What's Changed?

[Dipper]

A month or 2 ago on the main board there was a topic with people's predictions 4 the year & a lot of people were tipping the Hawks for a top 8 finish some even tipping them as high as 4th but there is now a topic with a lot of people tipping us for a low finish & someone actually tipping us to be Wooden Spooners.So I was wondering what has changed in the last couple of months for this big change in opinion my previous optomism has taken a dent so hopefully u can restore it by telling me that these people r talking out of their arses!

 

[Pessimistic]

Hawks are 17-1 in the betting the - 7th team - the eighth and lower have significantly longer odds. Hawthorn's odds are usually longer than they should be so the tipping is about right

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

DIPPER, dont worry were primed for a good year, we do have alot of underrated youngsters such as Glenn Bowyer so when these 'experts' look at the squad they tend to dismiss our chances. Watching this group late last season you could physically see the improvement as the players began to acclimatise to Schwabbys game plan. So dont fret my friend we will have the last laugh

 

[Hawkforce]

Dipper,

The thread too which you are referring was actually posted early last year.

A certain self-obsessed poster has been dredging up ancient threads in what can only be imagined as an attempt to prove just how boring he is.

I think most people expect us to make the finals. A lot of Hawk fans expect to make top 4.

 

[Dipper]

Cheers everyone you've put my mind at rest-roll on the season & let's get at em!

 

[StumpedHawk]

I have no idea wot those losers who tipped us to be that low r on about dipper, they obviously don't realise crawford will be back in top form, hay has bulked up, we have a 2-time premiership ruckman and that we simply will go better than last year!
Carn Us!!

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One small step for a normal sized human, literally a huge leap for me!!!

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

StumpedHawk wheres Walla Walla? Just wondering?

 

[ricohawk]

What a lot of people dont realise is just HOW well we recruited LAST year.
We KNOW the backbone is good but the guys from last year are about to take off.
I saw a lot of them last year at BHH and I can assure you you're going to see something special from the likes of Johnson/Bateman/Nicholls and perhaps a couple of surprise packets in Tims Clarke and Hazell. Add the truly magnificent Glenny Bowyer and guys, we're ready to fire....oops,almost forgot the Pitcher (Lance Picioane) who's going to add some grunt to that midfield.

We'd have to be happy with finals again but I really believe we're top four material.

-Rico

[This message has been edited by ricohawk (edited 05 February 2001).]

 

[dutchy_rules]

Guys......
please refer to hawkforces reply.....
Those predictions were from the start of last season and not this seasons.....

On the 2001 seasons:
Most people would probably put us in the top 4-8.... with some others tipping us at 9/10 at the lowest - only the ones who hate hawthorn.....

so dont sweat it.... should be a good year....

 

[elt]

Agreed that most people put us in the eight with current predictions. I expect us to be somewhere between 5th and 8th but I think it is going to be important to put in some consistent performances against the top teams (Essendon, Carlton etc). It makes it very hard for the team to progress to the next step of a possible prelim with playing well and challenging the top sides.

[This message has been edited by elt (edited 06 February 2001).]

 

[StumpedHawk]

Bubba it is 40 kms north of Albury/Wodonga which is on the border of NSW and Vic


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One small step for a normal sized human, literally a huge leap for me!!!

 

[ptw]

here is the problem with team predictions....


I can make out a case for any team as to how they will improve and why they will make the eight. All legitimate agruments as well.

THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE

The issue is how well will Hawthorn improve relative to everyone else. Port will improve...(can't get much worse I hear you say !!)...and I can make a case for them making the 8. In reality though is that case more sound than say Western Bulldogs ??? Is it more sound than the case for any other 8 teams. In reality I would have to think "no".

Personally I think the same applies to Hawthorn. We can all talk about recruitment and how the young players will step up etc etc etc but this has to be done in the context of everyone else's recruitment and everyone else's young players who are going to step up.

In my view the Hawks will finish 6-8...just like last year (Port will finish about 12th btw just to show there are no ill feelings).

I hope I am wrong on both counts.

We shall have to wait and see.

ptw

 

[TheGlove]

And Collingwood will finish first..... from the bottom....

TheGlove

 

[RogerC]

The way I see it, the only teams that REALLY outclassed us last year were the Grand Finalists. We were shellacked by Melbourne in the one game we had against them, and Essendon... well.

Carlton were probably a class above us, as they have been for a few years now. But that may no longer be the case. So that puts us in the ruck with the likes of Carlton, Brisbane, North, the Doggies, Sydney.... I hate to leave out any club, because everyone's going to press their claims right now.

So we're looking at third - or to put it more attractively, hawk supporters couldn't fault the team if they tried their hearts out and finished third. That's the optimistic outlook. We really couldn't finish lower than eighth and still expect any level of respect. We already know we can be competitive in finals, based on last year. I'd be hoping for some improvement and a semi-final berth.

Bring it on.