What do you see being the team's greatest weakness in 2015?

[Buddy Guy]

I can tell you right now it will not be complacency.
Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis, Roughead, Rioli, & Birchall have a burning desire to write themselves one of the greatest chapters in the history of this footy club.

 

[James Colorado]

Lewis is definitely the player in the next age group down that offers up some of what these guys offer but after that we still have unprovens who need to show us what they've got. The candidates for me are:

Gunston - Is the next captain after Lewis or Roughead if you ask me. Is young, sharp and talented. Perhaps not a game breaker like Hodge and Mitch but has many of their attributes.
Langford - Has shown glimpses of his talent and drive. Seems to be intelligent and a thinker. Has potential.
Hill - Has come on in leaps and bounds. Talent is all there. Is he a leader though? Tony Shaw is convinced that he is a future captain of the club.
Anderson - Exudes Hodge-like qualities to me. Brightest under 21 prospect in the squad.
Shiels - Strikes me as just been a serviceable mid but not a leader of men.
Smith - Similar to Shiels for me.
Woodward - Unproven.
Hartung - Unproven. Does not appear to be a leader.
Willsmore - I know very little about him but have heard that he has leadership qualities.
O'Rourke - Fingers crossed on his footballing potential but makes Buddy sound like Noam Chomsky when he speaks. Not a leader.
Pick.31 2014 draft - I really liked what I saw (and heard) in Touk Miller btw (see here ----> Video). Would be thrilled if he slipped to Pick.31. Well spoken and looks to have many of the above attributes.

Am I missing anyone?

I like a lot of what you've said, but I've also heard great things about Shiels' leadership capabilities (but "heard" is just what I've read in the paper and on BF). Lewis is likely our next captain, but the big Rough would also be a fine choice.

Gunston seems to have shown a lot of maturity for someone who's still only a kid. His on-field leadership reminds me of Mitchell and Hodge, but perhaps he could be a bit more vocal, which will come with experience (you've seen the way Hodge directs traffic on the field, like a playing coach; something the much-maligned Nick Maxwell also did so well, even if he wasn't the calibre of footballer Hodgey is).

Tony Shaw will know more than me about Hill, but I've loved him ever since the first glimpses of him as a sub in '12. He has become indispensable in a very short time, and that shows a lot of mental strength as natural talent only gets you into the team, it doesn't keep you there.

Haven't heard O'Rourke speak, but I can't wait to see him play!

IMO the leadership group in 2018 will be Lewis (c), Roughead (vc), Rioli (vc), Langford, Shiels, Anderson, Hill and Whitecross (I love his physical toughness and mental determination).

 

[seysearles]

Would you include Whitecross? Questions over how he may return from a second knee but otherwise sounds like a very good leader and much loved amongst the club.

IMO the leadership group in 2018 will be Lewis (c), Roughead (vc), Rioli (vc), Langford, Shiels, Anderson, Hill and Whitecross (I love his physical toughness and mental determination).

I must say, I forgot about Whitecross. He certainly seems to have the respect of the squad. I haven't been the wrap on him that other supporters have been. But would love to be proven wrong. I sort of see him in the same light as Shiels and even Smith or Suckling or Bruest. Good guys and serviceable on the field but not generals like Hodge and Mitch and Lewis. This is also why I would disagree with Rioli as future VC. I think that is Roughead's on his own with Gunston as the incumbent (unless Anderson or Hill come on really hard between now and then).

 

[cryptor]

I must say, I forgot about Whitecross. He certainly seems to have the respect of the squad. I haven't been the wrap on him that other supporters have been. But would love to be proven wrong. I sort of see him in the same light as Shiels and even Smith or Suckling or Bruest. Good guys and serviceable on the field but not generals like Hodge and Mitch and Lewis. This is also why I would disagree with Rioli as future VC. I think that is Roughead's on his own with Gunston as the incumbent (unless Anderson or Hill come on really hard between now and then).

I think that's fair. It's hard to say where he sits now as a player after missing the best part of 2 seasons but presumably it will be in the bottom 6 of the 22 at best unless he has an amazing return. Likely see him take the sub role from Simpkin. As a leader and clubman he's probably the equivalent of Tom Murphy. Does so much good stuff behind the scenes that we as fans may take for granted. The way he could remain so selfless and team oriented after doing his knee in consecutive finals series shows his character.

 

[Davo23]

I can tell you right now it will not be complacency.
Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis, Roughead, Rioli, & Birchall have a burning desire to write themselves one of the greatest chapters in the history of this footy club.

Yep, you've named the right ones: it's the pain of past losses and disappointments that lights the burning fire within that keeps these guys going.

While any of them are still around, we'll be up there.

.

 

[Max Force]

Hill as a future captain? Wow, I can't wait to see that. I hope he stays at the Hawks and becomes a genuine leader after we transition from Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Lewis & Roughead.

 

[cryptor]

Hill as a future captain? Wow, I can't wait to see that. I hope he stays at the Hawks and becomes a genuine leader after we transition from Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Lewis & Roughead.

Hill is certainly on the path to living up to our previous #10

 

[Dewnior]

I am not to worried about complacency, as the impression I've got is that the boys not only want a 3 peat but they also want the guys who missed out to get one.

Which boys? The ones with 1, 2 or 3 medals. Coz if it's not the ones with 3, I just can't see a 3 peat happening.

 

[Dipper]

For 2015 it's got to be lack of cover for Roughy, it'd be a freak occurrence for Mitchel, Hodge and Burgoyne to all fall off the cliff straight after starring during the finals.

There's nothing behind Roughy unless Schoey ups his game.

 

[GoldenHodge]

Forward line depth is a bit of a weakness followed by the aging superstars. We got Tim O'Brien and Schoenmakers as backup. Tim O'Brien is still raw and still will need some time and Schoenmakers I have no idea where his best position is. Even if it is forward, he's not the quality of a Roughead so we will still be weaker as a side if Roughead goes out. Aging superstars is a concern but we should be alright for this season.

 

[SC fish]

Ruck, lack of a genuine dominant hitout winner
Hasn't been a huge issue for us in the past. I prefer our rucks strength of being able to compete at ground level and their second efforts.

This.

A "second effort" ruckman is worth their weight in gold and almost adds another player to the field.

 

[seysearles]

Hill as a future captain? Wow, I can't wait to see that. I hope he stays at the Hawks and becomes a genuine leader after we transition from Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Lewis & Roughead.

 

[mustang]

You're forgetting Whitecross. Hopefully the footy gods can be kinder to him.

He hasn't played for close to 1.5 years will the game have gone past him will he get back

 

[JoeHawk]

He hasn't played for close to 1.5 years will the game have gone past him will he get back

Perhaps. Who knows. But when he came back briefly last time he seemed to hardly miss a beat. Still young too.

 

[MightyHawks86]

In terms of leadership on/off-field, what about McEvoy? I read a few articles throughout the season saying that he was really impressing with his ideas/involvement in the club. He was being touted as a future captain at the Saints as well wasn't he?

 

[cryptor]

I guess you could draw some parallels between Crawf and Hill both on and off the field. Off field they're both known for being a bit cheeky and a bit immature but on the track and on the field you'd be hard pressed to find harder workers.

 

[Randy Campbell]

The number 36 jumper is the only weakness.

 

[Great 2008]

Roughead injured only during September 2015 is our biggest concern by far.

Our most important player by far. If Roughead went down!....... should be added to the Poll.

 

[JoeHawk]

Our most important player by far. If Roughead went down!....... should be added to the Poll.

Yes would be a huge loss. But we boast a forward lineup that contained three 50+ goal scores. Of course they all compliment one another. No different to any other team though. Comparing to Sydney if judas goes down $ydney are screwed more than the hawks if Rough went down. Could we win a flag without him? Unlikely but we'd give it a damn good shot. Sydney with judas wouldn't have a chance. Also Cats with Pawkins are also lost. Even when he is only half fit. As usual, winning premierships requires a bit of luck.

 

[killerspud]

Good questions.

In response to:

1. Hodge and Mitchell won't let us down, they both played their best footy this season in September and I trust them to know how to manage themselves (some of you may not have noticed, but I kind of like those guys). Lake I trust to play great footy in September, it's just a matter of him getting there. He's never let us down yet, and he played hurt this year and was one of our best when it mattered.

2. I'm expecting huge things from Whitecross. He was best 22 in '12 and '13, but cruelled by injury. I hate playing this game, but maybe '12 would have been a different story with him on the ground in the GF? Also, with the attitude he's displayed so far, he will not let anyone, no matter how big a body, get between him and the ball in '15; he wants a premiership. Anderson looks like he has the potential to be a star, as does O'Rourke, and Frawley was good enough to be AA in a woeful side. Now he can play with the knowledge that it's not all on him, he has Lake, Gibson, Spangher, Stratton, Birchall, Suckling, Duryea around him, not to mention Hodge, Mitchell and Burgoyne rotating through the backline. That would give anyone a lot of confidence

I think Mitchell's injury last year was a godsend in terms of his longevity - I think he got the sustained break he needed and was just getting to peak levels around the finals. I think we'll manage him very carefully.

Hodge - for all the brilliant things he does on the football field I think his main weapon is his leadership aura. He makes other players better, he makes opponents worry just by his presence. So long as he is able to get on the park when it matters he will be good.

Burgoyne - for me the real worry is here - why? Because I think he's the least replaceable. Mitchell gets his disposals, Hodge has his aura but Burgoyne has something different. An ability to play just about any role from small forward to small back pocket, to in the middle. But it's more - his ability to make the right decision in the most difficult circumstances and to execute that and have the presence of mind to think further down the passage of play and be there too. For the past two years he has been the crucial player for me - make no mistake in 2013 we are no more than preliminary finalists without his cool head and clutch goals. Can he keep playing to that level??? that's the big question. also if he goes down with an injury then we could be in real trouble.


Having said all this Jordan Lewis has gone from ok player to absolute elite. Langford just has to do what he did in the last month this year for an entire year and he joins him. Hill and Smith are the best run and carry wingmen in the comp and then there's the likes of Shiels, Puopolo, Simpkin and Suckling all premiership players and extremely capable - along with Woodward, Whitecross, Anderson and Sicily who will be breaking down the door to be part of it.

Finally don't forget Breust can always join that midfield group, Gunston has the tank to run up and down a wing and Rioli did very very little for most of the year.

so to answer the OP - complacency is the only thing that can stop us as we definitely still have the best list in the competition that has only really been added to this year.

 

[MrPremiership]

hunger

 

[The Swert]

Where's the option for tall backs?

It's totally possible that Lake, Frawley, Gibson, Schoenmakers, Spangher and Stratton all get injured.

 

[becalm]

A horrendous bad run of injuries. A reasonable run can be covered.
Port Adelaide the only danger, particularly now they have Ryder. Not sure how many games he may miss because of ASADA issue, but will probably be there for the finals.

 

[HR Roughnstuf]

I think it's the lack of a tall forward option if Rough goes down. Possibly Frawley could be used as a swing man, leaving Lake and Spang to do the job down back. Possibly Schoey can refind some form and confidence. Maybe Grimley could show some desire to improve. Maybe TOB will step up, but he's still a few years off by the looks of it.

Our forward structure is a big key to our success the past few years - and a long-term injury to Rough would be a big hurdle. There's just too many question marks on those that would be left to fill his shoes.

Name me one club that would be able to cover their #1 forward going down better than us.

 

[Xtreme]

Injuries and old age