Patience is a virtue. Hawks fans need plenty of it ...

Gary Shadforth

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Season 2006 is just around the corner. Something sticking in my mind is what our club CEO, Ian Robson, wrote in the club’s 103rd Annual Report last December -



Over the years, starting with our first premiership in 1961, as a schoolboy free membership holder, I proudly witnessed the Hawks having eras of being an absolute power possessing all the ingredients of skill, toughness and pride. So much so, I was at a stage in my life when I thought the Hawks had given me so much joy it was enough to see me through my lifetime. But it hasn’t turned out that way.

After the 1991 premiership the winds of change zyphered through Glenferrie Oval which heralded our club’s turn at being mediocre. But our involvement in the AFL’s planned perennial rotation system: that is, for all clubs to share the good and the bad, has been for us far too long. The winds of change must waft back from the opposite direction, albeit via our new environment out at Waverley.

Heed what Ian has said and through your patience observe the expected U-turn in 2006, slow and gradual as we will surely find it.

Consider we had every chance of winning 3 -4 losing games last year, and if we could have added them to our five victories, it behooves a belief that with the added experience gained by our eight 2005 debutees, blended with a good number of hard at it senior players, our team should have the ability to win 10 to 12 games this season.

Depending on our strike-power, such a tally could see us arrive in the final eight. I just hope that we do better than my forecast of ending up in 12th possie Anything lower and we will be off-track, imo.
 

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Adelaide Hawk

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#2
I'm not too fussed about where we finish on the ladder in 2006, but we MUST become a competitive team each week on the field. There is no place in our development for thrashings like we experienced at Football Park last season.
 

cosby

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#3
Adelaide Hawk said:
I'm not too fussed about where we finish on the ladder in 2006, but we MUST become a competitive team each week on the field. There is no place in our development for thrashings like we experienced at Football Park last season.
exactly, AH.
whether we win 5 or 10 games is no matter to me, as long as i can see improvement in our young guys and we are competitive i'll be happy.
don't get me wrong i wanna win as many games as possible but the reality is, and we all know this, we are an extremely inexperienced team.
i can't wait for the season nonetheless.
 

Roughie

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#4
I know we wont make the finals this year, I just want hawthorn to beat the teams we should beat I dont want us to drop the games we should win and I would love to see a couple upsets like last year (brisbane) but im not expecting 11 wins from us, I will be paying more attention to the individual improvements of the young fellas
 

Hawkk

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#7
Gary Shadforth said:
Season 2006 is just around the corner. Something sticking in my mind is what our club CEO, Ian Robson, wrote in the club’s 103rd Annual Report last December -



Over the years, starting with our first premiership in 1961, as a schoolboy free membership holder, I proudly witnessed the Hawks having eras of being an absolute power possessing all the ingredients of skill, toughness and pride. So much so, I was at a stage in my life when I thought the Hawks had given me so much joy it was enough to see me through my lifetime. But it hasn’t turned out that way.

After the 1991 premiership the winds of change zyphered through Glenferrie Oval which heralded our club’s turn at being mediocre. But our involvement in the AFL’s planned perennial rotation system: that is, for all clubs to share the good and the bad, has been for us far too long. The winds of change must waft back from the opposite direction, albeit via our new environment out at Waverley.

Heed what Ian has said and through your patience observe the expected U-turn in 2006, slow and gradual as we will surely find it.

Consider we had every chance of winning 3 -4 losing games last year, and if we could have added them to our five victories, it behooves a belief that with the added experience gained by our eight 2005 debutees, blended with a good number of hard at it senior players, our team should have the ability to win 10 to 12 games this season.

Depending on our strike-power, such a tally could see us arrive in the final eight. I just hope that we do better than my forecast of ending up in 12th possie Anything lower and we will be off-track, imo.
Come on Gary you must be tempted by next year's SUPER DRAFT!
 

tige19

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#9
If things dont turn around soon our club could become the next fitzroy. Heres hoping we have the men in charge to steer the ship in the right direction, because we have very chance in the world to become a power.
 

carntheroos4eva

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#10
Gary Shadforth said:
Your nine years jaqui9, precious and so valuable to the HFC.
Good to see that you are faithful to the hawks.

I got my 3rd year membership yesterday in the mail. But I have been a member for a lot longer than 3 years. Just when the scarves came in they always take the new members for each year not thinking that they have been there a lot longer.
 

Gary Shadforth

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Hawkk said:
Very impressive indeed, remarkable really 40 years in a ROW.

Don't you get life membership if you crack the 50?
Maybe Hawkk, I expect a letter from the Queen ;). But if I do it will be marked 'return to sender' .... why? Have a sqizz at my public profile - that will give you a clue.

Cheers, Gary.
 

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Hawkk

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#12
Gary Shadforth said:
Maybe Hawkk, I expect a letter from the Queen ;). But if I do it will be marked 'return to sender' .... why? Have a sqizz at my public profile - that will give you a clue.

Cheers, Gary.
Ahh, so we have a republican on our hands ;)
 
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#13
Hawkk said:
Come on Gary you must be tempted by next year's SUPER DRAFT!
whats the difference between pick 4 or 7 this yr. Not as great as the value of climbing the ladder and impacting the entire playing group in a more positive way. Win win win games!

Unless the priority picks are brought back of course :)
 

saaam

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#15
Super post Gary, I bow to your 40 years. One day I will get there too.
As for our U Turn, I suspect we're already turning the ship I'm awaiting 2006 with a very optimistic outlook. I'm not expecting a set number of wins, however I am expecting we'll set up our structure closer to what Clarkson ultimately wants and expect us to perform better as a result.
2006 will give us a clue as to how quickly this list can climb the ladder, not necessarily how far they can climb.
 

Gary Shadforth

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Gary Shadforth said:
Depending on our strike-power, such a tally could see us arrive in the final eight.
This is a crucial point, our strike power must improve dramatically. Hopefully we will find within the present playing group a chesty strong chf who will settle into the position, take big strong grabs, intimidate opposition and can accurately snap for goal as well as setting them up - hard to find I know. AA Croady's probably the man but no longer should he be called on to fill gaps in defence caused by injuries or players out of form ... so we need two high caliber players who can respectively hone-in and settle into chf and chb as specialists, a-la Dermie and Mewie.

To improve our team's striking power there will be a need for on-ballers and mid-fielders to sharpen their skills in either kicking goals or deftly stab passing onto Willo's chest or other forwards on the lead.

If our team in 2006 is to be again one which negatively chips the ball around in defence, displaying no confidence in our forwards, there will be hell to play from supporters who are expecting far better allround performances this year.
 
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