If Rioli and Tom Mitchell stay healthy in 2018......

[Macpotata]

There's no reason as to why the Hawks won't excel and potentially push for the top 4. I don't think they will make top 4, but if these blokes along with Poppy who played just 15 games last season, Roughy, Gunners and Breust remain fit, the Hawks could once again prove to be a handful. Issac Smith in midfield, a few young lads rising up the last couple of years and Schoenmakers's versatility, the Hawkers look pretty handy. Rioli only played 7 games last year, and after the slow start Hawthorn were as good as many for a while. Beat the Swans twice, Adelaide in Adelaide, pushed Geelong where Smith choked again for the game winner. Drew with GWS also.

If and it's a big if, the Hawks leaders and stars remain healthy, they could do some damage to many teams and make a decent run in September.

Tom Mitchell - Champion. Don't forget how good he was last season.

The Hawks are the sleepers in 2018. Stay fit, and they'll make some noise.

 

[Underarm]

Has Cyril ever stayed completely healthy for a whole season?

 

[reload141]

There's no reason as to why the Hawks won't excel and potentially push for the top 4. I don't think they will make top 4, but if these blokes along with Poppy who played just 15 games last season, Roughy, Gunners and Breust remain fit, the Hawks could once again prove to be a handful. Issac Smith in midfield, a few young lads rising up the last couple of years and Schoenmakers's versatility, the Hawkers look pretty handy. Rioli only played 7 games last year, and after the slow start Hawthorn were as good as many for a while. Beat the Swans twice, Adelaide in Adelaide, pushed Geelong where Smith choked again for the game winner. Drew with GWS also.

If and it's a big if, the Hawks leaders and stars remain healthy, they could do some damage to many teams and make a decent run in September.

Tom Mitchell - Champion. Don't forget how good he was last season.

The Hawks are the sleepers in 2018. Stay fit, and they'll make some noise.

Nope.

Too many competition for the top 4, they would have to be DRASTICALLY better to be in contention for a top 8 position.

 

[Macpotata]

Nope.

Too many competition for the top 4, they would have to be DRASTICALLY better to be in contention for a top 8 position.

I said push for the 4 as in be in contention for a while to make it or be around the mark, but realistically finish in that 6-8 barrier.

As for finals, they missed it last year by just a game and a half after starting 0-4, and having one of the best players in the comp play a third of the season.

They're more than capable.

 

[blue harvest]

Has Cyril ever stayed completely healthy for a whole season?

In 7 of his 10 years he has played 19 games or more. Has really only had 3 injury affected years, 2013,14 and 17. Played every game in 2008, missed 1 in 2015, missed 2 in 2012.

 

[blitzer]

There's no reason as to why the Hawks won't excel and potentially push for the top 4. I don't think they will make top 4, but if these blokes along with Poppy who played just 15 games last season, Roughy, Gunners and Breust remain fit, the Hawks could once again prove to be a handful. Issac Smith in midfield, a few young lads rising up the last couple of years and Schoenmakers's versatility, the Hawkers look pretty handy. Rioli only played 7 games last year, and after the slow start Hawthorn were as good as many for a while. Beat the Swans twice, Adelaide in Adelaide, pushed Geelong where Smith choked again for the game winner. Drew with GWS also.

If and it's a big if, the Hawks leaders and stars remain healthy, they could do some damage to many teams and make a decent run in September.

Tom Mitchell - Champion. Don't forget how good he was last season.

The Hawks are the sleepers in 2018. Stay fit, and they'll make some noise.

Most of the factors you listed as things they need to finish high on the ladder actually happened in 2017 and they were still rubbish.

Roughhead, Gunston and Breust were fit in 2017. Already happened.
Isaac Smith was there in the midfield. Schoenmaker is just a role player.
Tom Mitchell had the best season of his career and I believe he didn't miss a game.

So basically the entire difference is just Rioli???

 

[WCE_phil]

Not a chance, most likely team to really slide into the bottom 4 bracket this year imo.

 

[Macpotata]

Most of the factors you listed as things they need to finish high on the ladder actually happened in 2017 and they were still rubbish.

Roughhead, Gunston and Breust were fit in 2017. Already happened.
Isaac Smith was there in the midfield. Schoenmaker is just a role player.
Tom Mitchell had the best season of his career and I believe he didn't miss a game.

So basically the entire difference is just Rioli???

If you're going off last year which you are, then *en oath the difference is Rioli. No one has more impact with as little of the ball than he does. If you put him in just another 7 games in last years season, hawks easily win another couple at least to play finals.


You're seriously asking if Rioli is a difference?




close big footy down.

 

[tony__montana]

Im tipping them to be the big sliders over the next few years

 

[Engimal v3]

No way, they're really bad and their supporters are ugly.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Mitchell had an excellent output last season but wasn't impactful enough to make any great difference.

Rioli has, and always will be, icing. It's just that he's the icing on a piece of toast now.

 

[Beerfish]

There's no reason as to why the Hawks won't excel and potentially push for the top 4. I don't think they will make top 4, but if these blokes along with Poppy who played just 15 games last season, Roughy, Gunners and Breust remain fit, the Hawks could once again prove to be a handful. Issac Smith in midfield, a few young lads rising up the last couple of years and Schoenmakers's versatility, the Hawkers look pretty handy. Rioli only played 7 games last year, and after the slow start Hawthorn were as good as many for a while. Beat the Swans twice, Adelaide in Adelaide, pushed Geelong where Smith choked again for the game winner. Drew with GWS also.

If and it's a big if, the Hawks leaders and stars remain healthy, they could do some damage to many teams and make a decent run in September.

Tom Mitchell - Champion. Don't forget how good he was last season.

The Hawks are the sleepers in 2018. Stay fit, and they'll make some noise.

What about JOM and Bruton?

 

[Snake_Baker]

What about JOM and Bruton?

....and Sicily?!

 

[Beerfish]

....and Sicily?!

He just needs to grow some eyebrows and he'll be the complete package.

 

[blue harvest]

Most of the factors you listed as things they need to finish high on the ladder actually happened in 2017 and they were still rubbish.

Roughhead, Gunston and Breust were fit in 2017. Already happened.
Isaac Smith was there in the midfield. Schoenmaker is just a role player.
Tom Mitchell had the best season of his career and I believe he didn't miss a game.

So basically the entire difference is just Rioli???

Hopefully we also have Frawley, Stratton and Birchall fit this year.
This will release Gunston back to the forward line where he belongs.

 

[aussierulesrules]

JOM is the big wildcard for them. If he plays most of the year and at a level that is anywhere near his best, and Hawthorn generally have a good injury run, they could easily be right in the thick of it again, from where I'm sitting.

 

[Dr Tigris]

Pretty much the same could be said of many teams. if their stars stay fit they'll do well.

The Hawks are negotiating the transition between the old premiership team and a new generation, with key cogs being traded in. If their older players get back to their best, and their tradees play well, and their young guys step up, then they'll probably be finals bound. But they are fairly fragile list in some ways. Still lots of talent and great coach. Wouldn't be surprised to see them top 8. Also wouldn't be surprised to see them bottom 8.

 

[RUNVS]

Remember though that Rioli was fit at the start of 2017 and it was noticable how poor his form was. A fit Rioli is no guarantees of a Rioli that is in form.

 

[Scotland]

Don't forget Ty Vick- nevermind.

 

[Benny78]

When they go down they usually go down down during their rebuilds. Some good players/coach though this time and all the top clubs these days are very s**t.

Will make top 4 or bottom 4 next year. Bookmark it.

 

[Hawk_francais]

Wouldn't be surprised to see them top 8. Also wouldn't be surprised to see them bottom 8.

So you'll only be surprised if they finish 9th or 10th?

 

[RUNVS]

Though there is one sign that Hawks might have a good 2018 and that is the back half of their 2017 season.

Rounds 1 to 11
Wins - 4
Losses - 7

Rounds 12 to 23
Wins - 6
Losses - 4
Draw - 1

So they did get better throughout the season. If the first half of the season was as good as the back half they would have made the finals.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Though there is one sign that Hawks might have a good 2018 and that is the back half of their 2017 season.

Rounds 1 to 11
Wins - 4
Losses - 7

Rounds 12 to 23
Wins - 6
Losses - 4
Draw - 1

So they did get better throughout the season. If the first half of the season was as good as the back half they would have made the finals.

If you dig a bit deeper you'll see it was really just losing those first 4 that probably cost them finals. After R4 they won 3 of their next 4 and 4 of their next 6, before losing in rounds 11 and 12, then after their R13 bye they went 6-1-3 (off a difficult part of their draw).

So from R5 onwards they were comfortably a top/best 8 team (going 10-1-7) and from R14 onwards they were probably a top/best 5/6 team (despite being without so many of their best 22 in that stretch).

 

[Sir_Loin]

There's no reason as to why the Hawks won't excel and potentially push for the top 4. I don't think they will make top 4, but if these blokes along with Poppy who played just 15 games last season, Roughy, Gunners and Breust remain fit, the Hawks could once again prove to be a handful. Issac Smith in midfield, a few young lads rising up the last couple of years and Schoenmakers's versatility, the Hawkers look pretty handy. Rioli only played 7 games last year, and after the slow start Hawthorn were as good as many for a while. Beat the Swans twice, Adelaide in Adelaide, pushed Geelong where Smith choked again for the game winner. Drew with GWS also.

If and it's a big if, the Hawks leaders and stars remain healthy, they could do some damage to many teams and make a decent run in September.

Tom Mitchell - Champion. Don't forget how good he was last season.

The Hawks are the sleepers in 2018. Stay fit, and they'll make some noise.

Not with that crab Mitchell averaging 9 meters per disposal they won’t

 

[Scotland]

So you'll only be surprised if they finish 9th or 10th?

Well I certainly don't think they are above average, but I didn't think they were below average!