2008 vs 2011

[buddylg]

Just looking at ladder predictions and most commentators are seeing Hawks finish 3rd with 17 wins and 5 losses.

In 2008 we finished second with 17 wins and 5 losses.

In 2008 we weren't expected to do as well as we did and had injury question marks in september (hodge - ribs, croad - foot, buddy - shoulder all year and then quad before GF)

We may be missing three KPPs but they should look to the past and see that if they stick to their game style and play out of their skins when required....well anything is possible.

 

[The_Axeman]

Just looking at ladder predictions and most commentators are seeing Hawks finish 3rd with 12 wins and 5 losses.

In 2008 we finished second with 12 wins and 5 losses.

I think that should be 17 wins and 5 losses.

And yes i agree with you, there are a lot of similarities between 2008 and 2011 and anything is possible, although i think Collingwood 2011 are a much better team than geelong of 2008.

I believe we can do it this year and if not then 2012.

 

[tommyk72]

Hi buddy - maybe check your numbers. There are more than 17 games in the season! Think it's up until round 17 we're on the same wins and losses!

 

[Whirling Dervish]

No offence, but 2008 comparisons make me cringe.

For starters, the top 2 teams in 2008 were clearly ahead of 3 and 4 at the end of the year; unless the Cats fall away and we make 2nd, would hate that to be the case this year!

Second, Bailey, Bruest, Lisle, Puopolo, Savage, Shoenmakers, Shiels, Smith and Suckling, most of who will be best 22 come September, have never played an AFL final. The 2007 elimination final vs Adelaide was the last time we had so many finals debutants.

I believe with a lot of luck (we are due), we can go all the way. Not because of 2008, but because of Mitch's and Gibbo's stellar form this year, Poppy's attack on the ball, our exciting emerging scoring options, Shiels' maturity, etc etc. Time to look forward, not back.

 

[Boyler_Room]

^^^^^^^^^^^

This, some of these young guys have never played finals, or a whole season at top flight.

I think the call for replacements in best 22 that have come up in June/July are a bit rich and the experience at that level is a great factor and vitally important.

I'm really hoping for some of the players who have been labelled "not in our best 22 any more" come back, prove us wrong and hit their strides for a run at September/October.

 

[wolvesjr34]

Honestly I just want us to finish top four, to get two valuable finals games at worst into the young guys, be awesome preparation for next season Be great to go further, but right now I am just hoping for top four.

 

[buddylg]

Sorry fixed it up.

Still - if we finish with the same stats as 2008 H/A season i think its a positive. There is lots to be positive about, which most children/posters have trouble with.

 

[jpzhawk]

if we went all the way it would be freakish and of course frickin awesome !
BUT , i would still be happy with this young group getting more big game and finals experience . i believe we will have a better shot next year .

 

[Hawkflag]

in 2008 we were on a rampage. killed heaps of teams and had a slight dip near the middle of the season due to a heavy training technique. come finals we demolished teams, and we did it better than Geelong's finals campaign. we were in hot form and seriously dominating form. also our team was well balanced.

2010. no real player consistency. injuries. good form but not red-hot. if we do manage to put together a brilliant finals campaign and maybe even win a grand final then Clarkson would be considered one of the best coaches to ever coach football. don't forget, the media thinks we pinched the 2008 GF; though we did what good teams do: kick more goals....I never got how we didn't deserve it as we won 17 games that season which indicates a GF contender...anyway..let it go

let it go Hawkflag

....we have a slim chance of winning the big one, but Buddy would need to kick 6 goals a game come finals and maybe 7 in the grannie

Carn Hawks!

 

[savagelunchbox]

2012 is our year. 2011 is expecting too much too soon. Doesn't mean we won't give it our all though.

 

[Books]

2012 is our year. 2011 is expecting too much too soon. Doesn't mean we won't give it our all though.

This.

 

[singlo]

2012 is our year. 2011 is expecting too much too soon. Doesn't mean we won't give it our all though.

2008 was also a year too early according to the "experts", Remember.
Also by the by will the team be doing high altitude conditioning in the off week?

 

[savagelunchbox]

2008 was also a year too early according to the "experts", Remember.
Also by the by will the team be doing high altitude conditioning in the off week?

2008 was early. But 2009 would have been our year had we not won it in 08 due to the clubs worrying more about stopping Geelong instead of Hawthorn.

Had we not suffered injuries to players like Rough, Strats, Gilham and the like, i'd say we were a strong chance to push for the premiership, but with the youth in our side and the lack of finals games under their belt, that might be the undoing of the team? But atm we have a guaranteed 2 finals games against at least 1 top4 side and that experience for the youth will be invaluable going into 2012.

That's just my take on it. But you if u got a chance, you go for it whether its 'your yr' or not

 

[willo_k]

Biggest difference is noone did to us in 08 what collingwood did to us this year...

 

[kirbatron]

we will stop collingwood winning 3 in a row like we did geelong..

 

[Books]

we will stop collingwood winning 3 in a row like we did geelong..

If Collingwood win it next year with Buckley as coach I will fair dinkum spew up!!

However I seriously don't think they will. They have a great set-up now and they are voluntarily dismantling it themselves. It will be the greatest self-induced stuff-up ever.

 

[satan1]

Biggest difference is noone did to us in 08 what collingwood did to us this year...

...we had some pretty convincing losses in 08.

 

[Symons]

Do you really see the Collingwood loss as relevant?

Don't get me wrong - I'm not underestimating Collingwood or Geelong as opponents, because they will be fierce (particularly in a finals situation)...but we were a severely depleted team. With the best will in the world, we wouldn't win a premiership with the team that we fielded against Collingwood because the extra losses (Rioli, Sewell, Lewis) were a step too far.

Had we played Collingwood with the team that played against Essendon, it might have been a bit more representative of where we are at.

 

[Glorin]

Do you really see the Collingwood loss as relevant?

Don't get me wrong - I'm not underestimating Collingwood or Geelong as opponents, because they will be fierce (particularly in a finals situation)...but we were a severely depleted team. With the best will in the world, we wouldn't win a premiership with the team that we fielded against Collingwood because the extra losses (Rioli, Sewell, Lewis) were a step too far.

Had we played Collingwood with the team that played against Essendon, it might have been a bit more representative of where we are at.

Was getting ahead of myself the other day and considering these same thoughts. Observations of games against these teams:

1). First game against Geelong: Gameplan was setup to see how we would go with little checking of opposition and new syle gameplan. Result: Loss due to poor turn overs after having them on toast.

2). second game against Geelong: Greater emphasis on certain players, others left to run. Our gameplan caused trouble, their effort got them over the line.

3). Collingwood game: Full gameplan showed against top quality opponent. They knew it was coming and knocked it down against. side not best 22, still fought it out against reighing premier.

Just think that a bit of what went on with these games was a bit of poker bluff. Both sides know we have the capability to chop them up and would suggest that they would be hoping that we fall outside the 4. Big games and the hawks will haunt both these sides when it matters.

Injuries aside, I think the mentality down there this year will bring us a long way. Not saying we will win it, but we will make a mark. ( Which will be nice after the last two years!)