Hawthorn

[demondavey]

Playing incredibly well, key players coming into form, game plan has adjusted and looking very very good. One question based on form to date: How far can Hawthorn go in September? Thoughts, opinions and general discussion encouraged!

 

[die hard dee]

not far, if you win the clearances against the hawks and get the ball in quickly to their backline they are very beatable.

Unfortunately for them they only have one Luke Hodge, and although they beat a quick side in the the bombers on the weekend they really are not that quick.

Too reliant on too few. If Mitchell, Rioli, Buddy, Hodge don't fire they tend to struggle

 

[djboonie]

Still not convinced we'll make it.

6 games coming up against the top 8 including Saints, Cats, Pies, Western Bulldogs, Fremantle...

So lose 6 out of 6 of them and we're really looking at 9th.

We need to win 1 or 2 of them.

Talk on the radio of us going into top 4 is folly.

 

[roosforever]

We are weak in the ruck (as Ryder demolished us), one on one in defence isnt great but our big weakness is our ability to score consistantly. Can go huge gaps of time without scoring. As the commentators said, score 80 of more points against us atm and chances are you will win.

 

[Slattery_20]

Incredibly well???
Yes they've won 6 in a trot, but look at who they've beaten.

If they smack a Geelong, Pies, Freo or Saints, roll out the superlatives. Until then, they'll be yet another good side fighting it out for 5th and I'd be surprised to see them win more than 1 final.

 

[FevolasFox]

Still not convinced we'll make it.

6 games coming up against the top 8 including Saints, Cats, Pies, Western Bulldogs, Fremantle...

So lose 6 out of 6 of them and we're really looking at 9th.

We need to win 1 or 2 of them.

Talk on the radio of us going into top 4 is folly.

I think you can beat Freo, Dogs and give Geelong a run for their money, Hawks a shoe in for the finals.

 

[Ricmel]

Really should see how they go next 4 weeks. We will know then where they are at.

 

[DangerHere]

Isn't there a thread in Bay 13 about this ???

 

[mollyfud]

Not sure how far we can go. One thing is for sure, need a good run of injuries (which we have had recently). Our depth isn't ready, and needs time to develop.

A lot are saying that our backline is beatable and it certainly is, but I have a feeling that they are working better together. I also have a feeling (just my feeling) that players are being told to a greater degree that they have to do there job on their own. In the past we have had to many flying to try to spoil and too many up at the rucks as thirdmen up. We still use it now and again but not all the time and not three players up like we did earlier in the season.

I think Rioli being fitter is helping. Word is that he is doing more at training and it is showing in the game. Having Bateman, Burgoyne and Young in the side is helping our pace. Skipper is no world beater but he is doing enough to cause contests.

So if they can continue to win games they are meant to, and not lose to many players, a solid ladder position and 1 win in the finals is a possibility. Any more then that would be gravy!

 

[Hawkers]

I don't think we'll make finals.
Said it after the loss to North and I keep saying it.
Left the run too late and weren't good enough early in the season

 

[parsons nose]

Would need to have a full to chose from going forward. Even then up against it. Even games against the lesser sides present a challenge (port at aami doesn't fill me with confidence). Still, momentum can carry teams a long way. The next month should be instructive. Judging by past fixtures on average 14 wins will get you a top four berth. That means 7 out of 10 wins - not impossible but would take a mighty effort given our draw.

 

[bleeding red and white]

The next month will give everyone an indication of how good they are.

Sydney won 5 in a row at the start of the season and we're being talked up like no tomorrow then a few weeks later after playing geelong, bulldogs and fremantle, we were looking like a lost cause.

 

[Tas]

if they beat some good sides over the next 6 weeks and make it then they could cause some damage. If they don't then they will struggle to make and if they make it I doubt will have much impact. They need to beat these quality sides imo.

 

[On the bench]

The Hawks will be one of a few teams fighting the last position or two in the eight come round 22!

 

[The Kipster]

WOW, the Melbourne supporters seem to know an alwful lot about our team and where we will end up at years end....I suppose when you are anchored to the bottom of the ladder for many years, playing ordinary football you get a good perspective on other clubs

personally, if we pull together some more wins, now having 2 rucks and a more mobile mid-field we can play some good finals footy assuming we can make it...unlike some of the filthy trolls on here who have booked their holidays early...

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

WOW, the Melbourne supporters seem to know an alwful lot about our team and where we will end up at years end....I suppose when you are anchored to the bottom of the ladder for many years, playing ordinary football you get a good perspective on other clubs

personally, if we pull together some more wins, now having 2 rucks and a more mobile mid-field we can play some good finals footy assuming we can make it...unlike some of the filthy trolls on here who have booked their holidays early...

Agree, will win at least 5 of their remaining games if not more

 

[i_need_a_pencil]

They will definitely get into the 8... they have a much better list then the other clubs fighting to get in.

I think their finals will rely, not on their stars, but whether their 2nd tier can improve and stand up... cause we all know their stars are amazing

 

[Ordovician]

They have really struggled hard to beat pretty ordinary sides late in the game over the last 6 weeks eg Richmond (3 points!), Swans, Port and Essen'en.

However, oppositon supporters are unaware the brilliant ploy used by the club's training staff to boost the club's attractiveness to broadcasters by training their players to run out of steam in the late third and early fourth quarters thereby guaranteeing close finishes to most games.

How they'll go against the best sides like the cats, saints and doggies is anyone's guess but all will soon be revealed. If they beat a few of the top sides then they could be a real threat in September. This of course is subject to them having a mild run with injuries because the Hawks have no real depth on their list as demonstrated last year when they were splattered with injuries all year.

 

[fddf]

I think they will sneak into the 8 purely from the fact that the bottom 7 sides are ordinary so it leaves them and North fighting for the last spot. They will do nothing in September. Worst 6 game win streak i think i have ever seen. Would have lost on the weekend if it wasnt for Franklin's heroics and Hille missing. That means that they could easily have lost to Richmond, Port, Sydney and Essendon all at the MCG. Playing some real teams in the next month so the true level of the side will be revealed.

 

[BACCS]

Bloody hell, aren't there enough threads on Hawthorn, all on the same topic? Some people must really struggle with the search function.

 

[The Kipster]

I think they will sneak into the 8 purely from the fact that the bottom 7 sides are ordinary so it leaves them and North fighting for the last spot. They will do nothing in September. Worst 6 game win streak i think i have ever seen. Would have lost on the weekend if it wasnt for Franklin's heroics and Hille missing. That means that they could easily have lost to Richmond, Port, Sydney and Essendon all at the MCG. Playing some real teams in the next month so the true level of the side will be revealed.

hows life down on equal bottom? I must admit I did enjoy beating your state team.....LOL

of course your winning streak of 1 in a row is highly impressive

 

[mr e]

That means that they could easily have lost to Richmond, Port, Sydney and Essendon all at the MCG.

And by the same token could have beaten Geelong, West Coast and North.

Coulds dont mean anything

 

[Fear0411]

Any team with

Franklin, rioli, sewell, mitchell, hodge, roughead etc can make a dent in finals heck even win the flag

but obviously we have to have

A. No injuries

B. Beat a few top teams in the next month

C. the hunger (which looks like its coming back)

if we have those 3 things then we can go very far

 

[macdaddio]

I don't think we'll make finals.
Said it after the loss to North and I keep saying it.
Left the run too late and weren't good enough early in the season

What? You do know that we are on equal wins as Swans Blues and Roos and we are 2 games and high % clear in 8th spot and what do you mean we left our run too late, look at the Lions they won their 1st 4 games and now look where they are. Sorry I don't really understand what you mean we left our run too late when we are in the 8?

 

[Bartel#]

Beware.

They have a lot of stars.

Stop riding them off. They can only beat who are they are fixured to play. We cant just expect them to turn it on and go straight from a slump into their 2008 form. It takes time and confidence and they are slowly building that.

They can play finals football and have experience. Would not be suprised like Sam Newman said to see them in the Grandfinal.

They are getting guns back and players like osbourne and brown( before injured) was and are finding great form. When Roughead gets out of his formslump he will add another dimension to their team.

I am one supporter that is scared of an in form hawthorn team come finals.

Lastly I'll say this.

I would rather play an in form full health Collingwood team on the last day of september than an inform full health Hawthorn.