Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Oliver Hanrahan

[MrPremiership]

This is true, however he's not doing anything else at the moment and that is why this will be Poppy's final season.

Why? Because he's over 30?

His role in the side is defensive pressure. With Cyril gone, we don't have other small forwards who do that as well as Poppy.

 

[Tomohawks]

Why? Because he's over 30?

His role in the side is defensive pressure. With Cyril gone, we don't have other small forwards who do that as well as Poppy.

Why? Because he's over 30?

His role in the side is defensive pressure. With Cyril gone, we don't have other small forwards who do that as well as Poppy.

He just doesn't get any touches anymore, he is getting rushed in his disposal more often than not and it's not going to get better at his age. So yes partly to do with his age as history suggests he's not going to improve at age 31 and 32 later this year. When we have to choose between Poppy and Ollie going forward, Ollie needs to play every time now due to his offensive abilities. This is in no way any dig at Poppy who's been a star for us but age catches up with us all and it's time to pass the baton now.

 

[Howe Amazing]

Why retire a player just because of his age? If there isn't anyone taking his spot in the 22, then he stays

Have always loved Poppy so if he gets another year great but we are pretty well catered for small or medium forwards

 

[Lawsy]

With Cyril gone and our semi disfunctional forward line, Ollie is getting the 3rd small that Poppy used to get. The flow on effect is he's getting goals and Poppy not

 

[MrPremiership]

Have always loved Poppy so if he gets another year great but we are pretty well catered for small or medium forwards

Medium forwards? None of them are that.

Poppy, Ollie, Breust, Chad and Moore.

Looks like good depth to me.

 

[MrPremiership]

He just doesn't get any touches anymore, he is getting rushed in his disposal more often than not and it's not going to get better at his age. So yes partly to do with his age as history suggests he's not going to improve at age 31 and 32 later this year. When we have to choose between Poppy and Ollie going forward, Ollie needs to play every time now due to his offensive abilities. This is in no way any dig at Poppy who's been a star for us but age catches up with us all and it's time to pass the baton now.

Poppy's role has never, and will never, be graded on how many disposals he gets.

Where he has been poor this year is hitting the scoreboard. If he can address that, then he is fine.

I'll never understand the rush to retire players.

 

[Slick]

Stringing a couple of solid games together, the young fella. Pops up out of nowhere too.

 

[Hawthorn23]

Really showed how clean he is with the footy on Saturday. There was kick he had whilst running with a bit of speed in the first quarter that was super skilful. Think we have a good one with Hanners

 

[Tomohawks]

Poppy's role has never, and will never, be graded on how many disposals he gets.

Where he has been poor this year is hitting the scoreboard. If he can address that, then he is fine.

I'll never understand the rush to retire players.

I agree he doesn't need touches to be valuable, however if he's a non factor on actually touching it all then his spot in the team becomes an area for discussion. No team can afford to have a player in the team for only tackling pressure who does nothing else. I love his pressure and it's valuable but he's giving nothing else whatsoever. Poppy has been magnificent for us over the journey but he's done.

 

[TylerDurden]

I agree he doesn't need touches to be valuable, however if he's a non factor on actually touching it all then his spot in the team becomes an area for discussion. No team can afford to have a player in the team for only tackling pressure who does nothing else. I love his pressure and it's valuable but he's giving nothing else whatsoever. Poppy has been magnificent for us over the journey but he's done.

On point.

 

[KermitJagger]

I agree he doesn't need touches to be valuable, however if he's a non factor on actually touching it all then his spot in the team becomes an area for discussion. No team can afford to have a player in the team for only tackling pressure who does nothing else. I love his pressure and it's valuable but he's giving nothing else whatsoever. Poppy has been magnificent for us over the journey but he's done.

Do you not think that Poppy's situation is systemic of our whole team struggling?

Forward pocket is a lonely place in a bad team, and it's difficult to insert yourself into the game if everyone is struggling.

I agree he's not at his best, but he's playing a role vital to our structures to which we have no replacement. No replacement is even on the horizon. He gets another year on that alone.

 

[sven_inc]

I think between Hanrahan, Nash, Moore, Minchington and even Walker we do have a Poppy replacement coming up through the ranks. We forget how good he's been and we may never find another Poppy clone, but each of the guys above could turn into their own version of what he's given us. Hardwick could also end up there of we find a suitable back pocket to replace him.

 

[11sjw]

I think between Hanrahan, Nash, Moore, Minchington and even Walker we do have a Poppy replacement coming up through the ranks. We forget how good he's been and we may never find another Poppy clone, but each of the guys above could turn into their own version of what he's given us. Hardwick could also end up there of we find a suitable back pocket to replace him.

Moving Hardwick forward (now Birchall's up and running and with Scrimshaw around) would be a signal re Poppy.

 

[Tomohawks]

Do you not think that Poppy's situation is systemic of our whole team struggling?

Forward pocket is a lonely place in a bad team, and it's difficult to insert yourself into the game if everyone is struggling.

I agree he's not at his best, but he's playing a role vital to our structures to which we have no replacement. No replacement is even on the horizon. He gets another year on that alone.

I don't believe that Poppy's current situation is due to the sides struggles. He is being rushed and fumbles when he is in a position that he would have normally swallowed. Both signs of a player in decline. Yes there is a concern as we don't appear to have a like for like replacement but we can't give him games when a player such as Ollie can provide us something different in a positive way. He won't be getting another year in my opinion.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Wilson was a good match up last week. Quick. Was on Poppys shoulder the whole day. Poppy did slip away with that deft tap to cut away and set up a goal. I reckon keep the faith for now.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Thought Ollie did a few nice things against the Cats. Continues to show that he can handle the increased speed and intensity of the game. Just needs to find a bit mroe of the pill.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Has potential to be HBF/Mid. I hope we see him waltzing around the ground a bit more...but with the occasional goal or two

 

[Zack]

For a bloke who had his number stamped.. at BH mind you he's turned he's career around quite well the past 2 months, Wasn't great today but when he does get it in open space it always hits someone. My understanding is it's because he never really was into it... if the past few weeks he's been into it, there is a fair bit to like even if he's just a puppy replacement.

 

[Lethality]

He looks like he belongs.

 

[KermitJagger]

He's really smart with his ball use, just needs to get it more. He's still playing pretty limited minutes compared to other players though.

 

[Lethality]

He's really smart with his ball use, just needs to get it more. He's still playing pretty limited minutes compared to other players though.

He gets the ball enough for a small forward.

 

[TylerDurden]

He's clean below the knees, a neat kick, has speed, applies pressure and hits the scoreboard. Absolute keeper. Now let's get his brother too.

 

[KermitJagger]

He gets the ball enough for a small forward.

He gets the ball enough, sure - but he's such a smart user of it that I'd love for him to get it more. He didn't register a turnover all game, and every time he got the pill it went to advantage.

 

[MrPremiership]

Tidy, neat and clean.

Always bobs up for a goal or two also.

Playing the role perfectly.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

One quality he has which is perhaps elite is the ability to get the ball to boot incredibly quickly and with limited steps after taking possession. He has kicked 2 incredibly opportunistic goals this season using this trait. It means the opposition will learn they can't give him an inch of space which as a forward group we will be able to use to our advantage.