What sort of shape are we in?

Adelaide Hawk

Hall of Famer
Joined
Sep 21, 2002
Posts
45,346
Likes
34,017
Location
Adelaide
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Norwood
Thread starter #1
I realise it's hard to compare games, especially at this time of year, but what sort of shape are the Hawks in for 2006? Adelaide is one of the pre-season favourites for the flag. They defeated Port Adelaide by 72 and tonight they creamed Melbourne by 85. In between that, the Hawks pushed them to within 13 at Launceston. I see it as a positive for the Hawks at this early stage.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

cosby

All Australian
Joined
Oct 3, 2005
Posts
859
Likes
0
Location
the Ponds
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Hawks
#2
there were alot of positives tonight at bendigo.
i have renewed optimism we can surprise a few quality teams, we won't make the finals, but we'll play some good footy this year.
 
Joined
Jun 17, 2005
Posts
1,207
Likes
2
Location
Geelong
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
sth Dragons, Melb Storm
#3
My theory is that we outran Adelaide with our youthful vigour.
Sadly, that vigour tends to dry up early as young teams run out of legs early in the year.
It will be a matter of learning to develop a squad with the stamina to go all 22 rounds. We've started well in the past few years and then fallen into a heap when the rookies got sore, and the veterans got injured.

Here's hoping we can push further into the year and that we can not only put up the challenge to the big contenders, but put some space between us and some of the other struggling Victorian sides. I don't think we should ever be mentioned in the same sentence as Carlton.
 

bugsy

Senior List
Joined
Sep 23, 2005
Posts
158
Likes
0
Location
home
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
hawks
#4
I saw an interview with Neil Craig after the crows win last night.

He was asked about the crows fitness.
He said the crows have put in a hard pre season and have been fully fit since the start of the NAB cup. He went on to say something like, "They cant get any fitter, now its all about player management through-out the year.
 

CyberKev

Premiership Player
Joined
May 23, 2001
Posts
3,702
Likes
9
Location
In a house
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Liverpool, Oakland Raiders
#5
I think we're travelling as well as can be expected for this stage of the year and allowing for our overall stage of development.

I was surprised at the level of negative comments directed at the side in another thread in this forum after the Adelaide game.

Given that Adelaide are the reigning minor premiers, are one of the hot flag fancies for 2006, were near full strength, and in fabulous shape fitness wise, I though last week's effort was fantastic.

Adelaide's attack can be a bit indifferent at times, but they had plenty of opportunity last week, and while our defense did overcook the ball again at times, I thought they combined and scrambled well across the match.

More tellingly, I rate the Crow defense the best in the comp, yet we were able to unsettle it by trialling a fresh multi-pronged forward approach.

For mine, this was the major plus.

Its all very well to have youngsters like Roughead & Franklin up forward, but they'll never go anywhere for you until you give them the chance to by directing some serious through ball to them.

Franklin's workrate, presentation and recovery capacity was great and allowing for more polished finishing he will seriously hurt sides in the future with that sort of performance. Roughead seemed hesitant early and let himself down at times with surprisingly awry marking efforts, but he composed himself well late and showed plenty in a key forward assignment.

Williams will always be dangerous wherever he plays up forward because he is so skilled and difficult to match-up on. For the first time in a long time the side was willing to overlook its Williams obsession, however, and the structure looked much better and more diverse as a result (Ben Dixon not playing was an added bonus).

It calls for bravery, but I'd want to continue running with Roughead & Franklin in the key posts; with Williams in a pocket, Miller crumbing from the other one, and Barker/Boyle and probably Crawford supplying extra assistance off the half forward flanks.

Eventually, one would hope that Dowler could ascent to CHF allowing Franklin to return to a dangerous third tall role, with Matthew Little finding his feet as a more creative HFF option.

Definitely has the makings of a strong forward structure, particularly as we already have the makings of a strong midfield rotation (allowing for some of our young outside options coming on) for it to exploit.

Fullback could still be problematic though.
 

Bennycoff

Premiership Player
Joined
May 28, 2005
Posts
3,702
Likes
7
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Hawthorn
#6
i think we have the potential to upset a few teams. we will beat melbourne, mark my words, because they are one of the softest teams in the competition, they didn't want the hard ball at all last night. whilst we are developing into a tough side with plenty of guys who go in for the pill.
 
J

JackHawk

Guest
#7
The shape of our team is based on the leadership group/and games experience of this group, and then the nurturing/mentoring of the rest. I count 39 players on our senior list, of which only 13 including Guerra have passed the 60-game mark. You've then got Changa, Ossie, Willo, and Campbell Brown in the 50+ game bracket, with a fast emerging Laddo on 30 games..........totals 18 of the 39. A lot of Hawk fans are looking to a realistic FINALS CHALLENGE in 2008..........and I think this is why. By giving the 2006 season the focus of increasing the maturity, leadership and reliability of this 2nd group (ie. Changa thru to Laddo ). And 2006 and 2007 to add close to 40 games to the CVs of Roughy, Lewis, Sewell, Taylor, Miller, Brennan, Buddy, Ball....and also the rookies Kano, Gilham and McGlynn. I also have pencilled in the other 2 rookies as our longterm FF (Markovic) and FB (McEntee). I KNOW the harsh reality of football club longevity is the turnover, probably a minimum of 6 players per season, and obviously some of the players I've mentioned, but 2008 looks realistic for the preparing of a Finals challenge...............2006, I want us to sneak enough wins, (every victory being great for the mindset and confidence of the playing group), to sneak into the 8 and hopefully even 1 final's victory .....THAT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC YEAR :cool:
 

cs61

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Oct 5, 2004
Posts
8,192
Likes
853
Location
Land of the Rising Sun
AFL Club
Hawthorn
#8
Pretty good pre-season form I thought, we looked fit and focussed, and the big plus for mine was Ladson's fitness and form.

Looked quicker than last year, and used the ball well. Hope he carries that into the real-season.

With him and Changa on the wings I think we are starting to get some ball carriers who can compliment our inside extractor Mitchell.

Vanders looked like he was making good decisions and using the ball well, so if we can players like Vanders Smith Ladson to really step up from last season's drop off in form (smith wasn't that bad though) I think we can improve.

Just want to real stuff to start now.
 

Hawk Dork

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Posts
26,579
Likes
21,599
Location
on the road to nowhere
AFL Club
Hawthorn
Other Teams
Hawks
#9
The bottom teams traditionally start the season well as they tend to be fitter than the ones who think they will play finals.
The potential finals contenders ease into peak fitness as the season wares on.So as not to peak or burn out prematurely.

Advantage is you may sneek a few early wins, against better teams and sell a few more memberships.

Its football tradition
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

J

JackHawk

Guest
#12
The baby 'awks, with a touch of impudence.........will be sniffin around the bottom of the "8", with between 8 and 12 wins....CRAWF for HFC B&F...He's back with no plate in his arm, just hunger in his belly. :cool:
 
Top Bottom