Hawthorn season preview - Mike Sheehan

[Johnson#26]

Hawthorn season preview
16 February 2006 Herald Sun
Mike Sheahan

HAWTHORN has had five top-10 selections at the national drafts of the past two years. You don't get a better dip than that in the talent pool.

Richmond is the next best in that time with three picks. Seven clubs haven't had one crack at the top 10.

Consequently, the future at Hawthorn seems undeniably bright. Some would say blindingly so, but young talent comes with a warning: it takes time to mature.

As good as Lance Franklin, Jordan Lewis, Jarryd Roughead and company are likely to be on what we saw last year, as promising as Xavier Ellis, Beau Dowler and co are supposed to be, they're babies, all of them.

It should be noted Luke Hodge became an elite player only last year, his fourth at senior level, and he went at No. 1 in the draft.

 

[HiHoEverybody]

My first opinion was that The hawks could push for the 8 this year but looking over the team it seems a bit much to ask from such a young bunch of kids. Plenty of tallent but its a couple of years off being a flag contender. All the best in 06 Hawks fans!

 

[Gary Shadforth]

How revealing of Mike! As if we at Hawthorn didn't know what he is on about. I read the full article and disagree on the final point he made 'Anything better than six wins should be seen as progress.'

In a previous post I wrote I am expecting twelve wins in '06 and anything less is a lack of progress after the U-turn from '05.

Maybe my expectations are too high .. so we will have to wait and see.

 

[Nightwolf]

Out: Osborne
In: Sewell

That is the only change i would make from Mike's team..

 

[bigbird]

Gary, Mike seems more realistic, 12 wins will not happen, any more than 6 is what we are after, as that will show improvement.

2007, I'd be looking for around the 12 win mark, as that will be the year we set ourselves to be beating teams like the Eagles, Saints, Crows and etc, on a regular base. Put it this way, we'd be going in to the game expecting to win in 2007, not hoping, which will be the case this year.

Gary, I'd be more happier than anyone to win 12 games this year, but I think most hawk supporters would agree, that does not seem likely, but will will be all hoping, as you will be

 

[Parko]

Gary, Mike seems more realistic, 12 wins will not happen, any more than 6 is what we are after, as that will show improvement.

2007, I'd be looking for around the 12 win mark, as that will be the year we set ourselves to be beating teams like the Eagles, Saints, Crows and etc, on a regular base. Put it this way, we'd be going in to the game expecting to win in 2007, not hoping, which will be the case this year.

Gary, I'd be more happier than anyone to win 12 games this year, but I think most hawk supporters would agree, that does not seem likely, but will will be all hoping, as you will be

I agree, 2006 6 - 8 wins. The hawks will be going young again in the next draft. 2007/8 they will filter out most of Schwabs era with the view of being a premiership threat 2009. 2-3 years until the 80's feeling returns. Just sit back and enjoy the development of our future stars.

 

[WeneedyoungJarmans]

Rather than talk about how many wins this yr and how many next yr, why not look at certain key indicators, required for the team to improve and knotch up wins. We can all blurt out the typical argurement, Barker must fire, Crawf, Vanders, Mitch to have a big yr. Blah blah blah!

Bottom line is: SPINE!

When our spine starts to function, we will be more games than lose.

2006 onwards:
FB ? Dawson / Boyle / Roughead??
CHB: Croad / Roughead / Jacobs??
C: Spider / Tailor / Campbell
CHF: Barker / Croad / Franklin / Roughead / Boyle
FF: Williams / Tailor / Everitt / Dowler / Boyle

Of all those possibilities, none are set in stone as yet. Ideally, Barker will play but lets not rely on him. What next? The likes of Croad may need to play CHF for a yr or 2. Roughead will need to step up and play CHB. A key forward will need to take charge at FF. Tailor and Everitt are short term solutions. Ultimately Dowler looks the most likely to end up with the job. And what of Boyle. He's played half a descent game of football thus far. Will he even make it. Dawson, so much hope is resting on him coming good. Without Dawson coming on as a full back, this will impact the way we use the rest of our key talls. Franklin, is he a CHF or a wing / HFF. Perhaps he will be best used on a HFF free to roam and run all day. Alternatively, he may make a handy part time FF. Until Dowler comes on, it could be an option. No one really knows how long Dowler will take. Roughead - well we know hes gained size and strung a few descent games in defence last yr. Many say his best football is at CHF. He could be like Croad and play his best football at CHB, then come of age at 23 and start playing at CHF. By then Croad may get moved back to CHB in his twilight yrs. And what to say of Birchall and Murphy. Both handy utilities but highly competitive posession winners that could play a key position in defence. How long all this will take is pure speculation.

Our midfield can win the footy till the cows come home, until some of the above questions start to become answered, talking wins in 2006 is jumping the gun. Nothing much has changed at all since 2005 in terms of our spine.

As some of the above positions start to become consolidated, particularly CHB and CHF, with each position being fullfilled well by a player, will result in a direct improvement on the score board and wins. Each and every spine position has a great and direct bearing on the outcome of our games going forward.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

What's his point about Luke Hodge have to do with anything? How many players become "elite" players before they've played 45 games? Sometimes I wish Sheeham would give some thought to his comments.

 

[CyberKev]

What's his point about Luke Hodge have to do with anything? How many players become "elite" players before they've played 45 games? Sometimes I wish Sheeham would give some thought to his comments.

To say nothing of the fact that had it not been for rolling injuries and poor coaching (and yes the latter helped propigate the former) he would have most likely been "elite" from year 2 and not year 4.

 

[medusala]

How revealing of Mike! As if we at Hawthorn didn't know what he is on about. I read the full article and disagree on the final point he made 'Anything better than six wins should be seen as progress.'

Agree. Ony lost Hay and Barker/Boyle being fit and Roughie and Buddy putting on some weight/year older should more than offset that.

If Clarkson doesnt do significantly better than last year then he will be thoroughly under the pump.

 

[Hawk Dork]

2007, will be the year we set ourselves to be beating teams like the Eagles, Saints, Crows and etc, on a regular base.

I agree we need to get into the habit of beating potential finals contenders.

 

[bugsy]

I would like to see osborne play in a foward pocket all year.
I think that move will be the best spot for him.

Has hunger for the ball and can crumb well from the packs.

 

[cs61]

Agree.

When Hodge was getting talked down in his third year people forgot that his first year was actually very good, had huge problems with OP throughout his career before his first complete pre-season 2005, and that he had played about a season's less games than Judd because of injury.

Back to Sheean, to the media and general public anything over 6 wins probably would be seen as improvement, but last year we were tipped to win 0 and won 5 (I wish we had one those close ones and got 8, because we played well enough to win closer to 8 games IMO which looks a lot better).

Most believe we will struggle again this year, if Barker stays fit, IF, he stays fit I think we have a big chance to improve with a target at CHF and key position guys Cambell and Boyle up our sleaves will give us more options, and the hope of improvement with Roughead and Franklin.

We will be very unpredictable this year IMO, might surprise a few teams.

 

[MaccaHawk]

My very simple wishlist this year:

1. A CLEAR improvement on last year's skills levels (not going to accept another year of basic errors from guys who have been through the tough introduction to AFL footy already);
2. Closing out more games in the final quarter (we faded away too many times in the last quarter last year when we were in a strong position);
3. Less reliance on one person (Williams) up front for goals this year.

It isn't much to ask and is what any decent team should aim for.

 

[Tricky]

My negative simple wish is to find a fullback who can stem the bleeding (and to not have Danny Jacob's man being the oppositions most effective forward week in, week out, because Danny is playing his own match).

My positive simple wish is for the youngsters to continue to develop and for Al C to be given the time he needs. His lack of selfishness is admirable.

 

[cs61]

Ladson, Osborne, Sewell, Boyle, Brown, Bateman, Williams, Clarke... thats the group we need to stand up and continue to improve as a group, our second tier players. Brown, Clarke, Willo finally hit form last year, if we can get the others to start to cement a spot, and get to the next level it'll compliment our top 5 players a lot more and take un-neccessary pressure off our youngsters. For Ladson and Osborne it really is a make or break year.