The happy team at Hawthorn came up hapless last Friday night, as the Sydney Swans became only the second team this season to successfully exploit the Hawks’ Achilles heel.
Of course we can contribute Sydney’s win to a wide range of factors. Daniel Hannebery’s 40-disposal performance was brilliant and Josh Kennedy’s gutsy contested possessions were standouts.
But there was a sizeable difference between the two sides at one end of the field – literally.
A team boasting giants like Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Sam Reid and Adam Goodes would give most basketball sides a solid run. Hawthorn’s comparatively midget backline really didn’t have much chance of going man-on-man.
Tippett was able to muster four goals, while the highly-rated Josh Gibson played on him most of the night, and Franklin kicked two big ones from his nine scoring shots, but probably should have kicked half a dozen.
The scoring shots from these tall forwards doesn’t tell the full story though. Franklin’s work rate was phenomenal in his return game, managing 21 disposals. What was even more impressive is that he took 10 marks. That’s double the tally of any Hawthorn defender. Recent history would probably suggest that if a side’s key forward takes 10 or more grabs in a match then the team is well on their way to a victory.
Sydney’s forward line dominance over Hawthorn’s defenders wasn’t all about their individual output though.
Trying to cover against a forward line that potentially has three or four focal points every time the ball is kicked inside 50 is extremely hard to defend against, especially if the backline doesn’t have ideal match-ups like Hawthorn’s. Sydney was simply spoilt for choice.
A player like Gibson has been quite successful in the past at playing on the opposition’s second biggest forward and peeling off to be the third man up in a marking contest to spoil. This tactic seems to work well for Hawthorn if the opposition only has one or two talls.
It wasn’t surprising however, to see that Gibson was heavily occupied trying to contain Tippett on Friday night and simply couldn’t manage to be that extra defensive cover when the ball was bombed in to any of the other tall forwards.
With Gibson taken out of many contests, Franklin was able to monster the likes of Ben Stratton and Matthew Suckling in many one-on-one marking contests. Sam Reid also managed to take five marks.
With these players often taking strong contested grabs or at least bringing the ball to ground, the likes of Luke Parker, Lewis Jetta and Kieran Jack were able to be very dangerous when they roved off packs in the forward 50. Parker ended up with two majors while Jetta and Jack kicked one each respectively.
It was interesting to note in the second half that Hawthorn tried a few zoning tactics. On numerous occasions late in the game the Hawks dropped several players back to block potential leads from Tippett, but by this stage he had already kicked a bag and made serious damage.
One could even argue that the Hawthorn zoning meant they over compensated for their lack of height in defence late in the game, therefore creating space for players like Nick Malceski to run through and kick two vital goals. I could be clutching at straws here though.
This game was by no means a doom and gloom story for the Hawks, but the Swans certainly picked apart one of their rare weaknesses that few teams seem to be able to capitalise on.
Geelong is really the only other side that have benefited from Hawthorn’s lack of defensive height this season. The Cats’ key forward, Tom Hawkins, was basically gifted a dream mismatch in their clash and was able to dominate late in the game. He was able to kick four goals on that occasion to seal the victory.
To be fair, the Hawks do have a few defenders out at moment. Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell might have both had stints rotating from the backline to the midfield had they played on Friday night, but that still wouldn’t have solved the height problem.
Brian Lake is possibly their biggest defensive loss at the moment because he might have had an even match-up with Franklin or Tippett. Lake seems to be having all kinds of injury troubles late in his career though – similar to how he finished off at the Bulldogs.
The Hawks next test is against table-toppers Port Adelaide. They might be able to adequately handle the Power’s live wire smalls in Chad Wingard and Robbie Gray. It could be more interesting though, to see how they match-up against Justin Westhoff and Jay Schulz when Port’s gun midfield start hitting their tall timber.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
I don't think Fyfe and Barlow have reached their peaks yet either. If Fyfe improves his kicking efficiency he could go close to winning a Brownlow one day. He has a great overhead mark and can push forward in a similar way to Patrick Dangerfield. The other top midfield is Port Adelaide's. They have Travis Boak, Jared Polec, Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert, Kanes Cornes and guys like Chad Wingard, Matthew White and Angus Monfries to rotate through the midfield. Probably the most pleasing thing for the Power is that their young stars in Polec, Wines and Wingard have developed so quickly. Polec's performances this season must almost bring Brisbane Lions fans to tears.
Gecko
Guest
Spot on, Samuel. The Pies' Grundy has more physical presence than Sydney's rucks. Michael you should also note that the Swans' midfield was beaten last September by a Dockers midfield led by Fyfe, Barlow, Mundy, Crowley and Hill (that's 4 big bodies and 1 pacey outside runner), with Sandilands in the ruck. Sydney's got a great midfield, but so have some other teams.
New York Hawk
Guest
Since when is "immuned" a word? And the Hawks aren't making excuses, so why say they are? Fans always make excuses, and if you check this very forum you will see that the Swans fans made the same excuses after the Qualifying Final last year. When it is all said and done, it is May, not September. This is at best a guide. Remember that.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
I not so sure about that, Michael. I might be slightly bias too and suggest that the Magpies should probably just get the nod. In Pendlebury we're probably looking at this years runner-up in the Brownlow (behind Ablett), Swan's easily in the top ten players of the last seven years, and Beams is stepping up in importance this year. Beyond Ball and Sidebottom there's also a quality tagger in Brent Macaffer. Jarryd Blair is very handy and Heritier Lamumba has pushed up to the wing to provide fantastic run. It's pretty even up to this point, but Collingwood outmuscle Sydney with their ruck options. Brodie Grundy is set to be one of the best rucks in the AFL over the next decade and Jarrod Witts is just very very tall. Pyke and Derickx are okay but they're not the same as Mumford.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
I actually thought Goodes did quite a number of quality one-percenters in the game though. I know he only picked up 10 disposals but I remember he did a brilliant tap back to Jetta from the boundary which I think might have led to a goal. Back to my article point though- Goodes was that extra target who drew a defender and created space for the other guys.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
Considering Hawthorn didn't have a quality Full Back or Centre Half Back to match up well at least on Tippett or Franklin, I think the three or four tall forward line was quite effective for this game. Tippett and Franklin are going to be the mainstays in this forward line for the season and the others might come in when they take on another side that might struggle to match up on them. Reid might be pushed to the back line and we all know Goodes could potentially play in a wide range of positions.
Michael huston
Guest
What about Hannebery's best on ground 40 touches? Or Parker, McVeigh and Jack getting over 25 touches even whilst playing more forward roles? I've tossed up whose is best out of Collingwood and Sydney, and often will. Collingwood have three real superstars in Swan, Beams and Pendlebury, with Ball and occasionally Sidebottom a good supporting cast. The Swans have Jack, McVeigh, Kennedy and Hannebery who are all capable of getting plenty of 30+ possessions, plus the fringe midfielders who can apply the pressure, such as McGlynn and Parker, and some pace, such as Jetta. They can quite literally dominate a game so I have to give it to them (for now)
Gecko
Guest
Michael I think the Hawks, Pies, Cats and Dockers midfields are, at full strength, just as good as Sydney's. Sydney was just lucky to catch the Hawks well below full strength. I know the Swans won a premiership in 2012 with Mumfield throwing his weight around at clearances, but nowadays Kennedy is their only physical presence at centre bounces.
Michael huston
Guest
If Sydneys midfield is switched on, the opposition has no chance. Against the Hawks, McVeigh, Hannebery, Kennedy, Jack, Parker, McGlynn and Jetta were all in top shape. Combine that with our reliable defense that both stopped their attack and triggered ours, as well as our strong options up forward, it's no surprise the Hawks lost. The Swans were in golden form, a few extra players for the Hawks wouldn't have made too much of a difference.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
Good points, Jack. When it comes down to it, footy is still a game of 22 players taking on 22 players.
Gecko
Guest
Agreed that Reid and Franklin are both faster than they look. That's why Sydney might be a rare exception that can play 3 talls up forward. But against teams with a good full back, they won't get away with 4 talls. Goodes played well in games before Tippett returned, but he struggled last weekend.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Not true about being killed on rebound. Reid and Franklin both faster than they look. Goodes is simply imposing. I think Goodes was subbed out as precautionary just to keep his fitness up as he rolls back into the scheme of things.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
You never know with football though. That is the fun part. They could have been injured, had no impact or changed the game. Its stupid to even blame losses on injuries because debut players can also win the game for you too. So, injury debate is a farce. Swans can only beat what is on the park, and we did. Swans lost to Hawks and Freo in finals. You could blame it on the injuries or that the youth did not step up to fill their spot. I would put it on the youth (injuries hurt but there is a reason why the teams with best depth often win premiership).
Gecko
Guest
I think Sydney won against the Hawks because of their superior midfield - not because of their tall forward line. In fact, having 4 talls in the forward line is simply unsustainable. Poor Goodes was rarely a target and had to be subbed out. If the Hawks have Lake next time they play Sydney, the ball will be hitting the ground a lot more when it goes into Sydney's forward line, and any top-heavy Swans forward line will be killed on the rebound by the Hawks' backline. Sydney needs to drop down from 4 to just 2 or 3 talls in their forward line, especially against sides that have a good full back.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Agree. Certainly could happen. Alternatively, I can also see Tippett not winning coleman as he is 20+ behind due to having only one game, however, being most consistent forward for goals per match. If Swans are lucky, both.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
On another note, if Franklin starts kicking straight I wouldn't be surprised if he goes on to win the Coleman this year.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
So do you think Hawthorn will have Port Adelaide's forward line covered then? Admittedly it has been the Power's smalls that have caused the most headaches for opposition's in the last few games but I wouldn't be surprised if Schulz or Westhoff find a mismatch and fire.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
Sydney had an extra 17 inside 50s for the match. The ball was pretty much exclusively down their end in the 1st quarter. They probably should have won by seven or eight goals. We saw a taste of what the Sydney forward line can do, but we could have seen an even greater domination. If Hawthorn's injured stars were in it could have been too close to call.
Michael huston
Guest
Couldn't the same be applied to Hawthorns trouncing of an injury-depleted Swans in the QF last year? The Swans made no excuses, because the Hawks were the better ones on the night. Hawthorn aren't immuned to losing, nor are they immuned to being out-played. If Franklin and a few others had kicked straighter it would've been close to a fifty point lead, give or take a few. As good as Mitchell, Hodge and Rioli are, they wouldn't account for fifty points you would've otherwise scored. Every Hawks player out there felt the pressure of the Swans. They're pressure was intense, and the Swans knew the Hawks play a very skilled game and they set out to stop it. Perhaps Hawthorn are still a slightly superior side to the Swans (so far this year) but the Swans can be just as good as the Hawks when they want to be. The results would have been closer, sure, but Hawthorn were out-played on the night. Simple as that.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Swans kick straight and the result is very different. Same argument.