A very difficult decision!

[Thaihawk]

We have unearthed two great first year players this year. They are very different, but have both become very important to our structure.

My question is, who will win our best first year player award? Pop, or Isaac?, or is a tie possible?

 

[willo_k]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Pop, more consistent...

 

[Great 2008]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Will be close I reckon.

 

[Roddy]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Pop's been simply amazing. Keep this up and he'll be an AA small back one day soon.

 

[Flukey!]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Poppy for mine.

 

[Hodginator]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Poppy, only just.

 

[Hawkzzz]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

For Pop to take his game to the next level he needs a rocket from Kennedy Snr."Don't think...Poo"

 

[MinerBoy]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Poppy by a bee's...

 

[CrawfGal]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Poppy for me
Speedy Gonzalez!

 

[Roy boys]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

The fact that Smith is already a really important player in the overall make up of your side means IMO the award will be heading the way of Smith.

 

[Hawkhead#2]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

I'll put my hand up and say that I have been incredibly surprised by Pop. At the start of the season I saw him as a depth player who would only be called on if injuries struck hard...again! However, he has been consistent with his hardness, endeavour and attack on the footy.

Smith, on the other hand, has been brilliant at times, added speed and carry to the midfield, and youthful enthusiasm! He has set up and scored critical goals, and his excitement has been infectious, but he has also 'gone missing' in some games.

So, although i think that Smith has a bigger 'upside' and may end up being a better player for the Hawks, I think that Poppy gets my vote for 2011!

(BTW great post!)

 

[Beandip]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

I have to agree with those favouring Smith, his contributions while they have been a bit inconsistent (but so have Poppy's if you look at the stats), have been enormous when he's on. His run and carry completely changes Hawthorn's dynamic, he has bobbed up and kicked plenty of goals, gets around the ground well and he's growing into a better and better player every game. His first halves recently have been enormous, just needs to improve the match conditioning and experience to be functioning at that level for 4 qtrs.

Isaac has been an absolute gun of a pickup, Swallow, Darling, Heppel pffffft! He shows great character in addition to his obvious football skill, I've been -very- impressed with the kid's personality, his composure in interviews, sense of humour and genuine enthusiasm on the field make him a pleasure to watch. Backing him to win the award, and yes great thread... better than some of the arguing and bullshit lately.

 

[Thaihawk]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Thanks guys. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing the award split. To get one of these guys this year would have been good, but to get both, is unbelievable.

IMO Smith,with his exuberance, is one reason for the improvement in our other young guns.

On the other hand Poppy, with his in and under play, tackling, running down, and of course goals, is invaluable. Love him.

Honestly, can't split them, and hope they both stay one club players.

 

[Hawks1994]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Poppy gets it........but by the amount of a full stop on this post.........

 

[Boyler_Room]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Smith for mine, has come in and injected some x factor. Pops is a workhorse and its sooooo close as he has added a surprise forward role to his game the last couple. Pops is more of a cult figure I reckon that has to be factored in.

Ahhhh man I almost wanna change my vote in the middle of typing this post.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

 

[Hodgepodge]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Smithy for me, but Paul Puopolo has been the bigger bargain.

I had doubts on his disposal, yet once he made AFL level he's been flawless with it. I also like his post-match interviews. Is English his second language? (No offense meant).

 

[Goody1971]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Both have been awesome, so glad to have them in the team. My vote goes to Smith

 

[Turly]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Can't vote, I seriously cannot separate them, they have both been fantastic inclusions into the hawks lineup and both will have great careers. I think Smithy will end up the better player based on talent and the fact that he could be anything, but yeah as first year players I can't decide.

I'm calling a draw

 

[Hawker_Ant]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Poppy for me. Never stops trying and puts in 100%, plus another 1% every now and then. Four years of SANFL finals has helped.

I've been very impressed with Smith though. I really didn't think he'd be a regular this year with just a handful of VFL games under his belt. Whatever level of footy he plays doesn't seem to bother him. He's ahead of Savage who has more years at Hawks, and poor Clint who has the X-man curse (just can't get his body properly right).

 

[RIOLINWITPUNCHS]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Popeye at the moment after his awesome game last week but will be hard to ignore Smith after he wins the Norm Smith.

 

[mrcurly]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Poo by a ****teenth of an ants eye lash.

Both have been great, i'd give it too Poo because he is not just creative with the ball, he is the better defensive player of the two. The amount of times he has hassled the ball carrier into error, and tackled the opposition whippet (check out Shaw kicking in last week) has been enormous. He also reads the need for a defensive action incredibly well, gets himself into position well, just seems to have a great football brain. Hard to imagine him being in the system so long and not being picked up.

Smith has been an excellent pickup, and if we ever see him run out a game the way he is currently playing his first halfs, could really be anything. His speed around the ground and goal kicking smarts have added another dimension to the side.

 

[BullyWee]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Bruest!

 

[markr]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

After the little I had seen of Smith when we drafted him I pretty much expected him to step up and he has, while after Poppy's first few games I didn't think he would make it. But Puopolo has blown me away, he's improved with every game, and been superb in the finals and has cemented his spot in the side.

I'd give it to Pop by a whisker, but I can't wait to see Smith with another pre-season under his belt.

 

[savagelunchbox]

Re: A very difficult desicion!

Puopolo.

His role is more important as he usually takes a man and is made to stop him. Smith is exciting but a coach would usually take a hard, in-and-under player who lays tackles that stick and are felt by the opponent over an outside runner who kicks the ball long.

Nothing against Smith, its just they're are more of his types around then there are Puopolo's type.