By Adam Cooper
April 28th 2008 @ 8:07am
Hawks set new benchmark: Wallace
Richmond coach Terry Wallace last night claimed Hawthorn had hit a new high point and were the best-drilled AFL team he had come across after the Hawks’ 12-point win at the MCG.
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Wallace said the Hawks’ effectiveness at having the game played on their terms was “next generation” football and that their zone structures so strong that at times he wanted Hawthorn to goal to release the shackles.
Hawthorn overcame bad finishing, which included 1.7 to star forward Lance Franklin, to extend their perfect start to six wins with the 14.22 (106) to 15.4 (94) win.
Jarryd Roughead again turned Richmond’s bogy man by booting 5.3 while Franklin had the yips, Luke Hodge starred in the midfield and Cyril Rioli dazzled the crowd of 46,076 with what could be goal of the year.
Although Hawthorn’s wastefulness nearly cost them, Wallace said the fact so much of the game was played in the Hawks’ half of the ground meant Richmond was powerless to change the match.
Although reigning premier Geelong also have won all six games this season, Wallace felt Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson had transformed his side into the best-drilled unit in the competition in terms of following their game plan.
“Hawthorn play a different style of game than nearly any other side in the competition,” Wallace said.
“They’re the best-drilled team that I’ve seen probably in the last six or seven years, since Sydney played a different style to everyone else.
“Hawthorn’s taken the game to another level and that’s credit to the coaching staff and credit to the playing group, they way they do it.”
Wallace admitted he was fascinated by how Hawthorn were able to dictate terms so comprehensively.
“It’s the next generation of footy and no wonder he (Clarkson) wants to have lock-out (training) sessions because he’s doing things that other people aren’t doing at the moment,” he said.
“In straight style and sticking fat to what is your game structure, I don’t think I’ve seen a side do it any better than Hawthorn, ever.”
Although Richmond clogged Hawthorn’s forward line and forced the Hawks to shoot at goal from out wide, their string of misses meant the ball was locked in their forward line for long periods.
When Richmond did break out of defence, they constantly encountered a brown and gold wall.
Richmond had more of the ball but became handball-happy, and aside from the magnificent Matthew Richardson, their top possession-winners all handballed more than they kicked.
Wallace was pleased his side hung in, but admitted at times he wanted Hawthorn to score a goal so the ball went back to the middle instead of staying deep in the Hawks’ attack.
“But they’d kick a point and we’d get stuck in that rolling zone that they set up that was making it more difficult for us to get our inside-50s because we were starting from so far back,” he said.
“It might sound strange, but there were times when we wanted them to kick one so we could get back to the middle and start again.”
Clarkson said Hawthorn could have opened the game up early had they not missed seven shots in the first quarter, and also gave the opposition credit.
“They hung in there and got their nose in front in the third quarter, so it was good for us to rebound, take control of the game again and finish up winning,” he said.
Richardson booted four goals in a tireless game from the wing and finished with 27 disposals and 13 marks.
Snapshot of round six
THEY SAID IT: “You can knock them off the ball whether it’s five metres away or 10 metres away or whether they’re expecting it or looking for it, and unless you actually knock them out that’s fine.” – West Coast coach John Worsfold calling for the game’s elite midfielders to be better protected by the umpires.
STATS THAT MATTER: 8.16 (64) – Sydney’s scoreline against North Melbourne, with the Swans‘ inaccuracy in front of goal costing them a comeback win instead of the draw they finished with.
MAN OF THE ROUND: Paul Medhurst – Medhurst’s Anzac Medal-winning six-goal haul against Essendon on Friday night highlighted his transformation from an erratic forward pocket at Fremantle to a key part of a dangerous Collingwood attack.
MAGIC MOMENT: Medhurst capped a fine day by threading through his sixth goal from a set shot on the tightest of angles 50m out in the final term.
TALKING POINT: Should Sydney’s Brett Kirk’s final snap in the match against North have been called a goal instead of a behind? Kangaroos’ defender Michael Firrito’s desperate touch in the goal-mouth looked very close to being over the line. West Coast star Daniel Kerr’s headbutt on Western Bulldogs veteran Scott West did not see him reported at the time, but was captured by television cameras and should cost him a suspension the struggling Eagles can ill-afford.
REPORTS: Brent Staker (West Coast, striking), Josh Carr (Fremantle, kneeing), Courtney Johns (Essendon, rough conduct), Darren Pfeiffer (Carlton, forceful front-on contact).
KEY INJURIES: Aaron Edwards (North, leg), Chad Cornes (Port, broken finger), Adam Hunter (West Coast, knee), Alwyn Davey (Essendon, knee), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon, adductor), Bret Thornton (Carlton, knee), Tom Harley (Geelong, buttock)
UNDER PRESSURE THIS WEEK: Fremantle went within inches of downing Geelong at Subiaco on Friday night, but if they can not beat strugglers Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday their hopes for the season will have almost slipped away. The other West Australian club, West Coast, also desperately need to produce a victory against Carlton at Subiaco on Friday night, after five bad losses on the trot. Essendon also need to turn things around after three straight losses and a swag of injuries.
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