Hawkins

[yebbo]

Did anyone notice in the last quarter when Tom Hawkins got his only kick for the game and on the TV they showed him after the kick, that I think fell short of the goals, Hawkins looked over at a Collingwood player who it looked like had said something to him.

I might be wrong, maybe Hawkins just happened to look at him but I swear I saw some kind of fear from a guy who had been psychologically beaten up all night and he looked at the Collingwood guy like "leave me alone, your bullying me".

I wouldnt be surprised if Hawkins gets sledged alot out there, he would be an easy target you would think (like Warne scarring Ian Bell amongst others) but now It would be good to see if the big guy stands up.

He has in big games, 09 GF he was instrumental, hopefully he settles into CHF and gets the J.Brown mentality going and owns the whole area.

Please Hawkins, youre good enough, do it just for yourself.

 

[jonesy86]

This year he seems to be suffering from Tristan Walkeritis, more commonly known as built like Tarzan plays like Jane.

Has the inclusion of Pods this year had a real effect on him mentally, thinking the coaches have lost faith in him?

 

[DockerA]

Got all the tools just needs the agro

 

[alfy!]

Gee, and to think that before his foot injury, he was a revelation in the ruck. How far he has fallen. Hopefully has a good pre-season, gets some confidence, and is reinstated in the forward line next year.

 

[The 747]

This year he seems to be suffering from Tristan Walkeritis, more commonly known as built like Tarzan plays like Jane.

Has the inclusion of Pods this year had a real effect on him mentally, thinking the coaches have lost faith in him?

He has all the tools, just needs to put it together. Does some nice things and you think here he goes but then never goes on with it.

It's all in his head really, the only difference between him when he debuted and now is confidence.

Having said that he is a FF not a ruckman. And at this stage Pods is a better FF than him so.....

The other issue is he can't kick.

 

[Catman]

Needs to be settled into a position to make his own next season and that position is sure as hell not the ruck.

He is a key forward and must be allowed to develop as such or else we could ruin his career.

 

[i_need_a_pencil]

Needs to be settled into a position to make his own next season and that position is sure as hell not the ruck.

He is a key forward and must be allowed to develop as such or else we could ruin his career.

So true.

I actually think he's gone backwards in his development this year by being played out of position.

 

[longtimecat]

Mooney needs to make way, I'd play Pods at CHF he's such a strong mark and leads up well. Play Hawkins leading from the goal square and rotate others such as Brown, B. Johnson and even Mackie though the forward line as well. Duncan, Menzel, T Hunt must be played next year.

 

[crownie]

i imagine he would of been feeling pretty low by that stage of the game, the media just want to bash him every chance they get.

he is still young and i think he will become a very good footballer once he finds his permanent role in the team.

 

[CFC16]

The kid needs to be played at FF next year. Settle him in one position, he is not ruckman. His plays at FF next year he will have 50 - 60 goal season.

 

[Just do something]

The only problem i see with Tommy is will his feet ever allow him to have a massive preseason and then play most games of footy in a year. It seems every time they step up his workload he has a hot spot.

 

[LukeWarm]

He doesn't have all the tools. He can't mark cleanly in his hands at any pace and he can't kick for goal

 

[Beth]

I worry that he was one of those dominant juniors who was bigger and thus better than everyone else, who now just doesn't have the mongrel to do the same at senior level. Time will tell, and time is ticking now.

 

[noclashjumpers]

Mooney should be retired. (Why was he given another year??)

Before the pre-season starts, Hawk should be told, you are playing all of next year @ CHF.

He needs direction.

 

[sauron256]

Hmmm, so the BF opinion seems to be play Hawkins instead of Blake, but Hawkins should play forward and not ruck.

For my mind there's room for both Blake and Hawkins, and they can both contribute to the team next year once their roles are clear.

 

[year of the cat]

He needs to play as permanent forward. Get rid of Pods - he was only good against sub-standard opposition. Hopefully Mitch Brown can be introduced as they are likely to be our 2 tall forward targets for the next 5-7 years.

 

[Gooddroprob]

Mooney should be retired. (Why was he given another year??)

Before the pre-season starts, Hawk should be told, you are playing all of next year @ CHF.

He needs direction.

Mooney has a real go every week. He can actually read the play and take a contested mark, unlike Hawkins. How many times does Hawkins prance around where the ball isn't? Compared to similar sized and experienced players, he's a dud. Give me the Blue, Henderson, any day. Blake, gees, Geelong must be hard-up. What's the go there? He's not up to it, nor is Lonergan, for that matter. Just not reliable enough to be key big men.

Ablett leaving would be a real shame, obviously, but Varcoe can certainly help fill the gap, as can Duncan, who looks very impressive.

It's the big guys that worry me.

 

[yebbo]

Mooney has a real go every week. He can actually read the play and take a contested mark, unlike Hawkins. How many times does Hawkins prance around where the ball isn't?

I just got back on to check what everyone is saying about Hawkins and like that their are so many different good opinions on him.

Im quoting the above comment because it was the last one and I laughed out pretty loud when I read it. I can picture him prancing around like a big colt.

He does look average sometimes and lets be honest he was god awful last night, when I heard the commentator say he had one kick I thought to myself no thats pretty bad esp when he is up there in the midfield alot

But you can tell there is something there, he has done a lot of good things really, and all I wanted to say with this thread is lets hope he gets direction like everyone is saying and roams the 50 or closer in or whatever, give him room, give him the leadership up there and see what happens.

And I hope he gets the confidence to finally make his mark and not worry about sledging out on the field or the sh%t he hears around the place, all the big guys take a bit longer (and hes taking a long time) but he might just do something like J Brown.

 

[noclashjumpers]

Mooney has a real go every week. He can actually read the play and take a contested mark, unlike Hawkins. How many times does Hawkins prance around where the ball isn't? Compared to similar sized and experienced players, he's a dud. Give me the Blue, Henderson, any day. Blake, gees, Geelong must be hard-up. What's the go there? He's not up to it, nor is Lonergan, for that matter. Just not reliable enough to be key big men.

Ablett leaving would be a real shame, obviously, but Varcoe can certainly help fill the gap, as can Duncan, who looks very impressive.

It's the big guys that worry me.

I love Mooney, and contrary to other opinions, I've thought he's had a solid latter part of the season. But the fact remains, his career's almost over, and Hawk is our future.

He needs the stability of focusing on being the key forward he needs to be. With Pods having possibly 3? more years, Mooney is the obvious one to make way. Not because of form, but simply for the development of Hawk. These next 2 years are critical for him ....and us.

 

[yebbo]

I love Mooney, and contrary to other opinions, I've thought he's had a solid latter part of the season. But the fact remains, his career's almost over, and Hawk is our future.

He needs the stability of focusing on being the key forward he needs to be. With Pods having possibly 3? more years, Mooney is the obvious one to make way. Not because of form, but simply for the development of Hawk. These next 2 years are critical for him ....and us.

Yeah good point, I didnt mention Mooney but you would think Geelong will let Hawkins roam the forward line surely. He can run and he takes big marks and he makes contests for the smaller guys.

Not sure what to do with other forwards, I thought Pods had a good game when it opened up cos he didnt get a chance to see it early and had some bad frees missed, maybe thats the problem. Everyone had a bad game.. expect Ablett.

But thats not my problem, you would think Pods would roam around as well and take big marks at will. Maybe we will have a gun forward line with those 2 next year.

Come on Hawkins step and start going hard like Riewoldt, you get paid enough and I bet you love getting to prance around in the AFL.

 

[Belisarius]

I'm telling ya - Hawkins just is not up to be being a big key position forward. Not yet - maybe never.

Right now he is not effective enough to deserve to play CHF or FF.

He is a crappy ruckman - as he does not tap well or really does not do enough around the ground.

He should play Lonergan's role in the backline - take the biggest opposition's KPF. Let Lonergan and Hawkins fight it out for 1 spot.

Having Hawkins led to the ball - is good - as up forward he cannot seem to find enough space. All he needs to do to be effective down back is to spoil the opposition - not mark the ball as a forward he needs to do. So less pressure on the Hawkins rally downback.

Just let the these 2 similar sized players - work out over the season who is the best KP backman. Problem however is basically both players do not use their bulk or height well over opponents - and lack that natural aggressive attack on the ball.

If we get 1 good, solid and dependable KP backman out of the these two players - I think it will be a win for the GFC. To expect both to make it - I think unlikely.

They are our weakest link in the tall man brigade - in experience and their ability to effect a game of footy. Have had their good days - but not many - and probably more bad days than good days.

Both need a big pre-season. And see what they can do. No room for both - especially if Mooney plays on next season. And he has signed on.

 

[JoondalupJ]

Did anyone notice in the last quarter when Tom Hawkins got his only kick for the game and on the TV they showed him after the kick, that I think fell short of the goals, Hawkins looked over at a Collingwood player who it looked like had said something to him.

I might be wrong, maybe Hawkins just happened to look at him but I swear I saw some kind of fear from a guy who had been psychologically beaten up all night and he looked at the Collingwood guy like "leave me alone, your bullying me".

I wouldnt be surprised if Hawkins gets sledged alot out there, he would be an easy target you would think (like Warne scarring Ian Bell amongst others) but now It would be good to see if the big guy stands up.

He has in big games, 09 GF he was instrumental, hopefully he settles into CHF and gets the J.Brown mentality going and owns the whole area.

Please Hawkins, youre good enough, do it just for yourself.

Karl Langdon reckons he should be developed to play out of the goal square . He's very big he he needs to get mean and nasty and do a Tony Lockett and smash a pack and take a big mark then goal. He should not run around too much , he hasn't got the capacity to move all over the ground like a good ruckmen. Make him a specialist.
Then he's worthwhile.

 

[thegerman]

Hawkins is a forward. Kicked 40 goals last year, so what do we do, we bring in a mature rookie who stars and we shift him to a position out of his league, where he constantly battles guys bigger and stronger than he.

He is a forward, either we retire Mooney, or we look at slotting him in somewhere, perhaps off the bench? But he needs to play at HF.

 

[Archangel]

Stick him in the goal square and tell him "Don't you ****en move!"

 

[Cataholic]

Stick him in the goal square and tell him "Don't you ****en move!"

This. It's what he needs to regain his confidence.

He's been shunted from pillar to post with the arrival of Pods and the uncertainty of Blake's role, while he lost all his momentum with an untimely foot injury.

The psychological scare of this injury (ie would it become a Matty Egan?) and his growing confusion about his role in the team has destroyed his confidence.

I don't know whether he'll ever become a Tony Lockett, but I do believe he has the ability to become a very serviceable forward if he's given the time and confidence to do so.

But that won't happen while he's put in the pocket or ruck.