Preview Hawthorn vs Essendon - Changes and Discussion

[hawks_time]

There are only two players that I can see come out for Hodge and Buddy but I can't see a third player come out for Goo..
Gee this is going to be tough month choosing a side...

Mate, there's no way Goo is gonna be kept out of the side. You've vastly underestimated his value

 

[jpzhawk]

The only certain this week is tha Goo will come straight back into the team. No freakin way will he be left out. I'm thinking Cheney will make way for him.
Other than that, its anyones guess as to whether Hodge plays. Buddy will not play. Bailey will not play unless Hale is injured.

 

[Henry Jr]

Do you think Hill's body is ready for a hard physical game yet. I think he is still too slight.

No, thats why I said, I would make him the sub.

 

[Agent Smith]

Hodge to play BH next week then be the super sub against Geelong the following week. Just imagine the lift he will give the players around him and the roar from the crowd when he steps onto the oval. No way Geelong will muster their usual last quarter comeback against THAT!!

Or, to be more topical: THE DARK HAWK RISES...

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

I'd be happy with Cheney staying. If he can keep Goo out whilst we keep winning big matches...it's a great learning curve for Kyle. Having 2 players of the similar ilk playing the same role effectively would be good for our depth

 

[Glacier]

I really can't understand the reasoning on here from those who want Savage out or even Smith for that matter
What do these guys give us ?
Answer - pace
The pace around the ground and on the spread is what is killing sides , and our ball use is only making that pace more important
As for Smith, excuse me but he had a run with role on Saturday and did it very nicely
I wonder if some people on here actually appreciate the roles some players are asked to perform sometimes
As for Hodge, yep love to see him back but seriously he was as lame as an old dog toward the end of the Box Hill game and also looked pretty heavy so why the rush to have him back ?
Goo in for Murphy. Poor old Murphy just really isn't the man to take us fwd into the finals which pains me coz he works his arse off for the brown and gold

 

[RedDevils99]

Well the way I saw it yesterday, I said to myself a few times "well done Murph", but can't recall saying "F****** MURPHY" at any stage.

To me that's enough. Like I said, he's a depth player for a reason and we all know it. I'm not expecting him to wow me.

I agree.
At the game during the 3rd quarter, my mates and I couldn't come up with anyone to sub off so that Savage could come on and have a run.
Everyone executed there job well enough to keep there place but some big names possibly coming in.
Big decisions for Clarko if Buddy, Hodge, Bailey are in contention and Guerra back as well.
Good problems to have at this time of year.

 

[Cynic]

Essendon has a very varied attack a lot like we will be fielding. I don't think this suits us as we tend to be very adept at playing a defensive unit towards the opposition forward thrusts.

That said I would hope one on one we should be able to account for Hille, Crameri, Gumbleton, Jetta & Davey. Crameri seems the only player capable of tearing us apart.

We really need to stop Watson & Stanton in the midfield and Dempsey & Heppell in the back.

Lewis to destroy Heppell (The kid will be a gun but Lewis should be too good and too strong at this point) and Puopolo to go to Dempsey (Goes to water when tagged).

Sewell to Watson and Shiels to Stanton. I know a lot of supporters don't rate Stanton but if he gets off the leash he can provide easy get out options to Essendon kickers so it's important we keep him under wraps.

 

[Crimmo]

Stanton can't handle a tag. He'll be lucky to get 20 touches.

 

[Phil McCreviss]

No, thats why I said, I would make him the sub.

So HJ how are we traveling without Buddy so far?

 

[Cynic]

Stanton can't handle a tag. He'll be lucky to get 20 touches.

On the condition it isn't a tag he can run into the ground.

 

[realhawk]

I'd be happy with Cheney staying. If he can keep Goo out whilst we keep winning big matches...it's a great learning curve for Kyle. Having 2 players of the similar ilk playing the same role effectively would be good for our depth

" Similar Ilk"??? Goo (one of the highest paid players at the club) is in a total different department than Cheney, his hardness , his ball use, his decision making and coolness under pressure make him an automatic selection when he is available, just baffaling how some of us think he is just a fringe player at Hawthorn.

 

[QuietB]

I really can't understand the reasoning on here from those who want Savage out or even Smith for that matter
What do these guys give us ?
Answer - pace
The pace around the ground and on the spread is what is killing sides , and our ball use is only making that pace more important
As for Smith, excuse me but he had a run with role on Saturday and did it very nicely
I wonder if some people on here actually appreciate the roles some players are asked to perform sometimes
As for Hodge, yep love to see him back but seriously he was as lame as an old dog toward the end of the Box Hill game and also looked pretty heavy so why the rush to have him back ?
Goo in for Murphy. Poor old Murphy just really isn't the man to take us fwd into the finals which pains me coz he works his arse off for the brown and gold

I agree that Savage stays. We need him up and going in September and right now the structure is brilliant. Perfect balance of inside grunt, outside run, big forwards, small forwards, big defenders, small defenders and most imprtantly only one genuine ruck who is also handy forward.

Guerra comes in for a defender - Cheney. Hodge comes in for a defender/utility - Murphy. Buddy comes in for a forward - stuffed if I know. Rough, Rioli, Bruest, Gunston all stay. Lewis stays obviously. Pops might be the only one but doesn't he have to stay as well?

Spoiled for choice!

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

" Similar Ilk"??? Goo (one of the highest paid players at the club) is in a total different department than Cheney, his hardness , his ball use, his decision making and coolness under pressure make him an automatic selection when he is available, just baffaling how some of us think he is just a fringe player at Hawthorn.

Well we are doing pretty good without him ATM.

It's just another option...not to be taken as gospel. Goo will most likely return and so he should...but this experience is valuable for Cheney

 

[Cynic]

Well we are doing pretty good without him ATM.

It's just another option...not to be taken as gospel. Goo will most likely return and so he should...but this experience is valuable for Cheney

If he's not contracted I doubt he'll be on our list next year so I doubt experience is overly vital for him.

I can't see them rushing Buddy or Hodge or changing a winning formula so you'd think we'll see..

IN: Guerra
OUT: Cheney

 

[Slattery_20]

OTOH Stanton's got a pretty solid record against Hawthorn in recent years.
Although it must be said, like most run-and-kick linking players, he does tend to enjoy the wider spaces @ the G (or football park or Gabba) rather than the narrower grounds like Etihad, SCG.


We really, really struggled with two things last week - Geelong's tackling pressure early (incredibly intense in the opening 10 minutes, we had no way out); and later on they sat numbers back at true CHB, and played a pretty ugly, but incredibly effective, flood type arrangement. The former I've not seen from Geelong all year, the latter was very similar to the old school Geelong gameplan, pre-2008.
Essendon really struggled to pick a way through those numbers, and didn't seem to want to go around. None of our forwards really had a chance one-out.

I'd be disappointed if we're as easily bossed around @ the clearances, that's been our strength all year; I wouldn't be surprised at all if we're picked apart again by a zone - really noticably missing a few of our genuinely good ball users.

 

[Cynic]

I'd be disappointed if we're as easily bossed around @ the clearances, that's been our strength all year; I wouldn't be surprised at all if we're picked apart again by a zone - really noticably missing a few of our genuinely good ball users.

Missing Ryder, Hurley & Zaharakis are massive blows, as are Hocking & Lonergan if they're not returning?

 

[realhawk]

Well we are doing pretty good without him ATM.

It's just another option...not to be taken as gospel. Goo will most likely return and so he should...but this experience is valuable for Cheney

Correct, getting some games into Cheney while Goo has been out has been valuable and he will be called upon again should we lose a mid sized defender to suspension or injury.

 

[Henry Jr]

So HJ how are we traveling without Buddy so far?

I like what you did there Phil.

Strange dont you think, that the club would sit him out for the Pies, but not for GWS.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Ins: Hodge, Guerra
Outs: Cheney, Murphy

 

[Pessimistic]

As I see it the depth currently outside, or ready in a week or so is:
Franklin, Bailey, Gilham
Hodge, Guerra, Bateman, Ellis
Its a third of a team. Bring it home Boys !!!!

Untouchables (apart from 'resting')
Roughead, Shoe, Gibson, Stratton, Birchall
Mitchell, Sewell, Lewis
Rioli, Puopolo, Breust, Whitecross, Smith

Only Bateman threatens the quicker guy's places

 

[go hawks!!!]

I like what you did there Phil.

Strange dont you think, that the club would sit him out for the Pies, but not for GWS.

 

[Buddy Guy]

Ins: Hodge, Guerra
Outs: Cheney, Murphy

DF, you really think Hodge is a chance of coming in this week?
To me he looked pretty lame when he came off and had enough ice on his knee to chill three slabs.

 

[eth-dog]

Just looking at your teams and if you think Whitecross is not in our best 22 you are delusional. Has been a constantly improving player year after year and has now reached a very solid B+ grade rating and looking to crack the A grade status, which he seems to be doing.

From the weekends team the first 3 players who's spot is at risk in no particular order is Savage, Murphy and Cheney.

Just my 2 cents Guerra will definately come in for either Murphy or Cheney.

Hodge still needs to get match fitness and be right for finals. McGoo's for the next 2 weeks and bring him in for the Port game. A 4 game lead in of Port, GCS, Syd and WCE would be a good run in for finals. 2 easy teams first and then 2 hard teams.

Can't see Bailey, Hale and Roughy all in the same side. The team structure seems exactly right and wouldn't want to mess with that. Hale and Roughy working superbly. If it ain't broken don't fix it. Unfortunate for Bailey but great to know we have such a wonderful back up for an injury or suspension to a big fella. Bailey may find he gets some game time against the teams with solid ruck divisions such as Syd and Mumford and WCE and Cox, Nicnat. If Hale is sore this week then i can see Hale having a rest and Bailey being bought in.

Young to be on the field before Savage. Savage sub again.

Sorry, I knew I forgot someone. It's not delusion, just forgetfulness. And Whitecross is a solid B-Grader, nothing more, nothing less.

As for Bailey, Hale and Roughy, I thought that because Bellchambers was in fantastic form you'd rather someone like Bailey to possibly cancel him out.

Thanks for the feedback mate

 

[Buddy Guy]

GH, some of our younger posters probably wouldn't even know what that was.