Unofficial Preview 2015 Three-peat??

[Scissor4life]

While we bath in the glory of premiership number 12 consider this...

• Lakey is good enough to go around for at least another season and is the spine of our amazing backline
• Some people were saying hodgey was done half was thru the year...he just won his 2nd NSM
• Sadly just Sewelly hangs em up but his successor Will, just played a blinder aged 23 and has speed to burn
• We just dismantled the "top" team by 10 + goals
• Sizzle has 5 months to rest his hamstring ( maybe we just wrap him in cotton wool and play him in the GF )
• We have the best coaching group in the AFL by a country mile
• Jed, Whitecross and Woodward pushing for selection next year

IF and that's a big if, we win it in 2015 we will be the greatest team of ALL if we aren't already

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

I think they might clean out and move on Sewelly, Lake, Grimley...

 

[onthemoney]

We played a lot of guys this year, the future is very bright.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

Sewell is done.

Lake gets another year.

 

[Scissor4life]

I think they might clean out and move on Sewelly, Lake, Grimley...

Surely you jest re Lake
If we had him in 2012 we would have already had the three-peat

 

[madhawksfan]

Need to keep improving our list as Port, Shitney and North will come hard at us next year.

Picking up another mid with speed and a KPD are musts as Lake cannot play a full season anymore and Mitch, Burgoyne and Hodge all need to be managed through the season.

Will be interesting to see who we can get in trade week/free agency.

 

[Flamin Joe]

Get more game time into Woodward, Hartung and Sicily to debut. Ceglar to continue to develop and then lets not forget we have both Anderson/Whitecross to come back from long term injuries.

Also I think Rioli is going to have a huge year next year. He's played 1 game in what 12 weeks and now it's the off season. Plenty more time to rest up and have a cracking start to next season.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

I think Whitey is going to have a huge say on whether we go back to back.
The players will want him to have a flag. He deserves it.

 

[cryptor]

Definitely keep Lake. Reads the ball so well, takes contested marks and can hold his ground against the biggest forwards. I feel our defence looks so much more rock solid with him there.

 

[FluffyHawk]

Two big concerns about next year. Will the players be as desperate and hungry for a flag as they were this year? And how will the coaches and players deal with our game-plan being picked apart and scrutinized by 17 other teams? How does the team stay ahead of the curve?

I see Port as being the main challengers next year. Their run and carry can definitely cut us open, and their small/medium forwards are harder to match-up on. Freo and Swans are 'easier' to play against given their predictability in how they move the ball and score.

 

[Xtreme]

Pre-season training to start tomorrow (only kidding)

Cut no corners, don't mention the chance to win 3 in a row. They have to be as hungry as if it were to be their first ever flag.

It's going to be difficult, Port, North, Fremantle can be up and about. Port and Fremantle just need to become more accurate in front of goal and they will destroy more teams next year.

 

[cryptor]

Pre-season training to start tomorrow (only kidding)

Cut no corners, don't mention the chance to win 3 in a row. They have to be as hungry as if it were to be their first ever flag.

It's going to be difficult, Port, North, Fremantle can be up and about. Port and Fremantle just need to become more accurate in front of goal and they will destroy more teams next year.

I'm just spitballing here but I wonder if the motivation for a 3peat would be greater than B2B? My reasoning being that to have a crack at B2B requires you to first win a single flag which means every season there is going to be a side that gives themselves the chance to achieve B2B in the following year. An outstanding achievement but one that a really good side could provide themselves the chance to attempt a few times before they retire.

A 3peat is almost like a Holy Grail. The opportunity to attempt that feat is very rarely ever presented to a club as it requires first winning B2B which we all know is an incredibly difficult thing in itself.

For many of the guys in our current team this will be their only shot at that. For the younger guys they could be so lucky to get that chance again but highly unlikely. Especially with GWS and Gold Coast set to take the comp over in the coming years.

We already know this club is hungry enough and prepared to deal with almost any challenge. Another good recruit or two over the break and a bit better luck with injuries and I see no reason why this group couldn't do it. There's 17 other teams who'll be gunning for us though.

 

[Cynic]

The biggest danger for a three peat is trying to do it with the same 23.

 

[filly]

So I just watched ABC'S INSIDERS and Caroline Wilson and Gerard Whateley(Smug Media Flog) pretty much wanted to talk about the real story which was the Swans not turning up.What is wrong with these people ! The funny thing is if we achieve a Three Peat these people in the media will talk about how lucky Hawthorn was playing 3 GF'S in a row where the opposition didn't turn up.

But the irony of the media's pathetic treatment of Hawthorn is that far from disappointing OUR GREAT CLUB, IT INSPIRES US !!!!!! So go ahead Dickhead King,Caro ,Gerard Fakeley,Paul Roos etc etc etc.

But guess what Hawthorn will just make you look stupid. ALWAYS HAWTHORN.

 

[kenneje]

I've been in the car now for 6 hours, can't stop thinking about Hawthorn so have thought this all up. Apologies if too long.

TLDR THREEPEAT MUTHA****AZ

I genuinely think we can go again. The competition will be harder next year than current, but surely we couldn't have as bad an injury run as what we've just had.

If we can manage Burgoyne, Mitchell, Hodge, Lake and Gibson whilst making some clever moves in trade/free agency, there's no reason to think we won't be as strong as 2014 come finals.

The most exciting thing about next year to me is that we have arguably our two best young talents coming back in Whitecross and Anderson.

This is what I'd either expect or like to see happen prior to and during 2015.

OUT
- Sewell - Retire
- Delistings - I'm not sure, but you'd think Wanganeen, Grimley and Ross would have to put a strong case together to list management.
- Schoenmakers + Lowden + Hallahan + Cheney + Pick 19 + Pick 38 - Trade

IN
- Frawley - F/A - $600/700k - Contentious, but we tend to get the best out of players we bring in and at full flight, he's a brilliant full back.

- Tom Mitchell/Dylan Shiel - 3 way trade - Lowden has a lot of interest, so package him and our first round for for a first round upgrade and somehow weasel ourselves into a position where we can get one of the two. Can't say I'm confident, but we've worked wonders before and one of these two would be perfect. Absolute ideal replacements for Mitchell.

- Matt Buntine - Trade - I love this guy. Natural leader, would give Burgoyne and Hodge a chop out next year with the aim of replacing them in a couple years. Can play midfield and defence, has sublime skills, tough and GWS are stocked in this area. Schoenmakers + 38 would get him I reckon, but we could also do Hallahan + 38 for an upgrade on a pick and then Schoenmakers + say 25 for Buntine.

Main Group
DEF
Birchall - Duryea - Gibson - Lake - Litherland - Spangher - Stratton - Suckling - Frawley - Buntine

MID
Anderson - Burgoyne - Ceglar - Hale - Hartung - Hill - Hodge - Langford - Lewis - McEvoy - Mitchell - Shiels - Simpkin - Smith - Whitecross - Woodward - Mitchell

FOR
Breust - Gunston - O'Brien - Puopolo - Rioli - Roughead - Sicily

It would be amazing if we could pull this off.
34 players all capable of playing, and will all be pushing hard for selection.
Pending fitness and surprise retirements, we'd arguably be in a better position than this year.

Management/Contingency Plan
Lake - Frawley
Mitchell - Mitchell
Hodge - Buntine
Burgoyne - Whitecross
Gibson - Stratton/Spangher > Litherland
Hale - Ceglar
Sewell - Langford


My 22 to start the year

FB Stratton - Frawley - Hodge
HB Birchall - Gibson - Burgoyne

MID McEvoy - Lewis - Mitchell
MID Smith - Mitchell - Shiels

HF Breust - Gunston - Hill
FF Rioli - Roughead - Anderson

Int Langford - Puopolo/Litherland/Buntine - Ceglar - Whitecross

 

[filly]

If you consider the quality on our list potentially boosted by Frawley,Sicily,Whitecross etc there is no reason to think we can't Three peat.

Always Hawthorn.

 

[gianytee]

We have such a strong chance of repeating if we can get in a tall defender to give Gibson & Lake some rest i also think Brand should be pushing for selection next year and Heatherley the year after.

Also a young midfeilder through draft and trade would be ideal.

I hope we can get Frawley for 600K if not id love to get Jacksch from GWS for a second round pick and Grimley/Hallahan/Lowden as he wants to leave. Regardless of which one we get over preseason the coaches should trim down Schoenmakers and let him play CHF as i think he can become a good player like what we drafted him for if we trim him down and let him use his athleticism. If we can grab Frawley i wouldn't mind us looking to trade our first round pick for a Dylan Shiel or Matthew Buntine someone who will be a gun in a few years.
Hopefully we get Frawley for free then trade a second round pick for Buntine, then trade our third round pick and Lowden or Grimley to the Bulldogs etc and try and get an early second round pick.

OUT - Garlett, Sewell, Lowden/Grimley/Hallahan (deal for early second), Simpkin/Kelly
IN - Buntine/Frawley/1st round draft pick/early 2nd round draft pick

Best 22:
B: Suckling Lake Frawley
HB:Birchall Gibson Burgoyne
C: Smith Mitchell Hill
HF: Puopolo Gunston Rioli
F: Breust Roughead Hale
R:McEvoy Hodge Lewis
I:Shiels Langford Duryea Anderson
E: Whitecross, Anderson, Schoenmakers, Buntine, Woodward, Litherland, Hartung, Hallahan, Sicily, Spangher, Ceglar, Brand, Grimley, O'Brien

Thats an amazing 22 which i would say is potentially better than 2014 however the depth would be amazing. The 5 players that should not play more than 15 games next year are Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Lake & Gibson.

Depth for KPD would be Heatherley, Brand & Spangher who could all play AFL besides Heatherley who may need to work on his kicking. Midfeilders who could play so Mitch, Hodge and Silk can rest are Buntine, Anderson, Whitecross, Hartung, Woodward and if he stays on the list Hallahan thats some amazing depth. Also depending on games i think Shoemakers could be in the 22 as our CHF with Siciliy being able to play in the forward line as well as Grimley & O'Brien. If Lowden decides to leave i think we need a third ruckman to replace Hale in 2016.

 

[Chrisonater]

Lake will get one more year and I think that's it for Sewell

 

[threesixpio]

Get more game time into Woodward, Hartung and Sicily to debut. Ceglar to continue to develop and then lets not forget we have both Anderson/Whitecross to come back from long term injuries.

Also I think Rioli is going to have a huge year next year. He's played 1 game in what 12 weeks and now it's the off season. Plenty more time to rest up and have a cracking start to next season.

Other than Hartung's kick ass goal the highlight for me in the VFL GF was James Sicily. I know he's drafted as a forward but he wouldn't be all that bad in the midfield. He was awesome. Give him 78 protein bars and give him a go next year. Bloody Ando too. Let's piss off every non Hawthorn person and go the 3peat. Hopefully no media doubters next year - doubt the Hawks at your own peril!!!! Go HAWKS!!

 

[Gary Conan Ayres]

As far a a 3peat next year I believe the Hawks may be

TOO OLD, TOO SLOW.

 

[spudmaster]

The motivation to see WhiteX up there receiving a premiership medal would alone be enough to drive the side to do it.

 

[Bedi]

absolutely we can

 

[Flag08]

The upside to being the best team and best club in the comp is that we can attract good players in. This could well get us Frawley and other players looking to get the most out of themselves.

The downside is that blokes who don't get in the finals side could seek opportunities elsewhere.

Wouldn't surprise to see Lowden, Hallahan and Woodward leave (from all reports)
Good chance Lake will not be offered a contract. Definitely gone if Frawley comes.

Ando and Whitey will play next September.

 

[filly]

Other than Hartung's kick ass goal the highlight for me in the VFL GF was James Sicily. I know he's drafted as a forward but he wouldn't be all that bad in the midfield. He was awesome. Give him 78 protein bars and give him a go next year. Bloody Ando too. Let's piss off every non Hawthorn person and go the 3peat. Hopefully no media doubters next year - doubt the Hawks at your own peril!!!! Go HAWKS!!

Funny thing is I think the media doubters give us the extra motivation.Lets go 13/55 and third on the Premiership table.Look out Carlton!!!Always Hawthorn.

 

[m1kest4r]

Wouldn't surprise to see Lowden, Hallahan and Woodward leave (from all reports)
Good chance Lake will not be offered a contract. Definitely gone if Frawley comes.

Ando and Whitey will play next September.

Lowden, Hallahan sure... Woody has barely spent any time at the club fit, I have no idea why he would leave consider he's really just serving his VFL time at the moment