Opinion One Eye On The Future

[Roughies Boys]

With the old news of Brian Lake & David Hale already ventured out & hints that Jonathon Ceglar & James Frawley hinted as the successors.

I know Graham Wright will be eyeing off players, but that's not what this thread is about, & this is where I pick out people's opinions of the future of our list & what we need specifically.

Be honest & be brutal if you must, for instance Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne & Gibson aren't getting younger & three of them are rotated through midfield & know how to barge through a tackle & clear the ball from congestion with Sam probably being the best at it. Jarryd Roughead & Jordan Lewis aren't that far behind them.

I see a bit of a concern with our midfield options as none really come out & say grunt. Yes Liam Shiels & Will Langford can win the ball, but they are no Brad Sewell that can win the ball & back in the day break a tackle or two or Chris Judd could be another great example.

So who do we have?
For our wings we have Brad Hill, Isaac Smith & Billy Hartung - I find it would be hard to knock them off from our wings.

Rucks - Ben McEvoy, Jonathon Ceglar, Marc Pittonet & Jack Fitzpatrick - All pretty young & developing... still unsure or where Fitz sits at Hawks.

Midfielders - Liam Shiels, Kieran Lovell, Jonathan O'Rourke, Will Langford, Daniel Howe, Blake Hardwick, Kade Stewart, Luke Breust, Alex Woodward (?). This midfield group is very versatile, as many can play different roles, but like we saw on Monday players tackling yet allowing Geelong still either break away or get the handball away... I feel we miss that player we can build our midfield around.

Forwardline: Cyril Rioli, Jack Gunston, Luke Breust, Paul Puopolo, Ryan Schoenmakers, James Sicily, Zac Webster, Dallas Willsmore, Luke Surman, Ryan Burton, Conor Glass, Tim O'Brien, Teia Miles - Our small forwards are well placed & stoked, but Key Position Forward is abit of a concern... Ryan Burton could be anything, Jack Gunston is very versatile, James Sicily & Ryan Schoenmakers future at Hawks are questionable for me. Including Dallas Willsmore with a massive question on his future at Hawthorn. Luke Surman will have to be watched to see what Hawthorn develop him into, as he has got a great set of hands. Tim O'Brien will he make it? With that saying we need another Key Forward even if he can play backline to wouldn't be bad.

Backline - James Frawley, Ben Stratton, Brendan Whitecross, Angus Litherland, Kurt Heatherley, Matt Spangher, Kaiden Brand, Taylor Duryea, Grant Birchall, Lachlan Langford (Utility), Jermaine Miller-Lewis (Development) - Small Defenders we are alright stocked, but if they will make it is another question. Key Defender stocks are alright, but like above another Swingman would be good.

What are your personal thoughts? Where do you see a concern?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I Have Concerns With The Thread Title.


But seriously, 1 game into the season is no time to judge.

Gunston, Breust, Duryea, etc....all had large periods of games where they ran around pretty clueless in their first 20 or so, and we currently have a few blokes stilling hat zone, who could quite possibly be very good players in a year or two.

 

[Roughies Boys]

I Have Concerns With The Thread Title.


But seriously, 1 game into the season is no time to judge.

Gunston, Breust, Duryea, etc....all had large periods of games where they ran around pretty clueless in their first 20 or so, and we currently have a few blokes stilling hat zone, who could quite possibly be very good players in a year or two.

I'm not judging on one game, i'm judge on how long they've been at the club... like for instance Dallas Willsmore needs to debut

 

[OzJohnnie]

I think our midfield and backfield depth is in fine shape. Plenty of players that can crack through. And plenty of opportunities this year for players in that part of the field to get game time. (I suspect Lewis will be taking someone's head off in round 4 if we lose the first three games, making room for another new player)

I think our forward line depth is too shallow, particularly the tall talent which is always hard to find and develop. We've got two open positions there (I think Schoey is a filler, not a regular) and it's less clear they can be filled well. To me, anyway. I think that's where the big recruiting focus will be in the next two seasons.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Assuming we are excluding Hodge, Mitch, Burgers and Gibbo...

Rucks - I still think we should have grabbed an experienced state league ruck as back up for Cegs and McEvoy instead of relying on Pitt and Fitzy

Clearance mids - Will depend on whether Lovell comes on. If he does, with Lewis and Langers we are ok, but at some stage we need to get a big bodied guy like Ollie Wines in there

Utility mids - probably ok with Shiels, Howe, JOR, Whitey, etc

Outside mids - with Smith, Hilly and Hartung we are currently well placed

Small forwards - fine, with Pops, Rioli, Breust, Hardwick and Webby

Medium forwards - fine with Gunners, Sicily, Burton, etc

Tall forwards - bit of a worry as we have Rough, Fitzy may be ok but I have huge doubts on Schoey and TOB

Small defenders - fine with Doc and Miles has played there

Medium defenders - fine with Stratts, Birch, Howe when he plays there although am still not sold on Litherland

Tall defenders - will all depend on whether Brand can join Frawley and if Kiwi fills out and can play as a key tall... Fitzy can always go back and play as a key defender if required

 

[TyHawk]

Watching young players from this years draft run around and make good impact over the weekend tells me that we should pump as many games as possible into Lovell and Hardwick. Especially Lovell. Inside mid with pace and natural ball winning ability may just confuse opposition teams! Dunno, just a thought.

 

[Agent Smith]

We are fast closing in on the end of an era, if we haven't actually ended it already. The climb is slow and tough, but the fall is swift and surprisingly ungraceful.

 

[Ordovician]

We need to recruit and will be targeting a talented ruckman forward to fill the Hale hole and an elite or potentially elite young mid to help with the midfield regeneration.

We also need extra defensive height to cover the new model super tall forwards. Now that Lake has gone and Spang is continually unavailable that need is pressing. Sometime this year they'll have to make an assessment of whether or not Brand can fill that role. If he can't that has serious implications for our list management as that is another huge hole to fill.

We might just have the currency available to trade to fill the first two holes but filling all three slots will probably take at least two years.

In the medium term we need a Roughy replacement as well. Unfortunately sourcing one on the open market will be too expensive so we better draft a couple and start developing them. With the exit of Shem and the modest progress of TOB who is really just a tall flanker like Schoey, this has become a pressing need as well.

How well we can meet these needs will determine how long our premiership window stays open.

 

[Agent Smith]

We might just have the currency available to trade to fill the first two holes but filling all three slots will probably take at least two years.

Unless we raid Essenscum* at the end of the year...

 

[Ordovician]

It's a dirty job but some one has to do it.

I suppose its a bit like the Salvos of old trawling the streets to drag junkie scum and alchos out of the gutter, dusting them off and trying set set them straight.

 

[Blaze Storm]

Personally, I won't be surprised if we transition Duryea through the mid in the next few years to cover that grunt aspect, and then bring in Howe/Miles that way to cover the backline. Same with Poppy from the forward line with Hardwick to cover the small forward role. I don't think it's going to be a matter of "we lost a mid, we need another mid" and going to be more like "Train them at each end, then bring the mature bodies into the middle when needed"

 

[Pessimistic]

Theres enough a grade in younger demographics, but having 16? Players win three flags has limited the prospects for under 24s obviously

If the club tops up like in 2010, it wont take too long, and is very possible

Another three in a row might be beyond. Cant be too greedy

 

[SSSSSS]

I think we have a quality core of 23-26 year old players who might be around for the next era.

The young kids coming in though I'm a bit worried. I see a lot of potentially decent players but nothing that screams A-grade I'm going to make a difference in the outcome of the game type players.

Burton, Lovell and Hardwick the unknown entities. Hopefully one of these atleast can be that next A-grader.

 

[Hawk Dork]

We need to start seeing players other than the 30 year olds to start being in the best every week.

 

[Gralin]

We need to start seeing players other than the 30 year olds to start being in the best every week.

If thats because those players have elevated their games great, if its because the others have dropped off we will be in trouble

 

[PhatHQ]

I think that the Hawks are batting pretty deep across the board. There are a few guys that,as mentioned before, need to start getting a few games to show some senior value in the ground & not just seen as back ups or depth ( hard given the strength of the team but still a priority).
I see an immediate need as-
* players names are for effect

* O'mera - AA mid to lead the charge but be complimentary to the current list.

* Hooker - we flat out need another tall defender! We have depth & potential but to get another tall to pair with Chip is essential for a win now mentality

* Hogan - a tall that can mark the football consistently in contested marking is something that I feel we have lacked for a long time. Yes we have Roughy ( who does hold FF perfectly well but is wasted as a stay at home Gorilla ) & we had Buddy who still doesn't mark above his head. With Hogan in the side it gives our smalls a better chance to effectively crumb rather than trying to read a defensive spoil at every high ball.

I don't see the need for a pure fwd/ruck as the two we have starting will only get better at their fwd craft & both are pretty servicabale.

I think that if two of the 3 positions can be filled at the end of the season then we will be in pretty good shape leading into the draft to focus on another elite tall option as a priority

 

[jimsim]

One of O'meara, Hooker and Hogan would be nice. I cant wait to see Howe and O'rourke make a good impact.

 

[Blaze Storm]

I think that the Hawks are batting pretty deep across the board. There are a few guys that,as mentioned before, need to start getting a few games to show some senior value in the ground & not just seen as back ups or depth ( hard given the strength of the team but still a priority).
I see an immediate need as-
* players names are for effect

* O'mera - AA mid to lead the charge but be complimentary to the current list.

* Hooker - we flat out need another tall defender! We have depth & potential but to get another tall to pair with Chip is essential for a win now mentality

* Hogan - a tall that can mark the football consistently in contested marking is something that I feel we have lacked for a long time. Yes we have Roughy ( who does hold FF perfectly well but is wasted as a stay at home Gorilla ) & we had Buddy who still doesn't mark above his head. With Hogan in the side it gives our smalls a better chance to effectively crumb rather than trying to read a defensive spoil at every high ball.

I don't see the need for a pure fwd/ruck as the two we have starting will only get better at their fwd craft & both are pretty servicabale.

I think that if two of the 3 positions can be filled at the end of the season then we will be in pretty good shape leading into the draft to focus on another elite tall option as a priority

I somehow doubt that we will secure 3 marquis AA grade players in the off-season.

 

[Boo71]

We need to start seeing players other than the 30 year olds to start being in the best every week.

That was one of the positives from last week, seeing Hartung and Langford step it up when everybody else was struggling.

 

[PhatHQ]

I somehow doubt that we will secure 3 marquis AA grade players in the off-season.

I have no doubt that we won't. The names were for effect. The position requirements are what I was getting at. I would be happy with 1 of those 3

 

[Lithium]

Anyone got any info on Langford number 3?

From what i heard he's meant to be quite similar to Will but a better kick.
A fair few were talking about him last year but i haven't heard anything recently.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

One of O'meara, Hooker and Hogan would be nice. I cant wait to see Howe and O'rourke make a good impact.

Hogan will go Perth if he leaves I would have thought. There's whispers he's even bought a place in Perth.

Hooker or Hurley are up for grabs though although i am worried about O'Meara's knees....

 

[threesixpio]

That was one of the positives from last week, seeing Hartung and Langford step it up when everybody else was struggling.

Spot on. I left the game relatively happy because of this fact

 

[threesixpio]

Personally, I won't be surprised if we transition Duryea through the mid in the next few years to cover that grunt aspect, and then bring in Howe/Miles that way to cover the backline. Same with Poppy from the forward line with Hardwick to cover the small forward role. I don't think it's going to be a matter of "we lost a mid, we need another mid" and going to be more like "Train them at each end, then bring the mature bodies into the middle when needed"

Whether its Duryea or someone else you're right about us wanting versatility.

That said as versatile as Mitchell is he is principally a mid and when
he goes .....Well I'm not looking forward to it

 

[Pessimistic]

Reports we are chasing cale hooker.

Hard to believe at his age hes not in the top 25% paid at essendon

Add hooker 27 to rough 28 gunston 25 shoe 25 frawley 25 and it a not so old team at hawthorn


It also makes croad and hay our last home grown regular key defenders. How do we do it ?