2012 - What is Hawthorns biggest weakness?

[markr]

Injuries.

I'm happy with our defense with Gibson, Stratton and Gilham to chose from and Schoenmakers and Lisle developing. I liked the look of Litherland in his pre-season games too.

Bailey and Hale are good enough in the ruck, and we have a few developing. But one injury would see us looking pretty thin.

I'd love to see us with an explosive midfielder in the Judd/Griffen/Cooney/Deledio mold. We have some outside pace and plenty of inside grunt, but we don't really have this sort of mid. A younger Burgoyne had this, but we only see it in glimpses now, maybe a kid like Smith will turn in to this sort of player with a few extra kilos.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

If we could include Cox, Le Cras and Glass into our team, I'd struggle to find too many weaknesses.

 

[Roddy]

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.

I've always thought a gorilla backman, but man that backline looks tough. Not enormous, but incredibly strong and steady and hard to penetrate. We've got the 2nd or 3rd least points scored against this year, and that's without Stratts or Gilham. Imagine when they're back. Especially when you get 20 more games into Stratts. The mind boggles...

 

[Changa10]

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.

Wouldn't touch Garlett with a barge pole. Soft as butter, as identified by Taz on Friday night.

Milne, not sure, I just can't stand the Tip Rat. Getting on a bit too, already 31.
Krakouer - No thanks. He's been good for the Pies, but would stick with Punky ahead of him.
Gray - Has his moments, but I wouldn't go out of my way to replace Bruest with him.
Betts - Yes, could be very dangerous alongside Cyril and Buddy. Would be a far better combo than Betts and Garlett!
LeCras - YES.

Injury free and we are looking pretty solid. Would love a true goal kicking midfielder. Colin Sylvia impressed me on Sunday, but not sure how consistent he would perform?

 

[Phil McCreviss]

Once Gilham and Stratton come back, it will be arguably the best back line in the game. We are currently second best in the comp. Add those two blokes in the mix and we will be pressing the Pies for the best defense.

The big danger next season is injuries and our forward line. We won't see Rough until July at earliest imo so we need to be unpredictable going forward.

Ofcourse all our expectations could turn to poo if we lose a Franklin, Hodge etc to a long term injury.

 

[Pessimistic]

If our youngsters get 2-3 finals worth of experience, we have to be beautifully placed for 2012.

Defence: Gilham Gibson Stratton Lisle Shoey & Birchall, Guerra, Ladson, Murphy, Cheney

Rucks: Hale, Bailey, Renouf

Older Mids/Utility: Mitchell, Hodge, Sewell, Burgoyne, Bateman, Bruce (Im still looking at 3-4 years more from most of these)

Younger Mids/Utility: Lewis, Ellis, Young, Whitecross, Shiels, Suckling, Savage, Smith, Puopolo, Bruest

Fwds: Franklin, Roughead, Osborne, Rioli (surely with this depth cyril can be a permanent forward)

33 players runs pretty deep - can handle up to 7 injuries comfortably

In fact id even suggest it will be tough on some of the 3-4 guys we de list - not really deserved.

If possible, perhaps we can ease up on the topping up and try to mass resources for the next gun midfielder, as mids will be the ones we need to replace next (in 3-4 yrs time hopefully)

it would mean getting top 12 picks which hopefully we dont qualify for. If only the system allowed us to roll our next 2-3 years picks into just one in the top 6.

Maybe some of our older players with 3-4 years left can be packaged to GWS for one of their plum picks ? obviously the age 30 plus players have no currency for them

PS Did Pelchin move on because his job was basically 'done' ?

 

[kolchak]

Was just thinking about our team today post 2015, where the likes of Hodge, Mitchell and Sewell would either be finishing up or finishing their careers, and who would be there to replace them. Lewis by then will be 27-28, I'm confident Shiels will become one of our best mids, but we probably need to develop at least 2 more A class mids. Rioli is probably the only other player I can think of who might, but then again might not.

 

[Pessimistic]

The Hawks seem to be able to produce pure inside mids fairly easily - without needing premum picks to get them.

it seems to be about taking the time to develop core strength. Word is Sewell went into a program for this while long term injured - needing more than just a pre-season to do it.

Therefore use early picks to get a silky skilled midfield machine

 

[MrFujiMoto]

Was just thinking about our team today post 2015, where the likes of Hodge, Mitchell and Sewell would either be finishing up or finishing their careers, and who would be there to replace them. Lewis by then will be 27-28, I'm confident Shiels will become one of our best mids, but we probably need to develop at least 2 more A class mids. Rioli is probably the only other player I can think of who might, but then again might not.

We still have Ellis, Sheils, Lewis, Puopolo and Cyril that, if fit, can be the basis of a strong core mid group. Add to that the likes of the unknowns in Schneider and Hallahan who were recruited to be Sewelly and Mitchell type replacements and we don't look too bad circa 2015 (Providing all goes to plan obviously).

 

[Rioli magic]

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.

I think it's just endurance. Not sure Bruest has the tank behind him to play full games at high intensity week after week.

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.

Sylvia.

Was just thinking about our team today post 2015, where the likes of Hodge, Mitchell and Sewell would either be finishing up or finishing their careers, and who would be there to replace them. Lewis by then will be 27-28, I'm confident Shiels will become one of our best mids, but we probably need to develop at least 2 more A class mids. Rioli is probably the only other player I can think of who might, but then again might not.

I have high hopes for young Mitch Hallahan.

 

[MC_9]

Was just thinking about our team today post 2015, where the likes of Hodge, Mitchell and Sewell would either be finishing up or finishing their careers, and who would be there to replace them. Lewis by then will be 27-28, I'm confident Shiels will become one of our best mids, but we probably need to develop at least 2 more A class mids. Rioli is probably the only other player I can think of who might, but then again might not.

100% agree.

I think we have enough young players covering our weaknesses. No point in just drafting more.

We need to start preparing for life after our A-Grade midfield. Look to replace the likes of Hodge (almost impossible), Mitchell, Sewell and Burgouyne.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

100% agree.

I think we have enough young players covering our weaknesses. No point in just drafting more.

We need to start preparing for life after our A-Grade midfield. Look to replace the likes of Hodge (almost impossible), Mitchell, Sewell and Burgouyne.

Can't find a replacement for Hodge, but Hallahan maybe for Mitchell, Shiels for Sewelly and Rioli for Burgers are a start. I'd also suggest Savage and Smith can replace Changa and Young.

 

[Goody1971]

Wouldn't be suprised to see Whitecross develop in to a tough inside mid in the future...

 

[Agent Smith]

Kryptonite.

 

[hawker92]

I'm liking the half forward suggestions. Need someone like Mark 'Shotgun' Williams again

 

[wizardwaffle]

I'll put my suggestion for a team line up for next year:
B- Gilham, Gibson, Guerra
HB- Birchall, Schoenmakers, Stratton
C- Bateman, Mitchell, Burgoyne
HF- Hale, Franklin, Osbourne
F- Rioli, Roughead, Bruest
Foll- Bailey, Hodge, Sewell
I/C- Puopolo, Suckling, Savage, Smith

Gibson has stared at Full Back this year. Could move Gilham, Gibson and Schoey around to fit other teams forward lines.
When Roughead comes back he won't have the spring he had, play him full-forward in a Dunstall role.
Hale has to be in the forward line. We need three talls up there.
Put our best ball handlers were the action is, in the middle (Mitchell, Burgoyne, Bateman, Hodge and Sewell).
When Osbourne gets going he is a star and deserves to start.
Let the four youngesters develop and learn the game all over the ground. They will develop in a player for a position.

 

[grizzlym]

No love for Shiels?

 

[savagelunchbox]

Like Roger said, a Medium sized forward who kicks goals. Ozzie just doesn't offer enough score board pressure. More of a high half-forward, shut-down forward.

Mark LeCras is the one i'd go hard for during Trade Period.

 

[wizardwaffle]

I miss Shields. I picked up I missed Smith just before I posted the team. I put Smith in and Whitecross out.

When Ossie is playing well he is a high marking player that kicks about one to two goals a game.

Getting Mark LeCras from West Coast, what we would have to give to get him. We would have to give something special to get him. We got Burgoyne because he wanted to leave Port and come to us. If LeCras doesn't want to leave West Coast he won't come.

 

[grizzlym]

Like Roger said, a Medium sized forward who kicks goals. Ozzie just doesn't offer enough score board pressure. More of a high half-forward, shut-down forward.

Mark LeCras is the one i'd go hard for during Trade Period.

No chance on Le Cras. Anyone think Shoey might get some gametime up forward next year? Especially with Gilham and Stratton back.

I like the kid as a forward. His pace and kicking and height and endurance would see him a real handful.

 

[JoondalupJ]

I think that our weakness in 2012 will be whether we can build on the dynamite we have introduced to our playing group this year.
If Al Clarkeson stays we will be fine because he is a thinker and a planner and he knows his plans don,t take five seconds it takes time.
I am so impressed with this year with our injuries being what they are that our youngsters are forming up beautifully, I have got a feeling that we could do it this year.
But reality is that Collingwood are a marvelous footy team and Geelong are still very very dangerous WCE are again back and threatening , and of course the Blues are still a contender.

So this year I won,t freak out if we don,t go the distance. BUT BUT BUT , I SEE 2012 THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER BIG DYNASTY for our club.

The difference between now and back in the 80,s and 70,s is I beleive there will be some other dynasty clubs happening , I think the Pies I think Essendon and I think the
WCE the Blues and Roos will be big powers in the next couple of years, Crows may be ready to frighten a few yet too. So we will see some magnificent footy, but the bottom level of the AFL clubs will be long term strugglers, thats Andrews fault.

So 2012 Hawks don,t fail that will be our year if this one isn,t!