Calm down

[taylor_walker_13]

Correct. The enormity of the task sinks in when you realise we need to win 12 of the next 18 just to scrape in. Not much margin for error given we are still to play Saints, Dogs, Pies, Lions, Cats..and most of them twice.

What will be interesting is how NC manages the side for the rest of the season...will he coach/select for an honourable 9th or 10th (which will still be unacceptable obviously) or will he look to some youth and try to get something rolling for 2011. Get some players in for ops etc and get a huge preseason into them.

Im neither a NC supporter or hater, but I do feel he is in a massive corner right now. If he concedes the season then he will be tar and feathered for not admitting this squad was not up to it 2-3 yrs earlier and thus allowing us to access high quality kids. Doing it now when the draft is compromised is a serious planning error.

If he keeps selecting for this year and we get 9th/10th...or even if we sneak in for 8th and a likely quick finals exit....he will also be lampooned for another finals failure.

Either way a dark year ahead for him and a massively disappointing year for supporters...hardly reason to be calming down.

AMEN, this isnt about 0-4 this is about ever since NC took over the coaching reins in mid 2004, nothing but a freaking disaster they whole lot we have nothing to show for it nothing at all, many many wrong desicions have been made, I want answers and I want to see some improvement in either the way we play, the game plan or the coach has to go.

 

[taylor_walker_13]

Richmond? They got absolutely pummelled by Melbourne today.

Well thank **** we have Richmond to hold us up

 

[bobshoby]

Somehow the thought that we might be slightly better than Richmond is little consolation. The fact of the matter is that we're going to bottom out in a year with no real drafting opportunities and our most experienced players are all either clearly past it now or will likely be past it by season's end.

Combine this with the disintegration of the only Gameplan Craigy has ever really shown any inclination to develop and things seem more than a little concerning.

 

[relapse]

We're not even that ****in bad. We are a top 8 team but things are just not going our way. Whilst our injury toll as it stands at this point doesn't justify our performances, we have too many underdone players, too many players whos confidence is shot to bits and too many guys just out of form in general. We're the same team as we were less than 12 months ago and we were smashing teams, absolutely smashing them. Sit them down and make them watch the entire Essendon and Carlton games at the dome last year!

Just need our rhythm back.

12 months is a long time in football, just because it worked last year does not mean it will work this year, the injuries havent helped, but neither has standing still with our list either.

 

[moogerfooger]

Hawks are hurting, but they're not done yet

ROHAN CONNOLLY

"getting the ''names'' back is only one half of the battle. Getting them match fit and in form is another..... Stability is particularly crucial to a team that plays with a rigid style and Hawthorn hasn't known it since grand final day 2008."

know any other teams that play with a rigid style? read that article and substitute Crows for Hawks for a little perspective on our current problems. after all, Hawthorn were also tipped to go top 4 and have only beaten Melbourne.

 

[Crow-mo]

Shutup Riggy.

Worst thread ever.

yup

 

[Crow-mo]

Adelaide are currently the worst team in the league.

don't be daft.

you forgot richmond

 

[Crow-mo]

Hawks are hurting, but they're not done yet

ROHAN CONNOLLY

"getting the ''names'' back is only one half of the battle. Getting them match fit and in form is another..... Stability is particularly crucial to a team that plays with a rigid style and Hawthorn hasn't known it since grand final day 2008."

know any other teams that play with a rigid style? read that article and substitute Crows for Hawks for a little perspective on our current problems. after all, Hawthorn were also tipped to go top 4 and have only beaten Melbourne.

problem being that Hawthorn's best is flag winning, our best hasn't been shown to even be top 4 standard.

 

[moogerfooger]

problem being that Hawthorn's best is flag winning, our best hasn't been shown to even be top 4 standard.

true but that isn't really the point. Connolly implies that injuries and new personnel have a disproportionate effect on Hawthorn because of their game plan. the 22 have to be so well drilled that any significant change in personnel seems to make the game plan fall apart pretty quickly. sound familiar?

 

[AFC979810]

true but that isn't really the point. Connolly implies that injuries and new personnel have a disproportionate effect on Hawthorn because of their game plan. the 22 have to be so well drilled that any significant change in personnel seems to make the game plan fall apart pretty quickly. sound familiar?

Understand your point, but wasn't the whole idea behind Craigy and his 'Crowbots' to establish a squad that could withstand personel changes (to some degree)?

 

[moogerfooger]

Understand your point, but wasn't the whole idea behind Craigy and his 'Crowbots' to establish a squad that could withstand personel changes (to some degree)?

yes it was and I would argue they have failed to do that.

 

[Crow-mo]

true but that isn't really the point. Connolly implies that injuries and new personnel have a disproportionate effect on Hawthorn because of their game plan. the 22 have to be so well drilled that any significant change in personnel seems to make the game plan fall apart pretty quickly. sound familiar?

no it doesn't sound familiar. not when you look at our results, and our sub 60%

we are much worse than that, we are much worse than them.

Hawthorn ran Geelong within an inch, we ran Melbourne within an inch...

 

[craig crowing]

Riggy not wrong to ask that we calm down but think Drummond hit it on the head with his key points .
First of all I think remaining calm and belief in underprepared and players and game plan that have gone past their due date has led to this problem .
Sure we have been desperately unlucky with injuries but look at teams that have thrashed us its not Geelongs etc and look at players not performing who have missed none or little pre season and early games.
Look at some basics our shooting for goals , our delivery etc etc and what about defensive work and tackling etc isnt that attitude .
Game is changing a lot of it is the pressure you apply to make opposition make mistakes in tackling etc . Yet we keep all our 30 + and how much defensive work tackles have you seen from Edwardes , Burton , McLeod , even Doughty and Goody over the last few years . maybe keep Mcleod and Goody for their drive etc but have to build around them strong tackling defensive focussed players Cook etc dont help and someone who might is up fwd running around like a headless chook.
Whats happened to Tippett and why sacificing a true forward of a Fevola ilk by playing him up the field on wing etc. Burtons supposed to be in team for his speed skills and remarkable fitness well whats he doing standing as last man in square and running all over place so we dont direct ball correctly to get Tip[pett one one .
Whilst trying to remain balanced here I am going to go haywire in saying the way Burton plays is like a disease that goes through the club with no ownership but Craigy will go down sinking and still play him same along with giving Jacky 2 years what thinking gave him that idea.
Also we went down the track of believing a premiership may happen this year by keeping all 30+ players then why did we not recruit or trade players to cover areas of concern like crumbing forward. another strong ball player and a crumbing forward.
Did we think like last year were not going to have many injuries.
It is alright to heap praise on Recruiter when he finally gets a first round right but to let him loose to draft players or athletes in his think mould when we need get down and get dirty footballers . Whilst anyway dont think Eagles are unhappy with Ebert and he not being chased for GC .
Craigy when we are winning or competitive in you we will trust and even now I for one will keep believing but if dont realize and change some things now then you are putting your own noose around your neck as we started season thinking of Grand Finals and now scared of wooden spoon and we have a game in 2 weeks I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE.
Also hope we lose this nice feel arrogance that what we do is better than others and that we can give important coaching jobs as a reward to ex players

 

[SydCrow]

Hawthorn ran Geelong within an inch, we ran Melbourne within an inch...

Melbourne ran Collingwood within an inch, Collingwood thrashed Hawthorn