Scratchie v Hawthorn

[ImperialPurple]

Agree with Gav - very well rounded summary by gauci.

If I were doing votes this week I'd give them to Duff, Bellie, Walker, Browne, Campbell with a special mention to Gilmore for his efforts as a ruckman. I'd also give special mentions to Dunn, Ibbo and the Shadow - all did some very nice things and made the most of the opportunity to show what they are capable of.

I'd also have to mention Buddy Franklin - this guy is going to be a superstar!

 

[YelloMit]

That picture of Tarrant makes me happy, and not in a gay way.

 

[Ripper]

Who drew the short straw and had to line up on Buddy?

 

[Captain Pump]

Other things I would like to add:
- Tarrant was sent out there with instructions along the lines of "wander around, have a bit of a look, remember your boys are in the white". He wasnt given a position by the coaches and it was good just to see him out there fit.

- Headland did some good things, but by jeez he did some average ones too. One mark in the centre of the ground, he just dropped his head and spilled it as if worried about contact, shocker. But started to fire up a bit after that.

- Smells like Team Spirit, good to see all the boys back up Dunn after Crawford smacked him around.

- Really, really liked Ibbo (or Gibbo, couldnt work out what they were calling him). As Rgauci said, looks like a find in a poor draft.

- Walker was everywhere and is doing what S Mac did last preseason in having one last roll of the dice to get in team. Deserves a crack.

- As does Browne. A lot to like especially his running goal. Hopefully that will give him the confidence he needs to have shots.

- Copping reminds me a lot of Scott Thornton. Good pace, and seems to have that "footy brain" that I keep hearing about.

- Agree with Rgauci on Dunn being a good shutdown player. All is not lost for him.

- Mundy looked out of sorts, got caught a few times and did some ordinary chip kicking. Those kind where they kick it so loopy to a guy on his own it gives the opposition time to cover 20m and spoil.

- Mourish wears his puppy fat well, and used it well too. Strong mark, strong body work. His fitness looks to be a fair way off though, but that is expected from a rook. Might crack a couple of games early this year if we are struggling without Jeff.

- I really want to think that the handball gameplan was in because we were missing so many stars. it was horrible to watch both teams manage 10 handballs each, and more than a few turnovers in one passage of play at the end of the first half. The siren mercifully ended this debacle.

Honorable mentions to the Hawks supporter near me who spilled his beer all over the footy and then stacked it over his seat when trying to return the ball to the boundary umpire. Still better disposal than a few boys out on the field.

And to Chance Bateman for one of the dirtiest sprays at an umpire I have had the pleasure of hearing in a while.

 

[dominguez]

Our players were ribbing Crawford all game, it's good that we can put a big name player off his game with constant niggle. Carr and Crowley were winding him up all night, and Tarrant made a bee line for him when he was inside our 50 so it might have been a directive from the coaches to give him a hard time.

Gilmore was surprisingly good, I've never seen anyone run to the bench as fast as he did last night, obviously trying to impress. Johnson rucked when Happy was off the ground, positive signs from Jonno after a couple of poor games. If they are keen to play him up the ground I think that is the role for him. If Longmuir or Sandilands get injured I'd like to see him as the second ruckman, he can really hurt the opposition around the ground.

Kiwi Campbell has a real physical presence that could be a positive addition to our forward line. Pavlich, Tarrant and Murphy are more the athletic types where as Campbell leads straight and creates space. Murphy will play ahead of him round one but will need to start well after 3 poor preseason games.

Tarrant was double and triple teamed all night, will look much better with Pav in the same team. The hawks really dropped back. Not that they were flooding, but as soon as the ball was turned over they would push back really hard to clog up CHF.

Haddrill looked rusty but good to see him get a run. Will hopefully play again next week, I think he has to play round one to cover for Johnson.

Our backline was often beaten in the air which is a concern considering the calibre of their forwards. Mundy, Parker, McPharlin, Grover and Hayden have all been below par, hopefully they lift when the real stuff starts or we could be in trouble.

Headland was captain which was surprising.

Webster played on Franklin which was another surprise. Frankling took plenty of marks but most were up on the wings.

Round one team-
Hayden McPharlin Parker
Mundy Dodd Walker
Browne Crowley Peake
Hasleby Pavlich Solomon
Longmuir Tarrant Headland

Ruck- Sandilands J Carr Bell
Int- M Carr Grover Murphy Haddrill
Em- Duffield Cook Campbell Drum

The four players named on the bench need to start the season well or they will lose their spots, as does Parker.

 

[docker_johnno]

Round one team-
Hayden McPharlin Parker
Mundy Dodd Walker
Browne Crowley Peake
Hasleby Pavlich Solomon
Longmuir Tarrant Headland

Ruck- Sandilands J Carr Bell
Int- M Carr Grover Murphy Haddrill
Em- Duffield Cook Campbell Drum

The four players named on the bench need to start the season well or they will lose their spots, as does Parker.

i think that is exactly the team i would pick.

I would perhaps have another midfielder (McManus) on the bench replacing a tall. We need more midfield run. McManus got better and better last night and he was becoming influentual around the stop plays.

Dodd is a shoe in for CHB this year. If his opponent moves closer to goal then Haddrill/McPharlin should play on him.

 

[dominguez]

i think that is exactly the team i would pick.

I would perhaps have another midfielder (McManus) on the bench replacing a tall. We need more midfield run. McManus got better and better last night and he was becoming influentual around the stop plays.

Dodd is a shoe in for CHB this year. If his opponent moves closer to goal then Haddrill/McPharlin should play on him.

Great minds think alike.

I've got Haddrill in there because McPhaarlin, Parker, Mundy and Grover have been struggling so far. If they return to their best and Dodd holds down CHB then Haddrill might struggle to get a game.

I'd play Duffield and/or Cook ahead of McManus. Not that I don't rate Macca but I think that Duffield is full of class and Cook brings that tougher edge. McManus and Cook seem to have improved their kicking over the summer, hopefully they can pass on some tips to Matt Carr.

 

[theGav56]

Good to see Headland is not in the firing line for now! He has a had a couple of good lead up matches, and if he gets it together consistently we will be a much better team.

I would prefer Grover at CHB to Dodd. I know he has not had great pre-season form, but I am not that concerned. I just feel he is stronger and has a bit more experience there than Dodd. I would much prefer MJ to be developed for that position as I think we are undersized and he has the height and pace required.

Of the players who would norrmally be selected in our best 22, I am very impressed with how our depth seems to be covering them (on paper that is);

Schammer; I really can't see that we are going to lose anything with Browne in for him.

Black; If he is not ready for round one then he is a big loss, as he is one of our most damaging sweeping players from the backline. Also, with our new fangled forward set up long accurate delivery will be a key. Not really a player coming in to substitue for him so much as a strategy for all the back/midfield players to play long and direct, honouring leads.

MJ; We have tall strength down back and enough of a mix of types to cover him, although he does have that little extra height which would be handy. If the coaches are prepared to play MacPharlin at CHB depending on matchups, we can get by without him. Haddril fit and ready would be a huge asset.

Farmer; Still shake my head at his actions; unbelievable for a pre-season game to take a risk like that. We have marking strength up forward, and will miss one of the best crumbers in the game, as well as his defensive skill/pace. The reality is that any future infringement will mean very long suspensions, he is already missing a quarter of this season, so it may be best that we plan on him not being there. Fortunately we have a number of players who can contribute, and with Hasleby and Bell rotating through there we may be okay. Longterm we have some talent for the position in Collard. Fast track him for 2008.

 

[dominguez]

Good to see Headland is not in the firing line for now! He has a had a couple of good lead up matches, and if he gets it together consistently we will be a much better team.

I would prefer Grover at CHB to Dodd. I know he has not had great pre-season form, but I am not that concerned. I just feel he is stronger and has a bit more experience there than Dodd. I would much prefer MJ to be developed for that position as I think we are undersized and he has the height and pace required.

Of the players who would norrmally be selected in our best 22, I am very impressed with how our depth seems to be covering them (on paper that is);

Schammer; I really can't see that we are going to lose anything with Browne in for him.

Black; If he is not ready for round one then he is a big loss, as he is one of our most damaging sweeping players from the backline. Also, with our new fangled forward set up long accurate delivery will be a key. Not really a player coming in to substitue for him so much as a strategy for all the back/midfield players to play long and direct, honouring leads.

MJ; We have tall strength down back and enough of a mix of types to cover him, although he does have that little extra height which would be handy. If the coaches are prepared to play MacPharlin at CHB depending on matchups, we can get by without him. Haddril fit and ready would be a huge asset.

Farmer; Still shake my head at his actions; unbelievable for a pre-season game to take a risk like that. We have marking strength up forward, and will miss one of the best crumbers in the game, as well as his defensive skill/pace. The reality is that any future infringement will mean very long suspensions, he is already missing a quarter of this season, so it may be best that we plan on him not being there. Fortunately we have a number of players who can contribute, and with Hasleby and Bell rotating through there we may be okay. Longterm we have some talent for the position in Collard. Fast track him for 2008.

Des has been his usual self so far in the preseason. Great in the first game, terrible last week and okay last night. I'd say they made him captain last night to hopefully get the message through that he is a senior player and needs to find consistency.

It will probably be horses for courses at CHB. Dodd should be suited to the mobile CHF, but will obviously struggle with the strong, wrestling types. Agree with you that Johnson should be our CHB when he's in the side.

On the evidence of the last month Browne is better than Schammer.

If we can get off to a good start to the season and bring in Black round 3, Johnson round 5 and Farmer round 7 it will give the players an added boost knowing that we are able to strengthen our line up.

 

[inferno66]

Our backline was often beaten in the air which is a concern considering the calibre of their forwards. Mundy, Parker, McPharlin, Grover and Hayden have all been below par, hopefully they lift when the real stuff starts or we could be in trouble.

Mundy, Parker, McPharlin , Grover and Hayden are quality players and are bound to bounce back in the regular season

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Yep - they're bringing out the big guns. Ha - the Hawks'll be Copping it till they cry!! Hilarious....

I was pleasantly surprised by the Croissant. (http://www.cafedumonde.com/beignet.html)

He's quite a big boy, attacked the ball, and had a couple of good runs. Pastiest looking guy ever to play a pre-season game. Has he only trained indoors?

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Des has been his usual self so far in the preseason. Great in the first game, terrible last week and okay last night. I'd say they made him captain last night to hopefully get the message through that he is a senior player and needs to find consistency.

Very harsh. I thought he was our stad out tonight. He was very damaging. He mightn't have racked up the same possessions as Walker but is way more damaging.

On the evidence of the last month Browne is better than Schammer.

Welcome to the bandwagon, Dom. At the moments it just you and me. But there will be more. Did anyone see that Browne smother on the southern side in the 2nd quarter. You can see why I love him.

Comments about Mourish are on the mark. Very talented. Looks quite pwoerful already. But nowhere near AFL fit. My friend was laughing at his jiggly bottom. Not that there is anything wrong with a jiggly bottom. They're just unusual on AFL players.

Tarrant has talent. His effort in holding off two keys defenders and dropping the ball at Browne's feet shows he's footy smart. Leads long, leads hard. It'll be interesting to see him work with a key forward who has an IQ over 80. And he's not left to carry the whole forward line like he has been.

Ibbotson is bloody quick. Reminds me a bit of Scotty-Too-Hotty.

Backline was rusty as you could expect with both Parker and Hadrill playing their first games. And Hadrill has been out a long while. I reckon we missed Hayden a lot.

And IP is right. Buddy Franklin will be an absolute superstar. He is a freak. He'll be as big a name as Judd, and J Brown. At one point Franklin was streaming down the northern wing, being chased by Peake who couldn't gain any ground on him. And he's 195cm. Give him another 2 years, and he could Brownlow material.

 

[kp junior]

I'm also on the Brownewagon since the intraclub. Looks to have fixed any disposal issues he had previously, and is a gut runner, Booze bus Benny - style. Schammer will have to take someone else's spot, and I think he could struggle this year without injuries opening up a spot.

 

[ImperialPurple]

I'm on the Brownie-wagon also. I have also always been a Jimmy Walker fan, but (*hangs head in shame*)... thought it was passed him and that his efforts in the pre-season would be unsustainable and that he wouldn't be a "best 22" player in the reg season. I have now changed my mind, however, and find myself very much aboard the Grandson-wagon also.

 

[dominguez]

And IP is right. Buddy Franklin will be an absolute superstar. He is a freak. He'll be as big a name as Judd, and J Brown. At one point Franklin was streaming down the northern wing, being chased by Peake who couldn't gain any ground on him. And he's 195cm. Give him another 2 years, and he could Brownlow material.

Buddy will probably miss the first few games of the season, it looked like he threw a couple of punches in the melee.

If the tribunal are in the same mood as last week Crawford is in big trouble. The incident with Dunn looks bad and the reaction of Bell after being whacked should see him get atleast a couple for that one.

 

[docker_johnno]

haha i want to join the brown wagon

the only problem for me is 'the brown wagon' sounds a lot like 'the gravy train'

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

And IP is right. Buddy Franklin will be an absolute superstar. He is a freak. He'll be as big a name as Judd, and J Brown. At one point Franklin was streaming down the northern wing, being chased by Peake who couldn't gain any ground on him. And he's 195cm. Give him another 2 years, and he could Brownlow material.

Could you, the good Doctor, or Imperial tell me what was so impressive about Buddy's game? I've not seen any footage and only read reports as such.
One other Hawk said he had a bad game, but I read that he was in our best.
And I see he never slotted a goal so I thought I'd ask you guys as you're probably a little bit more objective than us Hawks when it comes to buddy.
Which reminds me, Doc, don't pump him up too much the Richmond and Tambling supporters don't like it.

 

[dominguez]

Buddy lead hard and took plenty of marks. Moves like a midfielder, just like our CHF does.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Buddy was everywhere - he lead well, ran hard, took a fair few marks and continually presented.

He has a huge engine and good skills. Put a small on him and he'll beat them in the air every time, put a tall on him and he'll run them all over the park. But it's not like I'm telling you something you don't know.


Tambling over Franklin is akin to Fiora over Pavlich or Ball over Judd.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Nothing will ever beat the Fiora/Pavlich blunder. Nothing.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

p.s. Thanks for the comments boys, good to know he is impressing others.

 

[ImperialPurple]

Nothing will ever beat the Fiora/Pavlich blunder. Nothing.

True that. I must apologise to Luke Ball for suggesting him also. Doesn't even come close....

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

At least St Kilda and Hawthorn got great players respectively.
Richmond got a runt wingman who would struggle to get a kick in a street fight.

p.s. I still don't trust Judds shoulders either.

 

[Dr Ralph Dagg]

Could you, the good Doctor, or Imperial tell me what was so impressive about Buddy's game? I've not seen any footage and only read reports as such.

Yeah, No, Yeah ... I don't know that his game was that impressive but HE certainly was. He's bloody big, bloody quick and bloody good with his hands. He's like a turbocharged Adam Goodes.

Look he's still probably two seasons off his best but even in that time I'll reckon he'll take some teams apart. Consistency will be his issue. If the Hawks can get their defence settled, you'd think 2009 would be a very good year. (I'm not sure Jacobs and Croad are the guys to get the job done against the top sides.) They'll have a bunch of players around 80-100 games, and then be in a position to do what Freo has started doing. Winning a lot.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Cheers Doc,
I think Buddy will be helped by the fact that AC has already decided that Thorp will be our CHF once able. This will free Franklin up to play on the wing or forward flank where he can use his pace and play reading.
Our backline gets talked about alot, but CHF is our main definciency right now. We've had to move Croad back to cover the oppositions forwards and robbed oursleves of an experienced key forward, however, in saying that, Croad will or would never be Top CHF in the league. His better position is CHB.
Gilham, Dawson(gets a very bad wrap), Jacobs and Croad are capable, plus it seems that AC wants to try young Dowler down back also who could be an ace in the pack, so we do have defending options, especially with Brown, Guerra, Birchall, Sewell, Tuck and Smith on the peripheries.

Whatever you read on BF, don't worry, the majority of Hawk supporters know where we are at, we realise we might yet take another backward step before we go forward, but at least we now have the cattle to push forward with......and at this point, it's just all about development.


I hope Freo stick it to everyone this year. I love watching Pav play. And I really hope Dunn gets a good run(former hometown boy).
Freo in 2007? I hope so, but at least keep beating that team of addicts and criminals for a while yet.