numbers flatter him? I understand there's more to his role than kicking goals, but measures like score assists and pressure acts are only useful because they can lead to goals. What we need most is a multi-pronged attack.

Ahead of him on the goalkicking table are Milne, Betts, Garlett, LeCras, Krakouer, Gray, Stokes and King. Which of those would you prefer to Bruest and what would you give up to get them?

 

[grizzlym]

Anyone else think that Breust is being nursed through his maiden year a little by Clarko and Co? I don't expect him to be playing half games come finals.

 

[cs61]

I do find it strange he hasn't been given more full games given how many goals he kicks in short bursts.

Maybe that means that are wanting him to play sub in the finals, because he's someone who seems to play the role well? He's not a hugely physical player, so maybe they do just seem him as that specialist player to come on, and have an impact quickly. Its not easy to do, and there aren't too many other candidates you wouldn't want on the ground for a lot of the finals.

But I am also sensitive to the view point that should keep you goal scorers on the ground for as long as possible as well.

 

[seysearles]

25 goals or there about with being the sub 6 times tells me you haven't watched him to intently

With 2rds remaining in 2011 Luke Breust from 14 games (starting as sub in 6-7 of them) has kick 23goals.

Hawthorn leading goalkickers:
1997 Nick Holland 29
2002 Daniel Chick 31
2003 Nathan Thompson 38
2004 Nathan Thompson 36

I sometimes forget how lean those years were.

 

[Glebehawk]

Dervish,

I'd take Milne, Betts, Garlett, LeCras, Krakouer or Gray ahead of Bruest at the moment...but I never said we should trade him out. He will develop into a solid player. Considering we're so strong across most areas of the ground, I only identified it as an area of weakness in our side right now.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Medium sized class forward.

 

[hawker39]

Roger,

You are right we do need a mid sized half forward who can threaten to take a grab or two but is not a KPP - Someone like Tony Hall of old.

 

[streetspirit]

Menegola for this role RR?

 

[buddylg]

B - Gibson - Gilham - Guerra

HB - Birchall - Schoenmakers - Stratton

C - Lewis - Mitchell - Smith

HF - Burgoyne - Roughead - Hodge

F - Breust - Franklin - Rioli

R - Bailey - Shiels - Sewell

Int: Puopolo - Suckling - Savage - Hale/Whitecross/Osborne/Ellis/Cheney/Lisle/Renouf


Not many weaknesses there. Another pre season under the belt of a few of the younger guys will help the list depth too. Let's hope that Roughy, Stratton and Gilham all come back healthy and fit.

 

[MrFujiMoto]

hey Parse, I've watched Bruest pretty closely, although 25 goals is a great return and he is just starting out in senior footy - I think those numbers flatter him slightly.

Still think a quality crumbing forward in combination with Rioli is an area we can improve in.

Not too sure how these are "flattering" numbers, 25 goals this season are 25 goals this season. He has found space, crumbed packs, been on the end of goal assists (Again because he finds space) and marked and goaled off the lead. Not to mention he is extremely reliable around goal. I think he has probably been as good a crumbing goal sneak you could ask for. I think with him and the option of either WhiteX, Ossie or even Puopolo sitting with Cyril at Buddy, Hale and Roughies feet we have a VERY potent forward 50 who are very hard to match up on. Bring into that mix guys like Mitch at the fall of the ball and finding the big stix this year too. Forward 50 is definately not going to be our weakness.

We have pace off the wings in Savage, Smith and Bateman to a degreee but having some pace through the guts would be handy.

Back 50 is covered I think as long as we keep Lisle and develop him into a back gorilla. He has shown PLENTY in that space in his limited opportunities down there. Good swingman forward too. very strong outfit next year barring injuries.

 

[Cynic]

Our biggest weakness in 2012 will be expectation

 

[MF_Hawks]

Definitely not enough love here for Steven Gilham.

agreed! and tom murphy

 

[Great 2008]

I think our biggest weakness this year in the finals may be inexperience (hope to be proven wrong). However, having said that, one could have drawn the same conclusion in 2008. Even so it was our more experienced heads which stood up when needed in that game......with the exceptions being Ellis and Rioli.

As far as players go I agree that a mid size forward would be handy also. Not much consideration is given to Tim Boyle (probably classed a tall) who was among the losses after 2008. He promised so much but never got a good run injury wise. Losing Willo did not help either. I agree that Mengoala could be that player. He seems to be a different type of player compared to other forwards on our list.