Can Hawthorn succeed while ignoring the elite end of the draft? - Part 2

[xmarksthespot]

is he close to a debut game?

He's been named on the extended bench this week, but I think will end up being an emergency. He's getting closer to a debut.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

is he close to a debut game?

Screams AFL-level talent physically, especially when he's at the contest - great leap, agility, has good speed and has that 'knack' to get the ball when he really should be trying to defend...but then you don't see him for a quarter.

I don't think it's fitness either, rather his reading the game and anticipating to get into dangerous spots. Most of the time you notice him because he wins a contest he shouldn't, starting from a weaker position.

He does seem to be playing a wide variety of roles (key forward, forward flank, loose defender, wing, ruck!), not sure if we are throwing him around to find a niche, or just giving him as much exposure as his (lack of) performance allows.

Very, VERY raw.

 

[SSSSSS]

is he close to a debut game?

Named on the extended bench so getting close enough. Still think he's a few years away from being best 22.

 

[WWSD]

Hey OP

Despite Hawthorn supposedly “ignoring the elite end of the draft” for three years between 2016-2018 like you claim, Hawthorn have almost been able to rebuild it’s entire backline and forward-line mostly from players selected in the national draft since then.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Hey OP

Despite Hawthorn supposedly “ignoring the elite end of the draft” for three years between 2016-2018 like you claim, Hawthorn have almost been able to rebuild it’s entire backline and forward-line mostly from players selected in the national draft since then.

This is a silly bump.

We traded out of the draft for years.

We haven't since 2019, but nothing that happens from here on changes that.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

This is a silly bump.

We traded out of the draft for years.

We haven't since 2019, but nothing that happens from here on changes that.

To be fair two of your best young guns (Lewis and Newcombe) were drafted outside the traditional 'top end of the draft' so from that perspective, the bump is justified

 

[Scotland]

Bumping the thread when you are 13th and beat North.

 

[SA HAWK]

The answer was no about 3 years ago why is this thread even still open?

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

To be fair two of your best young guns (Lewis and Newcombe) were drafted outside the traditional 'top end of the draft' so from that perspective, the bump is justified

Blanck is the absolute steal though I reckon. Already our number 1 key back even when Frost comes back. Our backline is where it needs to be.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

I think they should actually trade for an A grade midfielder in the mid 20s, and obviously recruit one as well..

I think a trade like that will be attacked in a year or two and save the picks for another draft or two. For now it's about pumping 30 games into the crop they have and trying to find an A grade mid there. Like you said Newc and McDonald stand out for me too.

Hopefully they can nail a top end pick this year, there a few very exciting mids

They have a great young backline. No issues there.

Lewis and Moore can be A grade forwards but replacements for Bruest and Gunston need to be found.

On the right track.

Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk

 

[The hands of stone]

The answer was no about 3 years ago why is this thread even still open?

Because it's important that list managent experts on BF give us their advice on how to successfully manage a list rebuild .
I trust the club has been reading this and taking direction.

Even though this was answered 3 years ago

 

[Warhorse]

The answer was no about 3 years ago why is this thread even still open?

Yep. Hawthorn have started a more draft focused strategy recently. This thread should be aimed at Geelong just as much as Hawthorn

 

[HairyO]

Yep. Hawthorn have started a more draft focused strategy recently. This thread should be aimed at Geelong just as much as Hawthorn

Geelong is the interesting one. Throwing everything at a final tilt with the list. Then its hard yo imagine there not being a couple of years struggling as the youth develops.

Hawks clearly for years have been rebuilding and have a number of brilliant young players.

 

[Kavliaris69]

The answer was no about 3 years ago why is this thread even still open?

Because we occupy everyone else’s head space rent free. Our success has bred much jealousy and hostility for several decades.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Because we occupy everyone else’s head space rent free. Our success has bred much jealousy and hostility for several decades.

It’s mostly on the back of Hawks supporters bumping it after a win these days, trying to prove the premise of the thread wrong, even though we went back to the draft 3 years ago.

 

[Scotland]

Geelong is the interesting one. Throwing everything at a final tilt with the list. Then its hard yo imagine there not being a couple of years struggling as the youth develops.

Hawks clearly for years have been rebuilding and have a number of brilliant young players.

Geelong have been doing the same thing for 15 years though. They are like an axe. Replace the handle and axe head enough times and you can't even remember what the original was.

Garbage Hawthorn pre 2004 draft was only 18 years ago. Geelong were a top 4 side then, and have only missed finals twice since. Even then in those seasons they still won 10 and 11 games. I reckon Geelong have copped plenty of criticism, but more for not converting H&A results to finals results. The main difference between the two clubs is at the end of Hawthorn's run most of the stars were older, whereas Geelong had Hawkins, Selwood, Taylor, Duncan 25 and under. They also hit the jackpot getting Dangerfield at 25. Be interesting to see what happens when these guys finish up. They have Cameron now but he's 30 next year so not a long term proposition. They have some decent young players but no one screams future superstar.

 

[Freomaniac]

To be fair. We weren’t gonna win again after 2018. Mitchell carried that side.

Fair enough

 

[Freomaniac]

I thought 12th to 14th if we were trying. 15th or 16th maybe Mitchell is not so keen to win for a better draft pick.

We play our mids all over the ground. Mitchell and JOM often spend little time in the middle and Nash seems to be thrown around constantly.

We have also had Frost and Sicily playing forward.

We have 3 very winable games coming up. If we get all 3 we probably do finish in 14th.

If we lose after beating Brisbane I would question what games Mitchell is playing.

You predicted hawks in 2022 to get 10 wins and 10th-12 th spot

I predicted hawks were gonna get 15th or 16th with 6-7 wins.

Hawks ended up around 14th with 8 wins.

 

[HairyO]

You predicted hawks in 2022 to get 10 wins and 10th-12 th spot

I predicted hawks were gonna get 15th or 16th with 6-7 wins.

Hawks ended up around 14th with 8 wins.

Did I say 10th at some point? I was probably on drugs. Im pretty sure I had said 12th to 14th all year, and was confident of it for the entire season.

 

[Freomaniac]

Lol, 2005 to 08 was when Clarko got his first, 08 to 13 3 peat, Sam is a good coach, has done well at BH and has shown his abilities at West Coast and his gameplan looks good at BH we've been one of the best teams in the comp lately and in our win against the Dogs (top 4 team) we had 10 best 22 players injured). Add in 3 top 25 draft picks, team looks really good with good talent ready to push on and we will win a flag this decade no doubt. Finals maybe 2023? anything could happen after that but the list is capable. Saying 15 years is laughable.

Can hawks win a flag between 2023-29? Absolutely.

 

[Freomaniac]

Did I say 10th at some point? I was probably on drugs. Im pretty sure I had said 12th to 14th all year, and was confident of it for the entire season.

Well I am dead certain you predicted 10 wins and getting out of the bottom 6.

I didn't think your side was going to finish above the bottom 6 with the amount of kids you were playing.

 

[HairyO]

Well I am dead certain you predicted 10 wins and getting out of the bottom 6.

I didn't think your side was going to finish above the bottom 6 with the amount of kids you were playing.

I think our kids are constantly underrated. Especially when you consider how many of our best 22 players have been injured for most or all of the year.

 

[hawkman]

Well I am dead certain you predicted 10 wins and getting out of the bottom 6.

I didn't think your side was going to finish above the bottom 6 with the amount of kids you were playing.

I know I predicted 9-10 wins but still not disappointed with the season. We have found a number of good young players. Now just have to keep them fit. Only 11 played 18 or more games part of that is selection a lot of that was injuries.
Midfield is still a major concern and I'm sure that will be the main focus during the off season. Amon will give us some outside run which we have lacked. Hopefully we can keep 2 rucks fit for next season which will help our midfield. We were 5-1 with 2 rucks, 3-13 with 1 or 0(GC game) rucks

Next season will depend on what happens in the next few months. Lose Gunston, Breust and Mitchell and it will probably be a step back next season before going forward the season after

 

[Scotland]

Can hawks win a flag between 2023-29? Absolutely.

Can Hawthorn win a flag in 2023? No.

Can Hawthorn win a flag in 2029? Absolutely, but which team cannot?

5 of this year's top 8 finished in the bottom 4 in the last 7 years.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Well I am dead certain you predicted 10 wins and getting out of the bottom 6.

I didn't think your side was going to finish above the bottom 6 with the amount of kids you were playing.

I know for a fact I predicted 10 wins as a best case scenario IF Mitchell wasn't 'playing the kids' in favour of our established players.

When I saw the team we named for round 1 which included Newcombe, Reeves, Lynch, Macdonald, Ward and Maginness it was clear Sam was starting this rebuild from the earliest point he could. I tempered my expectations to a 6 win season and some honourable defeats.

To end up with 8 wins fielding 8 debutants, plus pushing finals sides Melbourne, Fremantle, Collingwood to within 2 goals and defeating Geelong and Brisbane means 2022 was a successful one.

It's quite interesting to think that the 1 point loss to Carlton in round 3 and the blown chances against Collingwood could have easily resulted in a 10 win season. We were quite closer to the best case scenario than I thought we'd get to.

No idea what to expect next season though if I'm honest. At the moment a slight regression wouldn't surprise me, but neither would a sneaky 8th placing.