Autopsy Hawks defeated by Cats

[RoughysMullet]

I think it might be time to give Teia Miles a run in the team replacing Morrison.

Absolutely, Miles should never have been dropped last season.. Morrison needs a rest in the 2’s- just let him get some form back

 

[Mrzohs]

Out
Nash,Mirra,Morrison
In
Stratts,Shiels,tob

 

[Davo-27]

Couldn't watch the game today but the scores are quite respectable and not all that bad compared with what I was expecting.

Will get to the replay in an hour or so.

Quick question re: Cousins. Did he get injured? Only 6 touches for a mid is staggering so I initially assumed another in game injury... but then he's laid 7 tackles.

Any major news from game re: injuries or otherwise?

McEvoy - Hip Flexor Injury

Nash and Morrison were embarrassingly bad. Cousins was also poor but we have no-one else atm to play midfield.

 

[burnside5]

3rd game.

apologies as didn't know that; but he shows something special...

 

[RoughysMullet]

Next week would love to see
Out: Mirra, Morrison, Nash
In: Stratton, Shiels, Miles
If Big Boy doesn’t come up then Ceglar back

 

[DrEvil_]

Too many times Cat's player just waltz through several players.

 

[illnino]

Proud of the boys today. Exactly the result I was expecting - a solid, gutsy showing resulting in a relatively close loss. One thing that really, really stands out to me so far this year is that we aren't one of the fitter teams in the comp (saw it first hand in the JLT game against the Lions too). A lot of players with hands on hips and knees late in quarters today, particularly (and obviously) late in the game.

- Morrison needs to find some form desperately. A shadow of his former self from last year. Will probably stay in the side due to injuries.

- Love the story behind this bloke, but Mirra just ain't AFL level. He doesn't have the luxury of being a young player with plenty of time on his side. Very solid VFL player, but I personally don't believe he will ever cut it as a consistent member of our best 22. You could actually make a video package of prominent incidents which would back this assertion up. Will also probably be lucky due to our injury list.

- Smith and Nash clearly played injured today (Nash with a corked glute, not sure about Smith). Smith's worst game in a long time (Breust too while I'm at it), granted he still tried his heart out. I'm a big fan of Nash but that stat line is almost unforgivable. I don't think he would have played today had we had more options available to replace him. Unpopular opinion - keep him in ahead of Lewis.

- Mitch Lewis and James Cousins. Hrmmmm... not sold on either. Happy to keep Cousins in mainly due to our lack of midfield depth and potential, but only one of Nash or Lewis should be playing in a perfect world. I'm going Nash, just, but happy with either.

-McEvoy (hoping he's ok for next week), O'Meara, Worpel, Sicily, Henderson, Roughead and Brand (keep him in ahead of Mirra) really good today.

- Wingard and Scully are opposites at the moment. Firstly, both need more time playing in our system, but where as Wingard is using the ball well and looks comfortable with it, but just isn't getting enough of it, Scully is getting it a fair bit of it but looks flustered a lot of the time.

- Howe is an interesting one. Hoping with more gametime over the next few weeks we will see his best again. Will be keeping a keen eye on him for sure. Not sure what to make of him.

- Good return to form from Poppy. Still not the same Poppy that we are so accustomed too, and I'm not sure he ever will be again. Still a solid contributor on his day.

- Poor old Gunston being thrown all over the place with these injuries we have. He's one of those players who will come out breathing fire next week, especially as he was our fill-in captain this week.

As a final thought, was more than happy to see Ablett being bood regardless of the reason. One of the greatest players I've ever seen (maybe the best in my adulthood), but if it was because of the rivalry we have and what a great plauer he is/was... awesome. If it was because people were taking a stand against homophobia and saying that it isn't ok to support that bullshit... awesome as well.

Go Hawks!

 

[Bugs1977]

I never like to lose but there was a heap of positives to came out of today. I think it’s an absolutely imperative that we leave Lewis in for the rest of season and I thought he done pretty darn good and after he kicked his first goal you could see the confidence building in his eyes (like I belong here). He presented pretty good and you could see as game wore on that they were making a conceited effort to get it to him.

The other thing I noticed is that depending on matchups Roughy has to played as the 2nd ruck to Big Boy. It really seemed to bring him into the game and an active and an engaged Rough is better than one that is not physically able to clunk marks one out like he used to. He’s still got quick hands at ground level and getting his hands on it as the 2nd ruck seemed to give him a sense of purpose. If that means Ceglar misses out then so be it.

To all that are on Smith’s case it is clear that he’s playing hurt and if we had the depth he wouldn’t have played today which says a lot about where we’re at at the moment. In regards to injuries hopefully Big Boy is okay and was just put in cotton wool (4 minutes to go in the game) but I did here a commentator say it might be a hip flexor.

Going into next week depending on injuries I’d be giving Nash and Morrison a spell and bring back Stratton, Shiels. Both the aforementioned guys have been give ample opportunity to keep there spot but it now time to go back to the maggoos and get some confidence.

 

[Nick the Pig]

Happy with Brand's game today as well. He stays.

Glad Brand did ok today because with Frawley out he simply has to be picked, almost regardless of how he performs. We are so light on for depth in certain areas of the ground right now. With Mohr gone, Kosi raw and Frawley still a few weeks away, Brand has a golden opportunity which he needs to make the most of.

 

[burnside5]

Ricky Henderson is the GOAT

And I am also as my Chinese star sign... Go the Goaties..

 

[RoughysMullet]

Anyone got a gif of Ablett crying after 2008 GF? Would really help my mood right now

 

[MightyHawks86]

My few thoughts:

Lewis was good today. Flew when he needed to and followed up on the contest. Worth keeping him in. Only see upside.

Brand seemed to be playing with more confidence today than we've seen previously at AFL level. Decent effort.

Hendo & BB were great today. Heart and soul type games.

Wingard may not be tearing games apart yet but really liked his willingness to chase and harry the opposition.

Smith seemed very lackadaisical. Fumbly and seemed like the intensity wasn't there. Injury hampering him.

Breust and Gunston poor. Gunners in particular seemed to make quite a few poor decisions by foot - one howler resulting in a cat's transition and goal.

Nash needs to be dropped. Huge upside, but not at a pair of touches and tackles a game.

Poppy tried hard, as usual (even with a couple of cat's hanging off him).

Worpel was good.

Sicily good but jeez he would be asking a lot of questions of the umps over the past few weeks.

All in all, endeavour was good but a combination of youth, form, injury and being the umpire guinea pig team conspiring to keep us a fair bit off the pace.

 

[Pessimistic]

Anyone see the Hawkins Sicily incident?

 

[OnceKicked50]

Can't fault the effort today. For large periods of the game we were on top, but we just lack the polish and slick forward 50 entries. The cats scored so easy on their entries which is partly understandable with Frawley, Burgoyne and Stratton missing, but also partly because we turned the ball over in critical areas.

I'm not unhappy with today, I think we played roughly to our level and pushed what will likely be a top 4 team.

Some observations:

1. Bruest and Gunston have managed one good game each this year. Smith none (I don't care if he was sore today). These are our leaders and best players.

2. McEvoy is just a warrior. Everything you could want from a Ruckman and a leader.

3. It is hard to believe Worpel is only in his second season. I thought maybe it was us creating hype last year, but this kid is going to be an amazing player for a long time.

4. Hardwick had his best game of the year. Brand was also very good. Sicily is elite.

5. Morrison, Nash, Scrimshaw and Cousins all had poor games today. They will all be better for the experience. I have been a Nash supporter, but I'd understand if he was dropped this week. Not sure how Cousins plays mid and gets 6 touches but, that's more of a wtf then Nash getting 2.

6. Mirra made Gary bloody Rohan look like Buddy.

7. Roughy is moving very well this year. Poppy had his best game.

8. Wingard is a long way from fitness. A long way off it at the moment.

9. Lewis was a massive positive today.

 

[cryptor]

Great effort to almost get back into it in the last quarter. Just too much not going our way.

There’s not a shred of doubt that we would be sitting 4-1 or even 5-0 with less injuries to such important best 22 players.

The absence of those players is also being felt in the fact that we’ve got inexperienced players playing key roles all game. A huge drain on their stamina.

We’re also clearly carrying a number of players with niggles who’d otherwise be given a week or two off to get their bodies right.

Hopefully we’ll have Stratton, Shiels and Burgoyne back in next week.

 

[savagelunchbox]

Just because Clarkson has to look up to Puopolo, that doesn't make him a KPF

 

[Off The Couch]

10.6 from turnovers - that hurts

 

[beta_condition]

Anyone see the Hawkins Sicily incident?

Thrusted his elbow just below his scapula behind the ball.

 

[thejockey]

Went to the game today with pretty low expectations . Really happy in general with the performance given the personal we put out .
This year isn’t our year but the games we are getting into the young and new players this season will pay dividends and I expect we will be a decent outfit mid-late 2019 and next season .

Don’t underestimate how much missing 2 key backs messes with your structure and system . It really hurt us today but we battled on.

Every time we looked liked we could semi threaten them we made a poor error and they kicked an “easy” goal or two to keep us at arms length
Geelong are a good side and punished us accordingly.

We will have plenty of ups and downs this season , keep expectations real and enjoy the development of the young players .
We aren’t that far off but we aren’t contending either , if that makes sense .

 

[Mrzohs]

The other thing I noticed is that depending on matchups Roughy has to played as the 2nd ruck to Big Boy. It really seemed to bring him into the game and an active and an engaged Rough is better than one that is not physically able to clunk marks one out like he used to. He’s still got quick hands at ground level and getting his hands on it as the 2nd ruck seemed to give him a sense of purpose. If that means Ceglar misses out then so be it.

Going into next week depending on injuries I’d be giving Nash and Morrison a spell and bring back Stratton, Shiels. Both the aforementioned guys have been give ample opportunity to keep there spot but it now time to go back to the maggoos and get some confidence.

100% with roughy he gets lost as deep forward all game. He is great in the middle for a big man better used when he can get involved in the game show he leadership.

M.Lewis provided a contest that all we can ask at this point.

 

[Brant]

Lewis was good today but we’re still terrible at using him.

A few times he led out from F50m & took a mark on the lead, about 80m from goal. He led; we kicked to him; he marked it.

Yet, when he’s inside F50m, he leads; we kick it nowhere bloody near him... Or, we force him back to the Goal Square & dump it on his head, often whilst he’s standing next to Roughead & has McEvoy jumping all over him.

It’s bizarre that we’re happy to kick to a leading player, as long as they’re more than 50m from goal...

 

[Cleavy]

 

[scout]

Anyone see the Hawkins Sicily incident?

 

[cryptor]

I also agree that Nash needs to be dropped back to BHH.

I’m all for getting him AFL experience at the expense of him not necessarily being the best choice for the role right now.

But after his game today I’m skeptical that there’s anything more to be gained at this point. I think he needs to go spend a month playing in the VFL to get his hands on the ball a lot more and gain some confidence playing his role. Once he’s done that I’d be happy to see him back in seniors to try and develop further.

 

[SA HAWK]

Worpel is showing up a lot of our senior players with his efforts.

A few in particular need to have a good look at themselves.