Which players need to perform this year??

[hawfawnchick]

The season has once again sprung upon us and being a hawks supporter I am full of optimism for the season ahead. However, I feel that there are a few players that will be playing for their careers in the following 22+ weeks. Aaron Lord had a very mediocre year and hasn't shown signs in his time at hawthorn of holding down a regular spot. Angelo Lekkas, while riddled by injury last season, really needs to have a consistent year...in the firsts....Mark Graham it was revealed was used as trading bait last year however no one grabbed him....yes, he has had the burden of playing full-back until jonny hay developed, however, his ball disposal is dreadful...no player should be turning the ball over 3 times a game from the backline-or anywhere else on the ground for that matter for the entire time they have been at the club. brett o'farrell has done squat since arriving at glenferrie (i sometimes forget that he is still at the club) and the addition of shaun rehn this year and the development of our younger ruckmen is not helping his cause. Finally, under the hammer this year is joel smith. we put our faith in him when he did his knee a couple of years ago and he is yet to return the favour to the club. when out on the ground, he hesitates to attack the ball and is very quick to turn the ball over when he does get the thing....i'm afraid this is his final chance because with a growing midfield including bowyer and johnson who are putting everything they have into their game, smith will find it increasingly difficult to crack into the seniors. Phew, what do you think?? is there anybody else who should be doing everything to stay on the list this season??

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

Geez hawfawnchick your a bit hard on some of those guys, a\you are right with the ones you have mentioned, id argue Aaron Lord was struck down by unjury and prior to last season was a pretty important forward for us. Mark Graham is maligned for his disposal but i reckon he could be pretty dangerous on a half forward flank this year. I think all players from all clubs are under the pump with reduced lists to perform year in yr\ear out, for us to be successful this year we need most of those guys you mentioned firing. Good topic though

 

[dutchy_rules]

yeh i would have to agree with your assessment on those players hawfornchik....
and although i dont like actually singling players who could be in that position... i'm sure that they realise that themselves...
of the other players at the club i reckon 2 might be vandenburg and obst.... both have been around for a while now and although this might be tough on them...(specially vanders) i reckon they may struggle to get a game and break into the side.... especially with all the new young guys coming thru....still love the way vanders plays his footy though... real hard nut. Saying this i hope both of them cement a senior spot this year........

 

[TheGlove]

What about COX??? Is he still on the Hawthorn list??

TheGlove

 

[dutchy_rules]

sorry theglove.....
just as i sent it i thought about coxy......
hes definitely one who will be under the hammer.... ability is there but dont know if it will ever be fully realised... like some players i think he just trys to do too much and needs to become more team oriented....

 

[TheGlove]

I reckon he should be given the "Robert Powell" award, also known as the Mr Eratic Award. Tries hard but goes no where...

What's the deal with Rehn?? I heard he was out for a couple of weeks with his re-occurring calf injury??

TheGlove


[This message has been edited by TheGlove (edited 07 February 2001).]

 

[dutchy_rules]

Nah the deal is that he has had a niggle in his calf and he is now over that and back into full training.... which for him is a modified one to the other players anyway to save him for the real stuff... but they are not prepared to risk him for just the ansett cup...... so as a result he will prob just play in rd 2 or even just rd 3 of the cup.

i think its fair enough and it gives our young ruckman a chance to show us what they can do..... would love to see young david loats get a go although they will probably go with ofarrell.
we just want to make sure that rehn is fit and firing for round one against collingwood so he can show the upstart fraser a thing or two.....

 

[RogerC]

Aaron Lord has for years been given the Jeff Farmer brief. Get loose in the forward line and receive all the passes the opposition thought were going to Dunstall. Otherwise, scrap for the loose ball a la Patterson or Ronnie Burns. The retirement of Dunstall hit him very hard, because it meant he had to work a little for his possessions. He won't be the same again until we get a proper full forward (whenever that might be). And at any rate we seem to be grooming Chance Bateman for that role. He needs to evolve or die.

Pity really. I've been a fan of his ever since he carved up Carlton in the 94 (I think) finals. I was rapt when Hawthorn got him. By and large he's rewarded the faith, but his future is in his own hands now.

Him aside, Cox (can't believe he survived last year's cut), Obst (immense talent, but in a Clinton King kind of way; who knows if he has the fortitude to capitalise on it?), Graham (because the mistakes he made last year were so glaring he forced the spotlight onto himself) and Vandenberg (who I like, but with Bowyer, Piccione and Johnson cut from similar cloth, and younger and hungrier to boot, may find himself superfluous).