Game Day Hawks head to the Handbagger Hub - Unofficial Match Simulation - Monday 17th February 2025 @ 2pm AEDT

[SSSSSS]

Did Frost play on a tall or a small?

 

[Bardo State]

Did Frost play on a tall or a small?

Definitely saw him as last man (tall) quite a few times in the first half, like last year. Probably changed a bit as others rotated.

 

[TylerDurden]

Hustwaite is a natural born clearance machine. And also knows how to "shape" the ball from a stoppage. Hard to teach. He's a serious player.

 

[Bardo State]

Main thoughts:

Battle looked great. Won't be caught out on the deck, in transition etc. He seemed very composed other than the one shank.

We'll probably go into the season with Gunner and Chol as key talls with Hardwick, Weddle and Sicily rotating in as marking targets. It might be a little frustrating at times as Chol doesn't stick marks and Gunston is lead to the ball. Scoring power will come from the smalls.

Morrison and Finn are very disciplined in their roles at this point and I think it will be hard for Ward to push in to the team early unless another inside mid can't play.

If Meek is given an inch with someone weaker or less experienced, he's going to maul them.

 

[Mercy Seat]

A whipping boy is someone who is criticised unreasonably and for sport at every opportunity.

That isn’t Chol. Unless you mean a whipping boy is anyone who is criticised at all.

Chol gets more crap from our supporters, particularly in the game day threads, even when he’s playing well. It’s text book whipping boy.

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

i really hope Frenchie can push his averages into the early 20s this year because he's so damaging whenever he gets the ball

 

[QuietB]

Also had 3 cats defenders on him at once in many contest! We need a KPF to cover for Lewis and Dear.

Just need to lower their eyes when playing the cats. And probably everyone else.

 

[DogDaySonny]

Chol gets more crap from our supporters, particularly in the game day threads, even when he’s playing well. It’s text book whipping boy.

Well he wasn’t getting that from me. We need a forward who can assert his influence on the forward space and make defences fear him. Chol ain’t that guy. He’s a second tall when we need a first. He flies spectacularly at a balls but doesn’t hold on to enough of them to make defenses go out of their way to prevent his run up. Fact. If he clunked four or five of those touches he generates then he would be feared indeed.

The search continues.

 

[QuietB]

100%.

Chol and Gunners not going to work as duo.

Dear was exceptional at bringing the ball to ground last year for a first year player. Bringing the ball to ground is neither Chol nor Gunston's strong point.

We need someone to smash packs.

 

[TylerDurden]

Thought Worpel was also a cut above any of their mids today. Explosive and used it well I50.

 

[barbster]

We need a 2nd key fwd. Stands out like dogs bae lls.

Scaife has to play. Point blank.sta

I still think Battle could be that option, looked composed today and we still have Barass to come in down back.

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

Thought Worpel was also a cut above any of their mids today. Explosive and used it well I50.

thought our mids in general were clearly better once they decided to start playing

Geelong's strength is more their outside players anyway, Miers and Holmes were terrific

 

[thehardway]

Good hit out. Midfield looks primed. No injuries from what I saw. Battle and Serong limped off but returned to the field and looked fine. Add Barass, Amon, Impey, Mass and Watson and we're a formidable team.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Don’t panic. We’ll Finn-ish them off in the season proper.

 

[SJT76]

Wiz can fill the missing tall forward hole. Just bomb it high above a pack

 

[TheFuzzle]

What was the ruck split like? A half each for meek and reeves or played together?

 

[H00t]

We need a 2nd key fwd. Stands out like dogs balls.

Scaife has to play. Point blank.

Definitely need a 2nd key forward. Scaife and Ramsden don’t look ready at all though. McCabe looks the closest but it would still be a big ask for him to play that role all game.

Which leaves Gunston and a defender we throw forward. Problem is they all play as third talls. Not going to fix the issue of being not competitive enough against the high balls.

 

[VandoHawk]

What was the ruck split like? A half each for meek and reeves or played together?

3 quarters Meek, 1 quarter Reeves. Didn't play together. For SuperCoach purposes, I think we're likely to go Meek solo ruck again to start the year.

 

[TheFourPillars]

I wouldn't worry about Moore ginni and
Croc. All 3 were out there for the run. All three coming back from injury. Probably didn't get their hands dirty as much. Lots to like from that hit out.

We played the way we wanted to play. The hawthorn way. Battle looks great and midfield group is humming. Day frenchie worps and meeky with nashy providing the muscle. Saw some great potential from McCabe and Mraz. Can't wait for the Bulldogs game

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Thought Worpel was also a cut above any of their mids today. Explosive and used it well I50.

I reckon Worps is in for a huge 2025.

He's entering a contract year and is in his absolute prime years.

He's also fit and in a good head space.

 

[VandoHawk]

I wouldn't worry about Moore ginni and
Croc. All 3 were out there for the run. All three coming back from injury. Probably didn't get their hands dirty as much. Lots to like from that hit out.

We played the way we wanted to play. The hawthorn way. Battle looks great and midfield group is humming. Day frenchie worps and meeky with nashy providing the muscle. Saw some great potential from McCabe and Mraz. Can't wait for the Bulldogs game

Wellllll after half-time lol

 

[TheFourPillars]

Wellllll after half-time lol

Yep u keep trying all game besides I mean there is not much space on that ground and we had probably our best runners missing from that game. To still impact and play the way we did is really encouraging.

 

[DogDaySonny]

Yep u keep trying all game besides I mean there is not much space on that ground and we had probably our best runners missing from that game. To still impact and play the way we did is really encouraging.

We were thrashed on that ground two years ago with the same midfield. Not the story today. The Doggies game will be good but despite the urge to play at 100%, I hope we don’t throw ourselves into dangerous contests. Save that for the Swannies.

I remember the Geelong v Collingwood pre-season game that had the intensity of a late season match needed to get into finals. Four or five guys were walked off the field injured.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

Definitely need a 2nd key forward. Scaife and Ramsden don’t look ready at all though. McCabe looks the closest but it would still be a big ask for him to play that role all game.

Which leaves Gunston and a defender we throw forward. Problem is they all play as third talls. Not going to fix the issue of being not competitive enough against the high balls.

Maybe Weddle and McCabe could share the role!

 

[Hawked Wings]

I’m not playing Ramma or Scaife just for the hell of it. Weddle is the one to go forward with plenty of cover down back and can switch with sis if things arnt working. Battle, Barrass, Scrimshaw and Sicily/Weddle is plenty down there