Autopsy Round 16, 2025: Hawk skin the Roos

[Slainte]

Sheezel was quiet. Is he carrying a niggle, out of form or did we have someone sitting on him?

 

[grumbleguts]

Imagine seeing the team lists on Thursday and seeing your name is up against Conor Nash

11

Conor Nash

Age

27

Ht

198cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

3.9

2star

HB

4.8

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.1

5star

CL

0.3

2star

No current season stats available

D

8.4

3star

K

4.2

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

0.2

2star

. None of his opponents got any ball while they were lined up on him.

 

[Come back Cyril]

Interestingly I heard the other evergreen forward Jamie Elliot interviewed on the radio and he said it was only once he got a custom made bed that his back issues gor better.

Maybe Gunners got one of these beds made in the offseason??

I've been managing back injuries for about 15 years post playing a lot of sport in my 20s. Only recently figured out what worked for me (a combination of swimming/strength training/yoga). I feel like it's a very individual thing what works. Hopefully Gunners has cracked his own code, not just for our football future but for his own future health too.

 

[The hands of stone]

Special mention to the Norf floggo that ran with this theory in 2023 and again in early 2024 that Hawthorn were yet to bottom out, and even made a diagram to explain.

I see in the post match that’s he’s already declared that they can beat the Dogs. Talk about being absolutely deluded.

View attachment 2354936

Ah that's what David King is looking at on that laptop of his

 

[moginie]

Given it a night so now I can start being negative - I really don't understand the hype about some North players.

Larkey is the main one. I'll preface this by saying he obviously kicks a lot of goals, which is the hardest thing to do as a key forward, but it's just the way he does it in contrast to other forwards. It's always free kicks, or out the back, or luck. He's a poor contested mark, there's very few exceptional goals from general play.

North have so many players that look like they've done well when you review the stats at the end of the night, but they'll still have lost the game by 10 goals. Xerri, McKercher, Larkey, Daniel, LDU. They all look like they're doing a lot but they just do it in a lower quality way to players from better sides.

The one who people have missed is Stevens. An absolute liability with the ball in his hands and responsible for so many turnovers.

He was a gift to us on so many occasions yesterday.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Sheezel was quiet. Is he carrying a niggle, out of form or did we have someone sitting on him?

Clarkson is doing what clarkson does best, forcing a player to play a role they aren't accustomed to, a d refusing to move him from that role

 

[TassieGrown]

Just watching replay & being at the game I did not fully appreciate how good Moores mark was in the 2nd qtr in between Logie & McDonald then bounces up and gives Ramma his 2nd. That play really summed up the night, we were on for all night. We are building nicely.

Chol run down and goal was elite.

CJ I thought had a great game the only blemish was the blind handball that resulted in a goal. Adds X factor

Nash nearly his best game for us, bullied them all game.

Gunston 7 so pleasing to see. Maybes gets a rest against Freo to reduce travel on the body, might be the game Dear or Lewis come in.

Disappointing turn out from Kangas supporters reduced crowd figure.

Amon was outstanding all night, just keeps finding the pill. What I like is he is looking forward all the time and never wastes it. A grader

 

[Yardie]

Firstly - forgot completely about Mitchell. CJ stays over him.

I don’t see why we couldn't drop a wingman to include much better players in Scrimshaw and Sicily. The wingmen aren't central to our ball movement, and aren't high possession winners as evidenced by Morrison's 12 touches in three of his last four games. I appreciate he plays a team-role and is smart with his positioning, he's an intelligent player in that regard.

But IMO we can rotate multiple players through the "other" wing position, and we have plenty of options for that very role. Ward, CJ and Weddle work hard defensively and all three have incredible tanks. Mackenzie spent time starting on the wing this week. I believe MacDonald could do it too, though maybe the defensive positioning could be an issue.

Agree on CJ over Mitchell. Disagree on losing structure to fit in players. Sicily is a no brainer swap for me. Scrimshaw has to displace Battle/Barrass.

We will have the same problem up forward. Lewis ultimately in for Ramsden. Dear fighting with Gunston for that position.

And again in the midfield with Day/Worpel to come back.

It's a good problem to have but structure has to take precedence over players.

 

[Yardie]

Clarkson is doing what clarkson does best, forcing a player to play a role they aren't accustomed to, a d refusing to move him from that role

His one weakness is stubborness. We nearly lost Nash because of it and I think Daniel Howe's confidence was shot because of it.

 

[TassieGrown]

The one who people have missed is Stevens. An absolute liability with the ball in his hands and responsible for so many turnovers.

He was a gift to us on so many occasions yesterday.

Steven’s was one of our better players, absolutely a butcher of the ball.

 

[RCAB]

Today wasn't the first time.

"Do Hawthorn really want Gunston to be their leading goal-scorer?" Has been a constant commentary this year, and the correct answer is: "If someone is kicking a lot of goals, then yes, we want it."

David King has been saying this for quite a while now, he's scraping the bottom of the barrel to find anything negative to say about us. Wasn't the first time he's mentioned that it's concerning that Hawthorn are relying on a 35 year old (yes he got Jack's age wrong before).

Meanwhile he never stops complementing Chris Scott and the cats, and Dangerfield who actually is 35 years old; No issue there.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

The one who people have missed is Stevens. An absolute liability with the ball in his hands and responsible for so many turnovers.

He was a gift to us on so many occasions yesterday.

And he is on a shit load of money too.

 

[SSSSSS]

Sheezel was quiet. Is he carrying a niggle, out of form or did we have someone sitting on him?

Been a shell of his former self all year.

I think Clarkson has been playing him as a half forward and he would have just been in starvation corner for most of the game.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Just watching replay & being at the game I did not fully appreciate how good Moores mark was in the 2nd qtr in between Logie & McDonald then bounces up and gives Ramma his 2nd. That play really summed up the night, we were on for all night. We are building nicely.

Chol run down and goal was elite.

CJ I thought had a great game the only blemish was the blind handball that resulted in a goal. Adds X factor

Nash nearly his best game for us, bullied them all game.

Gunston 7 so pleasing to see. Maybes gets a rest against Freo to reduce travel on the body, might be the game Dear or Lewis come in.

Disappointing turn out from Kangas supporters reduced crowd figure.

Amon was outstanding all night, just keeps finding the pill. What I like is he is looking forward all the time and never wastes it. A grader

Given where players were positioned and how instinctive/instant the give was, I'm 99% sure Curtis called for that one.

 

[moginie]

And he is on a shit load of money too.

It's a #lolNorf moment for the ages.

 

[HedgeFund]

Agree on CJ over Mitchell. Disagree on losing structure to fit in players. Sicily is a no brainer swap for me. Scrimshaw has to displace Battle/Barrass.

Neither Battle nor Barrass are getting omitted from this side.

They’re our first choice two key defenders.

 

[bigmaxi]

Been a shell of his former self all year.

I think Clarkson has been playing him as a half forward and he would have just been in starvation corner for most of the game.

Noticed the same, really feel for the lad. Cracker footballer in a weird hotch potch team and badly managed IMHO. High footy IQ and endeavour is exceptional such a shame stuck in Mordor!

 

[Rowie6]

I loved Ramma's game, kept trying and if he'd clunked a few more and kicked a little straighter could have ended with 10 marks and 5 goals. Developing nicely, if he can be the Hale second coming i can see a future with a four tall set up with Lewis, Dear, Chol and Ramma (doing the ruck work) in the future. His relief and excitement when he finally nailed one was a joy to watch.

I would be surprised if they go with 4 tall forwards!

 

[Rowie6]

And people were calling for his head over a few missed shots after his 6th and 7th games...

Why change a winning formula.
Quicker out of the back half and through the middle and more potent in the front half.
No one should be dropped this week unless there are injuries.

 

[reubski23]

Not sure they're getting back into this side

Not sure they’re ALL getting back into this side

Day, Sicily and probably Lewis all locks when fully fit. Day and Sicily no questio.

Worpel is a hack it mid - he has never had that extra step - him not getting back in means Mackenzie and Ward and maybe Butler are hitting their potential. People will come at me for saying that but Worpel is a good mid at his best.

The thought of Lewis in the team with Chol as second forward and Gunston as third forward is huge especially with Watson and Ginnivan at their feet. And if Lewis doesn’t get the best defender than even better for him warm post injury.

day and Sicily don’t need any words they walk into any side in the AFL when fit.

Dear will be great but Gunston’s form will keep him out this year, especially if Lewis gets fit - which is not the worst thing, he has long career ahead.

Scrimshaw can’t believe it but you can’t have Barras, Sicily, Scrimshaw and Battle in the same team. I love scrimshaw massively and it feels yuck saying that - I think he has better potential than Battle but for some reason we got both Battle and Barras last year I can’t see them not playing Battle

 

[reubski23]

Agree on CJ over Mitchell. Disagree on losing structure to fit in players. Sicily is a no brainer swap for me. Scrimshaw has to displace Battle/Barrass.

We will have the same problem up forward. Lewis ultimately in for Ramsden. Dear fighting with Gunston for that position.

And again in the midfield with Day/Worpel to come back.

It's a good problem to have but structure has to take precedence over players.

There is no chance Scrimshaw displaces Battle or Barras this year. Sicily is a walk in start and they find a way to have Barras, Battle, Sicily and CJ on the field as the best option. I love scrimshaw have since his days at Carey so pumped when we got him for not much from GCS - I think his potential better than Battle but we made our bed with the Battle Barras trade and he is sadly going to be the one who misses unless injury.

Worpel see my post above - I watched him closely against Brisbane and Collingwood - if we can find a way to get a compensation pick for him this year we win massively - with Ward and Mackenzie hitting their potential
Over the next couple years, and I’m expecting Sammy to find us an A grade mid through trade or FA - Worpel is out. He is a dump kick specialist and that’s not what we need. If he doesn’t consistently make our best 22 this year that’s a huge sign of our teams
Progress

 

[Dipper]

I re-watched the game and something I'd forgotten amongst all the later euphoria was for our first goal from Ginni, Newcombe's delivery. I think Amon had an entry charged down and Jai picks up the loose ball and it's unfortunate that the camera zooms into him but it's a chaos situation and he just threads the needle with a perfectly weighted left foot kick to Ginnivan. If that's Amon or Mass or Sic you kind of wax lyrical and think that's what the elite kicks can do.

Because he does all the hard stuff his delivery into 50 is somewhat underrated. He's not a player that we're actively seeking to get the ball to deliver entries but you're not disappointed when it is him.

100% our most important player.

 

[MillerHawk]

There is no chance Scrimshaw displaces Battle or Barras this year. Sicily is a walk in start and they find a way to have Barras, Battle, Sicily and CJ on the field as the best option. I love scrimshaw have since his days at Carey so pumped when we got him for not much from GCS - I think his potential better than Battle but we made our bed with the Battle Barras trade and he is sadly going to be the one who misses unless injury.

Worpel see my post above - I watched him closely against Brisbane and Collingwood - if we can find a way to get a compensation pick for him this year we win massively - with Ward and Mackenzie hitting their potential
Over the next couple years, and I’m expecting Sammy to find us an A grade mid through trade or FA - Worpel is out. He is a dump kick specialist and that’s not what we need. If he doesn’t consistently make our best 22 this year that’s a huge sign of our teams
Progress

Worps is no where near the “dump kick specialist” he used to be. I’m not sure if he stays but his kicking inside 50 has improved immensely in the last 24 months.

 

[RCAB]

I re-watched the game and something I'd forgotten amongst all the later euphoria was for our first goal from Ginni, Newcombe's delivery. I think Amon had an entry charged down and Jai picks up the loose ball and it's unfortunate that the camera zooms into him but it's a chaos situation and he just threads the needle with a perfectly weighted left foot kick to Ginnivan. If that's Amon or Mass or Sic you kind of wax lyrical and think that's what the elite kicks can do.

Because he does all the hard stuff his delivery into 50 is somewhat underrated. He's not a player that we're actively seeking to get the ball to deliver entries but you're not disappointed when it is him.

100% our most important player.

You should let Mr Meow on the MB know, who keeps saying Newk is not a great kick.

 

[reubski23]

Worps is no where near the “dump kick specialist” he used to be. I’m not sure if he stays but his kicking inside 50 has improved immensely in the last 24 months.

Watch the Collingwood it was horrendous - and maybe it showed up much more because their defensive structure is elite this year but it was horrid