Tom Hawkins

[gocats88]

I think these pre season matches would be a good learning curve for this kid. he kicked 8 goals in 4 matches which is a pretty good return for a second year forward. his going to take the best defender week in week out which is good for a few reasons, It makes him gain more exprerience on the bests fullbacks in the country and also's frees up Mooney and S. johnson. What are your comments and what you like to see Tom do.

 

[4thGenCat]

I got a hold of the Geelong v St. Kilda NAB Cup game. He was pretty good in that - kicked four goals and did some other good things. Last year N. Ablett kicked 34 goals from 21 games - if Hawkins could get those numbers you'd be happy. I don't know if he'd be up to a full season though. In the short term I think he'll have some good games where he kicks 3 or 4 but I think he'll struggle to be consistent. Cats fans may have to be patient for a couple of seasons.
​

 

[gocats88]

I got a hold of the Geelong v St. Kilda NAB Cup game. He was pretty good in that - kicked four goals and did some other good things. Last year N. Ablett kicked 34 goals from 21 games - if Hawkins could get those numbers you'd be happy. I don't know if he'd be up to a full season though. In the short term I think he'll have some good games where he kicks 3 or 4 but I think he'll struggle to be consistent. Cats fans may have to be patient for a couple of seasons.​

And he also kicked two goals in his pre season games so hawkins has already kicked 4 times that nathan did.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

And he also kicked two goals in his pre season games so hawkins has already kicked 4 times that nathan did.

We are really going to miss Nablett, he was never a star, but he filled his role pretty well. People judged him so harshly, but for his age his numbers and team play stack up against any other young forward in the game. Have a look at the season highlights DVD to see how good he really was, especially in the first half of the season.

Hawkins will be good, but he is a different player to Nablett and the forward structure will vary a little from last year, who knows, it may even be more dynamic. I would imagine we would try and push Hawkins a lot more this year, maybe rotate Lonergan in for a few games to see how he goes also. I would still love Nath to be there, especially as he was at that age of stepping up a bit more.

Fortunately for us we are not going to have any real dillemas kicking goals this year judging on how good Stevie J, Mooney, Gamble and the other 15 midfielders come forwards contribute.

Watch out for 1 J.Kelly this year too...i think he is developing into a bit more of an attacking midfielder, and he certainly has the ability to snag a few.

 

[Pivo]

...Watch out for J.Kelly this year too...i think he is developing into a bit more of an attacking midfielder, and he certainly has the ability to snag a few...

I know this is moving away from the thread topic but I'm wrapped to see someone else thinking this about Kelly.

To my eyes he shows some real flair as a small leading forward and if he could get his goal-kicking sorted I think he could become a seriously dangerous resting forward or, at a pinch, a small, fast-leading FF in the mold of Mark Williams (bit of a stretch at the moment I know but I can seriously see it).

Anyway, my two cents.

 

[Brasil2007]

...Watch out for J.Kelly this year too...i think he is developing into a bit more of an attacking midfielder, and he certainly has the ability to snag a few...

I know this is moving away from the thread topic but I'm wrapped to see someone else thinking this about Kelly.

To my eyes he shows some real flair as a small leading forward and if he could get his goal-kicking sorted I think he could become a seriously dangerous resting forward or, at a pinch, a small, fast-leading FF in the mold of Mark Williams (bit of a stretch at the moment I know but I can seriously see it).

Anyway, my two cents.

I noticed him up forward in I think the first game of the year (the Melbourne game) - he looks dangerous. I was really impressed with him last year and would be even more impressed if he can spend more time up forward and become dangerous... That would give us a pretty unique ability to mix and match in our midfield and forward line, flexibility like that is very hard to plan for.

 

[couchy555]

Ive never been a huge Kelly fan really. Not that i dont think hes talented but i just felt that he hasnt gotten the most out of him self but i do like the idea of him pushing forward more. Just hopes he can find his goalkickin radar, but we will see what we see

 

[stevie20]

He was great until he broke his leg!

 

[Pivo]

Ive never been a huge Kelly fan really. Not that i dont think hes talented but i just felt that he hasnt gotten the most out of him self but i do like the idea of him pushing forward more. Just hopes he can find his goalkickin radar, but we will see what we see

The general consensus is that Kelly is somewhat lazy. Wish he got that out of his system 'cause he could be very, very good.

 

[dadonis]

kelly showed signs of turning into a seriously good attacking player last year, seemed to keep getting better as the season went on too. showed signs of fulfilling his early career promise...let's just hope he can start kicking a bit more accurately for goal!

good to see a new crop of young forwards like te tomohawk, lonners et al coming through, and a real shame about nablett. while i'm disappointed about his decision, i hope the time away from the game revives his passion, and brings him back a stronger player.

we're going to need all the forward power we can muster in the next few years. cam mooney himself only feels he has a couple of seasons or so left, and then we'll need some serious firepower ready to step up and replace the big man - in my mind the superstar key to geelong's forward resurgence..!

 

[Copernicus]

The general consensus is that Kelly is somewhat lazy. Wish he got that out of his system 'cause he could be very, very good.

After his performances in the finals and in the games I've seen him play in the pre-season, I am not sure that the laziness tag applies anymore. He was very hard at it in all of those games, and played a couple of blinders in the finals.

I have a feeling he is beginning to come good. His goalkicking does need work, but he is a good height to pinch hit in the forward line if there is a matchup to be exploited.

 

[kinggaz29]

Is this a tom hawkins thread or james kelly thread ?? lol

They both gonna have massive years i can really feel it kelly prob had his best pre season to date and hawk looks fitter and slimmer so bring on the power

 

[Pivo]

Is this a tom hawkins thread or james kelly thread ?? lol

They both gonna have massive years i can really feel it kelly prob had his best pre season to date and hawk looks fitter and slimmer so bring on the power

That was my fault - sorry

 

[darren forssman]

The general consensus is that Kelly is somewhat lazy. Wish he got that out of his system 'cause he could be very, very good.

i was a pretty big knocker of him early last season but he seems to have really turned it around.

and thompson has used him as a pinch hitting forward at times as well, just needs to improve his consistency in front of goals.

he could be anything...if he puts his mind too it.

too much polish beer!!

 

[gocats88]

so what do we think about tom hawkins

 

[darren forssman]

so what do we think about tom hawkins

the kid will be alright, especially being the 3rd option behind mooney and stevie johnson...just give him time.

 

[The Casey Cat]

The general consensus is that Kelly is somewhat lazy. Wish he got that out of his system 'cause he could be very, very good.

Can not believe some of the rubbish I am reading about Kelly here. He looked very good from 02-04, suffered a terrible broken leg which hampered his 05 season. He was ordinary in 06 (had plenty of mates there) before being fantastic in a new role last year. Any criticism of him being lazy or not getting the most out of himself is utter garbage or at best one year too late.

 

[catattack007]

I think these pre season matches would be a good learning curve for this kid. he kicked 8 goals in 4 matches which is a pretty good return for a second year forward. his going to take the best defender week in week out which is good for a few reasons, It makes him gain more exprerience on the bests fullbacks in the country and also's frees up Mooney and S. johnson. What are your comments and what you like to see Tom do.

No way wll Tom Hawkins attract the oppositions best defender, Mooney will get the best tall defender, Steve Johnson will get the best mid sized defender and Chappy and Stokesy will get the better small defenders.

Hawkins will play on the Ben Holland's, Zac Dawson's and Andrew McDougalls' of the competition, therefore id want to see a marked improvement in his output than what he has showed in the pre season besides the St Kilda game.

 

[re cat]

[quote=catattack007;10285039]No way wll Tom Hawkins attract the oppositions best defender, Mooney will get the best tall defender, Steve Johnson will get the best mid sized defender and Chappy and Stokesy will get the better small defenders.

Hawkins will play on the Ben Holland's, Zac Dawson's and Andrew McDougalls' of the competition, therefore id want to see a marked improvement in his output than what he has showed in the pre season besides the St Kilda game.[/quote]

He beat Nathan Carrol last year

 

[DanA]

Can not believe some of the rubbish I am reading about Kelly here. He looked very good from 02-04, suffered a terrible broken leg which hampered his 05 season. He was ordinary in 06 (had plenty of mates there) before being fantastic in a new role last year. Any criticism of him being lazy or not getting the most out of himself is utter garbage or at best one year too late.

Remember Kelly was rated higher than Bartel before he broke his leg. Comments that he is lazy is a symptom of the class he showed at such a young age.

 

[Duskfire]

Kelly was awesome during the Finals series - some of the one percenters he did were jaw-dropping. I still remember that tap he did to Johnson which resulted in an important goal. He will be better this year.

As for Hawkins, its his second year. Am prepared to be patient. We have enough fire power for the moment. I see him as more of a replacement for Mooney in a couple of years. Make him play out half the season or so - if he is good form come Finals time throw him in there, if not have a player like James Kelly just add that bit more firepower.

With Mooney, Johnson, Stokes, Chapman etc etc running around up there, I think we will be fine regardless.

 

[rickster]

so what do we think about tom hawkins

Weedy ferker. Get in the gym son, or Dale Thomas will snap you like a twig.

 

[scottydeewah]

Yeah Kelly has become a very good HFF and is FAR FAR FAR from lazy. Typical Geelong forum crapola as usual!

 

[geelong_reowww]

tom hawkins will do great things for this club

 

[fishman]

I would rather start the year with Lonergan up forward as he is also a good option for the backline if things start falling over there.

For mine..

Milburn Scarlett Hunt
H Taylor Harley Mackie
Woji Bartel Enright
S Johnson Mooney Ablett
Chapman Lonergan Stokes
Ottens Corey Ling
Selwood Blake Kelly Rooke

With apologies to Prismall.