Opinion Our Most Important Player

[madhawksfan]

I saw a segment on AFL Insider a couple of weeks ago where they were talking about each club's Most Important Player. We have one of the most talented, if not the most talented, sides in the comp. We also have arguably the best player in the comp who we have managed to play good footy without.

So that begs the question, who is our Most Important Player? Is it Buddy? Or is someone like Gibson, Roughie, Rioli, Mitchell, Hodge or Birchall more important?

Despite the potency of our attack, our defence has, and will continue to be the key to our premiership aspirations IMO. So, for me our Most Important Player is Josh Gibson. While he is far from our best player, when he plays well our backline is so solid. Against the Cats he was poor and we looked shaky at the back and again last week when he was off his game early we didn't look good in the back half. If his ankle injury is serious our premiership chances will be severely hampered.

Who is your Most Important Hawk?

 

[Goody1971]

Sam Mitchell -so important for us actually getting hands on the ball, and everything starts from there

 

[Cynic]

Mitchell by far.

 

[RedDevils99]

Very difficult to pick one player as most important to the side.

I like the argument for Sam Mitchell, get the ball first and it all starts from there but we have a few players who can go in the middle and get first use of the ball.

I actually think it's Jarrad Roughead.
We dont have another that is as versatile, play as the main key forward, very capable in the ruck and on the ground in the midfield and even be pushed into the back line if required.

 

[BlackByrd]

Roughead.

 

[play2win]

i say roughead too.

arguably, his absence may have cost us a good shot at the flag last year?

 

[Madhawknut]

Mitchell hands down!!

 

[Brishawk]

I think there is potential for a lot of debate on this topic. I think you could mount arguments for Buddy, Rioli, Mitchell, Roughhead, Gibson and even Shoey. IT may sound funny, but I can scarcely imagine us winning a premiership if Shoey gets injured or plays badly in the finals. Likewise, Gibbo is a baromoter of our backline. He plays well and gets across to help out in the air and provide drive from the back and we nearly always look like winning. Then again, the game-breaking ability and defensive pressure of either buddy or Rioli is hard to go past. Also Roughy provides us with so much flexibility if things are not working and plays an important role upforward and in the ruck. And of course mitchell is where it all starts with his incredible hands and decision making in close.

I think what this highlights is a weakness. We have incredible talent for sure, but structurally we are not very flexible. Our best backline is ok but you take out either Gibbo or Shoey and we look a lot worse. With Roughy, if things go well he kicks goals, if they go wrong he can go back and save them. If we are struggling in the centre he plays ruck or as a midfielder. As he covers up our structural weaknesses wherever he goes I'd have to say Roughy.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

I initially thought Mitchell. Now I believe Schoenmakers is Hawthorn's most important player.

Just think about what could have happened to Hawthorn had Schoenmakers been slightly more effective against Hawkins in either of the two games Hawthorn played against the Cats earlier this year, and think also about how Hawthorn has played when Schoenmakers has played well on his opponent.

Roughead is an interesting choice, but the fact of the matter is Hawthorn was seconds away from a grand final without Roughead playing for a good chunk of 2011. People keep talking about Roughead being sent into defence to play on a key forward who has got hold of one of Schoenmakers or Gibson, but unless Clarkson is really that devious about not tipping his hand on his tactics, the fact that Roughead has not played as a key defender since 2006 kind of lends weight to the argument that he won't be playing as a key defender at any stage in the next six years (at least while Clarkson is coach). Please note - dropping back and plugging a hole in front of a key forward is not the same as playing as a key defender.

 

[QuietB]

Awesome to have enough great players to argue about it. We need all of them. Mitchell, Rough, Cyril (massively important), Gibson all vying. I used to think it was Hodge and it might still be. If he can get back to top form look out.

 

[Hodginator]

Very hard to pick a single player but I'm putting my vote in for Birchall. He's an absolute machine running off half back when he's up and about. I think I read a stat somewhere recently as well that when he has under a certain amount of possies, we lose. I'd also have Mitchell and Roughy up there as well along with 19 other blokes .

 

[Brishawk]

Very hard to pick a single player but I'm putting my vote in for Birchall. He's an absolute machine running off half back when he's up and about. I think I read a stat somewhere recently as well that when he has under a certain amount of possies, we lose. I'd also have Mitchell and Roughy up there as well along with 19 other blokes .

Yeah Birchall is a key indicator for our team. If he wins the ball a lot we win. Averages 90+ in DT in wins and about 70 in loses (as a rough indicator).

 

[Harry Yorkie]

Sam Mitchell by a fair margin. Win the contested footy and we win the game, everything else is just icing on top. Him going off in the last couple of minutes because of the blood rule cost us the Geelong game.

 

[Buddy Guy]

Either Rioli or Roughead, cant split em, oh and Mitchell and Gibson go alright as well

 

[apiro]

The more you think about it, the tougher the question becomes. In the end I gave up. Fingers crossed, they're all there when it counts.

 

[The BIG X]

No love for Sewell??
I put him on a par with Mitch!!

 

[badgrill]

A fully fit & firing Hodgey could potentially be most important coming into the finals

 

[Off The Couch]

I'm going with Roughead and Sewell.

 

[hawker39]

Mitchell is the most important followed by Roughead.

 

[hawker11]

Lance Franklin.

 

[madhawksfan]

It is definitely a difficult decision. I had Mitchell a very close second but given the form of Sewell and Lewis I don't think him dominating is as important as it has been (although it is great for us when he is getting first hands on the ball). Whereas when we don't have Gibbo third man up against the big forwards we get exposed badly and Collingwood, Adelaide, WC, Geelong and North all have forwards who can hurt us in the finals.

 

[crankybeep]

Mitch for me, because he plays a very important role and brings a lot extra to the game, I think his loss would leave the biggest hole. But birch and gibbo not far behind.

 

[Fraser_45]

people say "up and firing" If Franklin is up and going we rarely lose!

Roughead, Gibbo and Mitch are just massive!

 

[Harper_Hawk]

I would say either Birchall or Mitchell. The running hard nut v the nuggety extractor. Hard to split them. They both do the same thing. They drive it forward.

 

[amos]

Last year I was always saying it was Gibson. This season I lean towards the Big Rough. But Cyril and Mitch have rights to the crown as well. If told we were going to be without a player in a final, and asked who wouldnt you like it to be, I'd say the Big Rough.