The Hawks need to be added to the Scary Movie franchise

By Dan Lonergan / Expert

Although they are three games off top spot and have not produced their best for an entire part of a match in 2015 so far, the Hawthorn Hawks still look like a scary movie to me.

They are well placed in fourth spot with eight wins and four losses, while none of their defeats have been by more than 10 points.

However, they can play so much better and that’s what’s so scary about the second half of the season, if and more likely when they hit their straps.

Their best performance was probably Round 1 against Geelong where they obliterated their long-time nemesis after quarter time.

They were pretty clinical against the Bulldogs in Round 3 without being brilliant, but spasmodic in most other appearances with their starts to games the biggest concern.

Those tardy beginnings against Essendon and especially Port Adelaide cost them certain victories.

However, they have now reeled four victories off in a row to again be the team to beat in my mind despite Fremantle’s only loss so far, West Coast’s improvement and Sydney’s fairly solid form despite the horrible second half fadeout against Richmond on Friday night.

Their depth continues to be the envy of most clubs as they more than adequately cover for the loss of key players, with prized recruit James Frawley set to miss another large chunk of the season due to injury.

They still have Brian Lake, Josh Gibson and Ben Stratton down back as their key defenders. Every club in the competition would love that trio in their defence holding down key posts.

The Hawks are going back to playing the unsociable football they were renowned for when they won the flag in 2008, but there have been examples where they appeared to have overstepped the line in recent weeks.

One of the club’s greats Sam Mitchell stands out in that regard with his silly act of motioning to inject a needle in his arm in reference to the Bombers’ drug scandal in the Hawks’ win over Essendon.

He regrets it and so he should. Up until that taunt Mitchell has been a role model and a perfect citizen for the game. We all make mistakes, but Mitchell no doubt would certainly love to have that moment again.

It just indicates how much hunger this successful group has as it tries to emulate the feat of Brisbane’s three-peat and Melbourne’s more than 50 years ago.

They are not only determined to physically outplay their opponents, but mentally disintegrate them as well in their pursuit of some rare history, although they could do without Mitchell’s act.

The injury to Frawley aside, the rest of this imposing playing list is up and about and playing good football and obviously aiming to peak at the right time of the year, the last home-and-away month in August and then the finals and an assault on the premiership once again.

Star half back Grant Birchall has experienced a lengthy time on the sidelines, but is back now and maybe the break has freshened him up to hit his straps at the right time. The suspensions to Jordan Lewis and Luke Hodge also gave them a much needed break in a long and gruelling season.

It’s incredible that a first round draft pick in Ben McEvoy again finds himself watching on, similar to this time last year, as Jon Ceglar continues to do everything right in nailing down the number one ruck spot, although McEvoy did replace him for grand final day in 2014.

Ceglar, though, has improved and unless injury strikes then McEvoy will be hard pressed even at the halfway mark of the season of replacing him later in the year.

The forward line must be thinking Buddy who? We know Franklin has starred for the Swans, but Hawthorn has so many avenues that they have coped wonderfully without him.

If Jarryd Roughead or Cyril Rioli don’t get you, Jack Gunston, Luke Breust, David Hale and Paul Puopolo will.

They also continue to add new and quick blood to the midfield with Billy Hartung in his second season cementing a spot in this formidable line-up.

They are now top four ahead of Collingwood on percentage and their best is certainly more than good enough. They are probably only going at about 70 percent rat power at the moment.

There’s your latest scary movie!

The Crowd Says:

2015-06-29T16:57:26+00:00

New York Hawk

Guest


You were probably calling them overrated last year, the year before that, the year before that etc. You were probably right in 2004...

AUTHOR

2015-06-29T14:19:19+00:00

Dan Lonergan

Expert


Their depth in my opinion is better than any other team

2015-06-29T08:55:01+00:00

Malahka

Guest


Still think Hawks will be there abouts on the big day. However the comment about depth doesn't apply this year due to an almost non exist any injury list.

2015-06-29T06:50:23+00:00

Josh

Expert


Yeah - and they've had to call up all the understudies.

2015-06-29T05:48:36+00:00

XI

Roar Guru


Scary Movie franchise? Because they're overrated, inexplicably popular and a stain on the history of comedy?

2015-06-29T05:47:58+00:00

Josh

Expert


First Damian Barrett, now you Dan. What is it with AFL writers and not knowing that the Scary Movie franchise is comedy/satire (and poor quality one at that?) Just kidding around of course, you're quite right in your assessment. The prospect of a Hawthorn three-peat is all too real and if you asked me to tip a flag winner at this point in the year it would probably be them.

2015-06-29T05:08:06+00:00

Paul D

Roar Guru


Hawthorn might be a scary movie, but Gold Coast Suns are a deadset horror show.

2015-06-29T04:04:29+00:00

Balthazar

Guest


Why so scary? they haven't done much yet. Pretty sure Sydney and Freo have a heap of improvement in them too - IMO Freo's starts in about 2 weeks time when they get 2 out of their 3 missing defensive talls back.

2015-06-29T03:23:40+00:00

Gremlins

Guest


The forward line must be thinking Buddy who? Most Hawthorn fans that I know have been thinking that for years.

2015-06-29T02:18:29+00:00

New York Hawk

Guest


Let's not geT carried away with how good the Hawks could be, rather call it as "they need to improve a lot" rather than "how scary is it how much better they can be". My humble guess is goal kicking accuracy will define our season from here... And as for Sammy Mitchell - I love your work!

2015-06-29T00:39:26+00:00

jacques of Lilydale

Guest


Why should Mitchell apologise for that Dan?? He's only stating the obvious, basically what every other player and opposition supporter in the AFL is thinking when playing that pathetic club. Stop dancing around this issue, Hird was outraged!!!! Give me a break. Everyone is blinded by the propaganda swirling around the injection regime says Hird. Give me a break. The whole AFL competition is compromised by letting the instigators of that notorious chemical experiment still run that club's football department. Can't take the AFL competition seriously any more and have voted with my feet and not renewed my membership. Good on you Sam Mitchell anyway. Love your work. Keep it up.

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