Autopsy Hawks vs Eagles

[PoopingHindi]

beaten by a better team. probably the best team.
sure our players looked slow and disinterested and nothing Clarko did worked but this is what happens when you get completely outplayed.

i'm not angry or frustrated or even disappointed, im just resigned to to fact that we arent good enough. the signs have been there all season but i was hoping we'd be able to turn it on come finals time. a run of good form may still see us make the GF but there is no way we win it.

kudos to West Coast. their pressure and ball movement is Hawthorn like

 

[Dixie Flatline]

needed to make the most of every chance and every half-chance in finals. Didn't do it.

That's spot on. Should have led by at least two goals at quarter time but the Hawks butchered their opportunities going forward and gave the Eagles a sniff which they exploited. The Hawks copped some home ground umpiring but that shouldn't detract from the fact that the Eagles comprehensively out coached the Hawks last night. The Hawks dominated the clearances in the first half but the Eagles dominated the general midfield play through excellent positioning and discipline. The Hawks game plan fell apart under the pressure and the Hawks resorted to bombing the ball forward aimlessly in hope.

Clarkson remains stubbornly loyal to the old stagers who have done the job in the past. But last night exposed them in a manner that is concerning. The Hawks have a week to reassess what happened last night and make the necessary adjustments to reach the preliminary final. The Hawks still have a chance at immortality but they have made it hard for themselves.

 

[Gene Simmons]

Umm... How did Hill make the best players? I forgot he was playing most of the night

 

[MinerBoy]

Can someone please send this to Al and ask him to print off and hang up in the players dressing room this week?

I will start with the positives-

Lake 6/10-saved us big time in the first half from more of a hiding. Not his fault Clarko asks him to try and win us the game as a forward in the second half.
.

Not sure if serious. Was there any chance he could have stood in the same post code as the No.1 key forward in the game? 2/10. Got shifted forward because he was getting his arse handed to him.

 

[Buttonsticher]

After a good nights sleep, the positive. We couldn't possibly play that woefully 2 weeks in a row. It's rare indeed that we lose 2 games in a row. We have beaten the crows by 29pts and smashed the dogs. The only team we haven't toweled up in the 8 are the tigs who beat us by only 18pts and we played crap. If there is any team that can win through from here it's us. If we make it through to the GF we will not lose!
P.S. The next commentator who says "Suckling is the best kick in the league" I hope the fleas of a thousand camels invade your rectum!

 

[Wundo]

2 flags and clinging at a chance for a third on the trot is an amazing effort. Be proud people. Cheer your hardest as the mass clean out/retirements rebuild of a list has it's ups and downs.

What? You talk like Hawthorn players died out there! We'll 3peat this year and ride that wave through until the the last unicorn is murdered (the AFL has killed most of them already, under the guise of "equalisation")

 

[LuvMyHawks]

The question is, should we unsettle a winning team in Box Hill?They have put their everything in it all year, and played well, can't say they didn't try! It would unfair to them, to take 3 or maybe 4 players out, playing for the AFL, when the odds winning next week, is against us,IMO. I doubt Clarko would pull many out, if any,but Gunny won't be playing, even if he is penalised for something (I didn't see,) won't make any difference. I feel that the weagles will win the cup easily this year, the only thing is,we were pathetic last night, the weagles won't come across a team to beat as easy as we were! We were a walkover!

 

[tige19]

Forget the last quarter the game was done at 3/4 time the last quarter was junk.

Agree the misses in the 1st quarter were big we could have had some momentum but lost the chance.

Suckling should never put on a Hawthorn jumper again soft as butter and terrible decision making under pressure.

You don't give the ball back properly you pay the price.

You know what shits me... Every bloody week Ruff gets into the game when it's all done and dusted! He decided last night after our arse had been handed to us and the sting was gone to crash a pack, take a grab and kick a goal.. Give me a spell Ruff, lead from the front from the first bounce, it's pointless you having a dip when the cards have been dealt and that goes for when we are winning as well.. Shits me no end

 

[stinger05]

Hey guys, my commiserations the only reason why this was so important to us was because it was against such a champion team.

You guys are a fearless mob who will bounce back hard.

If you are destined to do the "holy grail" that is the rarely seen Treble, what better place to do it from. Create history and a place in football folklore, first Interstate team to win a Prelim in W.A in premiership number 3.

Good luck next week, massively enjoyed the bants. I know we can be a silly bunch but it's due to living in this boring climatic paradise land of bigotry and bias. Cheers guys.

 

[EightyNineChamps]

Havent given up just yet, however, I believe we are being beaten in the coaches box more than anywhere else at the moment.
All of our significant losses have been similarly themed.
Mega pressure forcing kick n hope and keep our runners and precision kickers out of the game.

I been watching it closely. opposition have been watching it too.'

Yes our best is good, but I dont think our best is particularly feasible against the new breed at the moment.
Pundits, punters, commentators etc just dont seem to have the balls to completely write us off just yet.

Only history is keeping us in the game at the moment.
There is nothing in the present to get me excited nor confident Im afraid.

When we are allowed to play to our strengths no one will come close, but, when we aren't allowed, we are very gettable as the say.

I think a little of 2009 has crept in with the coaching not enough has been done to combat the obvious tactics that they should have seen coming. Perhaps a little arrogant or complacent, not sure. This may even have been apparent through the players themselves. I mean, really, 'The Horses' after we beat WC last time! I won't reiterate some of the other undisciplined on and off field stuff that transpired but I think you get the point.

As others have said through this thread, very little reward given to guys knocking on the door from BH. This does two things as we would know, knock all confidence from those performing well at BH and of course give them less development time playing amongst the experience guys.

Again, as others have alluded to, there seemed to be too much looking after the favored ones all year, this is not the way to keep under performing playing on their toes or fight for their spots.

This club has been fantastic over a long period and we are all frustrated and hate losing, just show how spoilt we've been. It's not over yet, we've still got a shot at it, but from here it's going to be a test for the ages.

Go the MIGHTY HAWS!

 

[MinerBoy]

After all this stuff has been said on how crap we are, which was true, combine the scores from the 1st, 3rd and 4th quarters and we won them by a point. .

Advantage of a strong breeze for 2 of those 3 quarters.

 

[MinerBoy]

1) The forward line is not really functioning well this year against stronger back lines, missing too many shots, no one leading up fast,

Watched highlights of the 2007 EF v Crows during the week. Rough was just leading and clunking like no ones business.

None of our forwards do this anymore.

 

[Taylor]

Hawthorn really need to find a ruckman who can compete for a hitout.

 

[MinerBoy]

Hawthorn really need to find a ruckman who can compete for a hitout.

Thought the rucks were the least of our problems. Hit out taps weren't overly in WCE favour and we dominated clearances.

 

[EightyNineChamps]

What a a bloke.

Not to worry mate, we are just hurting a little and some are venting pretty hard.

Kudos to your mob, did their homework on us and got the chocolates.

Hope to meet again later this year...

 

[glenferry23]

Yes I don't believe the ruck dominance was as telling as it was expected to be from the lead up to the match.

It was just that West Coast were clear winners across the ground.

 

[Kenyan]

You know what shits me... Every bloody week Ruff gets into the game when it's all done and dusted! He decided last night after our arse had been handed to us and the sting was gone to crash a pack, take a grab and kick a goal.. Give me a spell Ruff, lead from the front from the first bounce, it's pointless you having a dip when the cards have been dealt and that goes for when we are winning as well.. Shits me no end

I was at the game and was also disappointed with Ruff. Needs to lift his intensity - our forward line was non existent. Every time it went into the eagles forward it felt like they would score. We were belted at the stoppages - normally this our strength. I never whinge about umpires but we got the rough end of some important decisions. Still think we would have been beaten.
Our strength is our goal kicking. We apply pressure by kicking goals, scoreboard pressure.
Frawley is not a forward.
Cyril stay forward with limited time on the ball.
Breust same.
Once the ball hit the ground we had nothing.

 

[Brishawk]

Umm... How did Hill make the best players? I forgot he was playing most of the night

Had a dip. Had 5 tackles. Could break free as ball use pathetic.

 

[Brishawk]

I was at the game and was also disappointed with Ruff. Needs to lift his intensity - our forward line was non existent. Every time it went into the eagles forward it felt like they would score. We were belted at the stoppages - normally this our strength. I never whinge about umpires but we got the rough end of some important decisions. Still think we would have been beaten.
Our strength is our goal kicking. We apply pressure by kicking goals, scoreboard pressure.
Frawley is not a forward.
Cyril stay forward with limited time on the ball.
Breust same.
Once the ball hit the ground we had nothing.

We won't the clearances by 10. Belted them out of the centre all night. Problem was we kicked to their spare all night.

 

[EightyNineChamps]

So many issues out of tonight

Tackling -so many soft tackle that were broken out of which has been an issue all year. We hardly got out of West Coast tackle alnight.
Run - They would win a contest in our backline and all of a sudden they would have 2 or 3 ahead of the ball
Disposal - Our kicking under pressure was woeful especially by our younger players. Langford went at 41% Shiels 43%, not good enougg
Backline - They have 3 good small forwards yet for some reason Duryea is the sub, it makes no sense
Selection - Smith should never have played, Duryea not the sub
Handballs - A bit like Sydney in the GF last year, we seemed to flick it around a bit trying to find the relesse but by the 3rd handball we would get smashed with a tackle, stopping any chance of getting it out
Forwards - Like all year, any chance someone could take a mark down there

I think you nailed it in this post.

We've been worked out by the teams that have the ability to do it.

Last night they kept at least 2 or 3 30 to 40 out from our 50 and once they got their hands on the ball it was an express train to their forward 50.

We've been great in locking the ball in our 50 most of this year, but, this has been our Achilles Heal as well as we seem to over posses against the better sides and them we don't have the same repeat entries back in that we do against lesser sides.

 

[Wundo]

1) The forward line is not really functioning well this year against stronger back lines, missing too many shots, no one leading up fast, if not for Rioli no major Kennedy-like true KPF as Roughead having a shocker. In this regard did not understand why Schoenmakers was dropped vis-a-vis Frawley in forward line. Meanwhile, too late now to introduce them to senior level regularly, Sicily and esp Grimley have been kicking bucket loads in Box Hill
2) still have nightmares of Murphy running unko against Nic Nat in that rain swept game years ago - the backline have to stop falling over/doing unko things at critical moments - in that regard what is wrong with Litherland/Heatherly/Spanger (too late now to introduce them)
3) We do not have a "next generation" taller/fast inside midfielder coming through ala Fyffe/Pridis although again there are some players week in week out who have been toiling their guts out at Box Hill eg Howe/O'Rourke/Simpkin/Jed who would kill for a game
I dearly wish Clarko would do a Beveridge and pick on form only as Box Hill possibly heading towards another premiership, too late. He gave another crap generic post match replies, and all of the above have been regular weak link themes against the very best fast teams...


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Yeah I see what you're saying and I understand your frustration. It is too late, I think, to bring in those who have performed well at box hill. Continuity is important in winning games of footy and so I expect Clarko to stick with this team, the one that saluted last year. Right or wrong? Not sure.
If he were to make wholesale changes now, it's an admission that something is amiss. It's a vulnerability that other teams will pounce upon.
Minimal changes indicate a belief in the current core playing group, ideals and structures; shows a trust.

Really, if Hawks are to win the next couple and make it to the GF, I think it'll be on the back of final's-hardened intensity from seasoned players, rather
than inclusions made at the selection table.The Hawthorn team that's named for the semi with be intriguing

 

[Brave Sir Robin]

Won't say anything about the game on here but thanks to the guys who popped over to our board in the lead up to the game and afterwards. The banter was great and the number of Hawks fans who congratulated us was very classy. Good luck for your next two games and I hope we spank your asses in Melbourne in three weeks!

 

[bungholes_premiers]

Wow what a disgraceful thread to read this morning. Can't say i didn't expect it.

But if u weren't satisfied with b2b to the point of questioning the coach and players after last night, god help u in life. And i don't wish for this club to have such fickle, ungrateful, simple-minded "supporters"

 

[cryptor]

1. The Frawley-Lake switch should have happened far earlier. Lake was always going to be too slow for Kennedy.

2. In hindsight Smith shouldn't have played. Was not 100%. Hartung would feel miffed.

3. Our tackling was piss weak.

4. Umpiring wasn't even. Plenty of HTB paid against us and then at the next contest it's only a ball up for a WCE player doing the same thing. Umpiring didn't cost us the game but it could've been closer and less frustrating to watch.

5. Goal kicking, disposal efficiency and general composure cost us. So much for the best kicking side with the most finals experience.

6. We need an injection of youth and exuberance. West Coast had this and played like a team playing for it all. Our guys looked like they were thinking "eh there's always next year!". And with that attitude there won't be. Get Hartung, Spangher and Simpkin in there. They can play a role and will appreciate it.

 

[hawkman]

Umm... How did Hill make the best players? I forgot he was playing most of the night

Didn't take a high standard to get amongst the best last night.

Thought he was ok which is better than most