Back to the VFL for Hawkins?

[Inferno]

Only seems to kick goals when we are getting cricket scores. He didn't look like kicking a goal at all today and Bomber did say he was only going to play 10-12 games (or whatever it was). We have a tough couple of weeks ahead so what do you think? Who would come into the team for him if he did get dropped?

 

[CF]

He is still learning the game and I think he will learn alot from todays game. His inexperience really shown through today against one of the premier backlines. He certainly would benefit from some time in the VFL, but Bomber seems happy to just play him off the bench at the moment.

 

[conanthelibrarian]

Only seems to kick goals when we are getting cricket scores. He didn't look like kicking a goal at all today and Bomber did say he was only going to play 10-12 games (or whatever it was). We have a tough couple of weeks ahead so what do you think? Who would come into the team for him if he did get dropped?

He had one mark disallowed for an absolute soft in the back decision in the 1st quarter, but was hardly sighted apart from that. I think he does need another run in the VFL, just to get his hands on the pill again.

 

[finrod]

Yep, VFL for Tomahawk next week...

 

[JUBJUB]

He might be due for a week off,although I'd like to see him play against Freo and then have a rest.Freo don't have a tall back line.

 

[nananana catman]

They don't kick it to him well, so cant really expect him to kick many goals...

If he doesnt play, King or Playfair probably does, I know who I'd rather see get game time.

 

[WynyardCat]

I actually thought at times today we were a crumbing forward short. Someone else playing the Varcoe sort of role where Cam, Nath, Otto etc bring it to the feet, although that handball out the back in the last term to set up the goal was a nice piece of vision.

For the next few games I'd give Tom a rest and look for another onballer/crumber to play. But he'll get a lot of playing in that win today - shows him the Eagles and the power sides of the comp are human and beatable.

 

[rizzo]

I think our structure is working fine. GIve tomma another week. Got killed twice by the umpires.

 

[CF]

If Mooney is suspended for that clothesline on Selwood then he wont be dropped

 

[rizzo]

If Mooney is suspended for that clothesline on Selwood then he wont be dropped

orrrrrrrrrrrr the headbutt orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr the punch...

 

[catempire]

When was the last time someone got suspended for a clothesline?

Doesn't happen.

No need to drop Tom. It's not like there's another tall forward bashing down the door in the VFL.

 

[tin can sam]

It'll be In: King Out: Hawkins

I can see it coming

 

[GeeCats07]

We clearly don't need King to come in. Hawkins should stay in as he is a threat and does take away a good defender. And it's true, alot of the delivery to him is poor, and sometimes our midfielders lead into his space stopping a mark.

 

[someday-somehow]

orrrrrrrrrrrr the headbutt orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr the punch...

I haven't seen the footage but if he gets cited for headbutting he will cop at least 2 weeks. He got put out for that ridiculous dive by holland last year even though holland himself admitted to the tribunal that he took a dive.

With his record he will simply not get off.

 

[sarah.13]

Get as much game time and experience into him,when he shows that he needs a rest then we should rest him for a week or 2.
If we make finals he will be very important to our structure,he will learn much more playing seniors than he will in the Vfl.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Keep playing him. For a first year player, he has done nothing wrong.

He is causing match-up problems because he is such a massive unit, as well as full of talent.

Would love to see him keep playing.

 

[dustyy]

I believe that Hawkins is doing a great job. He's hard at it and is a good lead and is only going to get better and better. He is only a kid and should be continued to be played as the experience he is gaining each week is invaluable and a big bag of goals is just around the corner. He is ready to pull Fremantle apart next week.

 

[Hood007]

We clearly don't need King to come in. Hawkins should stay in as he is a threat and does take away a good defender. And it's true, alot of the delivery to him is poor, and sometimes our midfielders lead into his space stopping a mark.

If King comes in Ottens can stay forward. An opposing coach would rather play their best defender on Ottens than Hawkins....

 

[WE Are Geelong]

Keep playing him. For a first year player, he has done nothing wrong.

He is causing match-up problems because he is such a massive unit, as well as full of talent.

Would love to see him keep playing.

Agree. He creates goals even when he is not kicking them. Gives off some nice goal assists and I noticed him getting double teamed a few times today. Copped a few around the head today and personally I felt he handled it all very well. His 8 touches mostly counted for something and he seems to be enjoying it which is the most important thing. Its not broken yet so lets not try fixing anything. The forward line is working the best it ever has under Bomber. Lets see how long it lasts then make some changes when that need arises as it surely will in such a long season playing young kids.

 

[Seb]

Fitness is the problem.

He was tired halfway through the second quarter of the Melbourne game! I think a rest, then a few weeks in the VFL will do him some good.

Grima could be the elevated rookie now Reynolds is out for the season and King can win us a VFL flag.

 

[peter_ford]

hawkins will learn more playing at afl level and since he is the future of our club, lets keep him there. now he will know what fitness level he needs to compete vs. top defenders.

 

[burto]

Fitness is the problem.

He was tired halfway through the second quarter of the Melbourne game! I think a rest, then a few weeks in the VFL will do him some good.

Grima could be the elevated rookie now Reynolds is out for the season and King can win us a VFL flag.

lol classic

 

[thehoff]

Keep playing him. For a first year player, he has done nothing wrong.

He is causing match-up problems because he is such a massive unit, as well as full of talent.

Would love to see him keep playing.

Totally agree. Keep him playing AFL for atleast another week as Fremantle's backline will be stretched against three talls (Ablett, Mooney, Hawkings) that call take a grab.

He is moving better and better each week. With the development of Nathan, the future is look very bright.

 

[Metallica_Man]

king was actually fairly good as a forward in the vfl today, took some strong marks and kicked about 4 goals, but missed a couple of set shots. keep hawkins coz i dont really think freo hav someone to put on him as their 3rd key defender

 

[JUBJUB]

Loved Hawkins handball which set up Varcoe's last qtr goal