Review 23 - Tim O'Brien (2019)

[Dixie Flatline]

Tim O'Brien

Games: 16
Goals: 12
Yabby Medal votes: 5 (16th)

Averages

Kicks: 8.8 per game
Handballs: 3.9 per game
Disposals: 12.8 per game
Marks: 4.4 per game

Milestones

Career high goals in a game (4, versus West Coast Eagles, Round 23, 2019)

Standout

Round 23, 2019 (versus West Coast Eagles): O'Brien saved his best game of the season for the last game. In an upset victory over the finals-bound Eagles, O'Brien was the spearhead, kicking four goals from 10 disposals to lead the Hawks to a 38 point victory. It was the culmination of a fine run of form to end the season, with O'Brien (who started the season in defence) kicking 12 goals over the last five games of the season in tandem with Mitchell Lewis. At 25, it's taken time for O'Brien to become a dependable contributor but his last month of the season suggested that he will become a vital part of Hawthorn's near-term future.

Shocker

Round 15, 2019 (versus West Coast Eagles): Playing in defence, O'Brien had limited impact on the game, with just nine disposals and three tackles. Although Frawley did well to keep Kennedy without a goal, Jack Darling kicked five goals to lead the Eagles to victory over Hawthorn and Darling kicked some of those goals on O'Brien.

23 - Tim O'Brien (2018)

 

[MrPremiership]

Clearly a forward. But the move the defence definitely helped.

Looks like his confidence is building. Looking forward to 2020.

 

[Gralin]

Yeah I reckon forward also

 

[PenAndPaper]

Always surprised me when he was dropped in previous years when I though he showed something in most games, just thought he needed a solid run in the seniors to benefit.

Definitely a forward & I love the amount of pressure he puts on for a big guy, definitely something I noticed very early on in his games. Hopefully takes another step forward next year.

 

[KermitJagger]

A lot of people seem to believe that Tim should be played as a swing man, but for mine he's simply too much of a confidence player to expect that from him regularly. He needs a set role to thrive.

 

[Hawk_francais]

Corner. Turned. Big year from Timmy! He really increases our marking power in the forward half. Between him, Lewis, Wingard, Sicily, McEvoy, Ceglar, with Patton, Impey and Walker coming in, we have some really good marking power around the ground.

 

[threesixpio]

Corner. Turned. Big year from Timmy! He really increases our marking power in the forward half. Between him, Lewis, Wingard, Sicily, McEvoy, Ceglar, with Patton, Impey and Walker coming in, we have some really good marking power around the ground.

Yeah - hoping Walker has big a preseason to make that forwardline even more competitive. Forwardline was a disaster at the start of the year. Love how the club has focussed on it towards the end of the year.

Pumped

 

[MrFujiMoto]

I like his marking ability. He always got hi hands to the ball but they just never stuck well in previous seasons. Hopefully he can continue to pull in the marks as he is a decent shot on goal. Great third tall and he gives Gunston the flexibility to play more around the ground if needed.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

Thought he was one of our better defenders when going back. Wouldn't be averse to throwing him back if we are getting smacked ala Gunston the last few years

 

[Hawk_francais]

I like his marking ability. He always got hi hands to the ball but they just never stuck well in previous seasons. Hopefully he can continue to pull in the marks as he is a decent shot on goal. Great third tall and he gives Gunston the flexibility to play more around the ground if needed.

I think he was always capable of those big marks, but what changed this year was not so much pulling down hangers, but rather his ability (willingness) to compete even when he’s unlikely to mark. Hawthornhighlights for round 23 will show you why it’s his best game - he not only bags 4, but he puts his body in 2 or 3 other times and it results in a goal for us. It’s great to see how much he’s loving that game too!

 

[StillAtLarge]

It's all between the ears with TOB. He now believes he's good enough. Really looking forward to watching him in 2020

 

[Brishawk]

It's all between the ears with TOB. He now believes he's good enough. Really looking forward to watching him in 2020

Lets hope his confidence is 'sticky' from here on in because I like what he brings when playing well. Versatility is a real asset.

 

[WWSD]

I think O’Brien might have found a new role that’s saved his career. As the third tall/intercept marking defender.

 

[Hawk Dork]

Swingman

 

[hardway]

I always have said he reminds me of having the same attributes as Jones (Blues) . Forward is not his go and should've been our CHB this year and Frost/Hartigan to fight out FB. If any thing comes from his second half effort today is that the Crows might remember it when its trade time this year.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Always been a better defender than forward.

 

[HAWKSBESTEVA]

Always been a better defender than forward.

Problem is we are already stacked in that part of the ground once Sicily and DGB return.

 

[MrPremiership]

Let's not have 1 half decent quarter make our view become he's Matthew Scarlett

Matthew Scarlett

Age

44

Ht

192cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.8

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

5.3

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

3.8

1star

K

3.2

2star

HB

0.6

1star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.8

3star

.

He's been tried in defence before. And we have better options than him down there.

 

[toomanysquibs]

Let's not have 1 half decent quarter make our view become he's Matthew Scarlett.

He's been tried in defence before. And we have better options than him down there.

He marked a lot of balls as clean as a whistle playing forward and linking up from kick outs, before going back against the Crows.

He also went back onto a guy who kicked five on someone half his size.

TOB was already playing well, and when his confidence is up, there is just no way was he going to get beaten by someone playing their first game.

He's also too fast and agile for the likes of the giant sized plodders that the Crows field.

I don't think we'll see him back permanently any time soon though. He's a utility, and always has been in Clarko's eyes imo.

 

[Hawk_francais]

Let's not have 1 half decent quarter make our view become he's Matthew Scarlett.

He's been tried in defence before. And we have better options than him down there.

Totally agree with the first part, don’t know if we do have better options. Hartigan has had a forgettable two weeks. If we reckon that Frost can manage King while Timmy or Scrimshaw juggle Membrey...

He soujourn in the forward half has probably reached its use by date. We’re stacked with better options, especially if Gunston comes back this week.

 

[PenAndPaper]

Let's not have 1 half decent quarter make our view become he's Matthew Scarlett.

He's been tried in defence before. And we have better options than him down there.

Who are the better options? Hartigan has been big average & we can't just rely on Frost to put in the effort to play tall. We absolutely need another tall down there against most teams and atm TOB is our best option to be that other tall.

 

[Brishawk]

Hartigan and frost give away 3-4 goals a week through dumb s**t or basic skill errors. If O’Brien does go back at the expense of one of those two, I hope people are forgiving of his occasional turnovers!

he played well most of the game, particularly in the first and last quarter. Played forward, ruck and defender. His versatility is an asset. Just needs to hold at least one position down. Averaging 1.4 goals per game is solid as a third tall but he isn’t going to carry us up forward. I have always liked him best in defence.

 

[Roddy]

Corner. Turned. Big year from Timmy! He really increases our marking power in the forward half. Between him, Lewis, Wingard, Sicily, McEvoy, Ceglar, with Patton, Impey and Walker coming in, we have some really good marking power around the ground.

This is hilarious. Proclaimed ‘corner turned’, a year and a half later, and almost a decade into his career, and he still hasn’t...

 

[KermitJagger]

Let's not have 1 half decent quarter make our view become he's Matthew Scarlett.

He's been tried in defence before. And we have better options than him down there.

Don't think we do.

The better options for those roles were once Frawley and Stratton, they're gone now. Frost and Hartigan have deficiencies.

Frost seems to perform better as the third tall so perhaps the three down there are fine, particularly now Burgoyne is out injured.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

I think he can fill a void in the backline until Sicily returns, TOB being in the best 22 is far from ideal, but our list is pretty bad, if he's going to play better off in the back 6 as opposed to the forward 6.