Watching the Hawks over the first nine rounds, there are a few things that have me worried and others that make me very happy.
Young players such as Bradley Hill, Tim O’Brian, James Sicily, Kaiden Brand, Billy Hartung, Daniel Howe and Kieran Lovell have shown they are going to do fine once the older players are gone.
The drawback is that some are not getting the experience that you would hope due to the older players’ performances, and have left as a consequence.
Mitch Hallahan (Gold Coast), Luke Lowden (Adelaide Crows), Kyle Cheney (Adelaide Crows) and Jed Anderson (North Melbourne) all would have been fantastic to have waiting in the wings, but opportunities at other clubs were worth departing for, and I can’t blame them.
Of course players like Kurt Heatherley, Jermaine Miller-Lewis, Black Hardwick Dallas Willsmore, and Teia Miles are all playing great football in the VFL and should get their chances this year.
All in all, I’m very happy with the youngsters we have getting ready to replace the older players when the time comes.
One of the big worries at this point in time is the Hawks don’t have a replacement for Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne or Jordan Lewis. That entire group, along with Sam Mitchell, are the hard men of the team and strong leaders.
Liam Shiels will fill the gap as a great captain when Hodge retires, but he has his role as a shut-down player, and he does that fantastically. Lovell has show why he is classed as Mitchell 2.0, but the Hawks still need to get in the high end of the draft or trade a like-for-like for Hodge and Burgoyne or get a Patrick Cripps or Dustin Martin type.
Jonathan O’Rourke should have been the replacement type for the mids, but so far he has not impressed. Taylor Duryea was also supposed to go into the midfield, but the defence’s performances mean he needs to stay at the back. The hope is that once Angus Litherland or Daniel Howe develops, Duryea will move into the mids, as he can get in there and win the hard ball.
All in all, there are more positives for the future of the Hawks than worries. But the worry is a major hole that needs to be addressed.
Wilson
Roar Guru
I think you are right that we are getting to that time when the lion where playing well but did not have the Fire and that is fine. and we will drop down over the next 2/3 years but I don't think we will drop as far as Lions due to 1. In Melbourne. 2. Good Facility 3. In Clarko we Trust.
Wilson
Roar Guru
the main problem that is that he is shorter then Gunston and O'Brian. but will be a handy 3rd tall once he is fully fit.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Ceglar is doing ok compared to last year it just his time in the Forward line that is hurting us from what I see. Agree that the game is Winnable against Melbourne is not as easy as last few years. It will be a good gage to see where they are this year and how far back we have dropped back as well.
New York Hawk
Guest
My thought is that we don't play four quarters of footy any more. We collectively switch off for extended periods of time and it costs us. I suspect it is that marginal motivation is not there currently, and that is the difference between us this year and in the last 5 years. Not having Roughie means we are long shots for the flag. His flexibility, size, hardness and general presence is irreplaceable. Given the games and flags are won at the margins, it is a massive uphill battle for us to win the flag.
Brinnx
Guest
Sorry to put it out there but there is a wiff of the great 2001-2003 Brisbane Lions about the Hawks this year. They were good enough in 04 to make the GF but the champions were on their last legs and a fresh Port smashed them. They were never the same side after that. This Hawks team have been an awesome side, one of the all-time great's. They will be competitive this year, but history has shown again and again. you just cannot replace a clutch of champions quickly , and its the champions that win you premierships. I believe at best the best they can make a prelim final,experience will get them that far even if they only finish 5th or 6th on the ladder, but that will be it. They will drop to the lower echelons of the 8 in 2017 and miss it entirely in 2018 and the era will be officially over. Time to usher in new champions.
andyl12
Guest
Oh dear, someone is clearly jealous of our success. Hodge and Mitchell are champions and Lewis was about to become one until he turned cr@p this year. If you want snipers go watch Joel Selwood, Nathan Fyfe, Hayden Ballantyne and (until he retired) Adam Goodes.
Bob
Guest
Ryan Burton is the interesting one. Without injury he would've gone top few in the draft. Sneaking out to the Hawks was a major bonus if he ever gets fit. Given the raps on him - he could be the saviour, but will he ever play. Hawks fans will pray so.
I hate pies
Guest
Who will do the sniping once Lewis, Hodge and Mitchell are gone?
Brian
Guest
Petrie too old. Vickery has never shown enough. Still need to finish top 4 this year and have Roughy retire to go get a Cloke. I would drop Duryea. Not sure how Fitzpatrick is going but Ceglar could also use some motivation. The next three weeks are really winnable although Melbourne won't be easy on our current form. When they get to 9-3 or even 8-4 everything will still be possible.
Wilson
Roar Guru
I Say I have not given up on O'Rourke yet but he need to start showing it more consistiantly if he want to cement his spot. Duryea has been bad and I think what Clarko did to Hartung (Who since returning from being droped has steped up) need to be done to him. O'Brien Gives us that tall target, the only other choice is Schoenmakers and Fitzpatrick and mobth need time in the VFL til they are Fit. I think there would have to be better options out there the Cloke as a short term fix i woudl prefer to go for PETRIE or VICKERY
Brian
Guest
I wouldn't give up on O'Rourke yet. I am surprised we are not putting more game time into him as opposed to say O'Brien who won't be ready this year. Strategically I think we need a dual approach, we are the reigning three time premiers so despite Roughy's setback I woudl still like to see us go full tilt for the flag. That means bring Hodgey back to help Mitchell, hope Schoenmakers finds his 2015 form to replace O'Brien and do what else is required to try and win in 2016. If that means choosing a Whitecross instead of a Lovell so be it. As for Duryea his form has been terrible this year. Beyond 2016 it has to be about youth Hodge & Burgoyne should not play into 2017. Brand, O'Rourke Lovell, O'Brien all need game time. If Roughy does not return it may require a shorter term fix with the cap room - dare I say Travis Cloke? but otherwise understand we have run our dash enjoy the GWS years and try and reload for a future tilt. Finally other clubs have paid heavily for believing they were special or made to win (Carlton & Essendon). I hope when its all over we don't appoint Hodge as a lifetime coach and expect to make finals because we are Hawthorn. Hopefully we can rebuild just like 2005 or even like the failed rebuild of 2000-2002.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Story going round since mid last year is that he wants to move to Melbourne due to some Business ventures that he is or wants to get involved with and does not care what club he goes to.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Yeah, I don't think Roughhead is going to play AFL again either. If the Hawks get O'Meara I think I'll be sick. Can't say I'd blame him for exiting that cluster**** on the Gold Coast though, as fast as he can hobble out of there.
Wilson
Roar Guru
I think you are right none have stood out but they are a good Core to build with. And if we got O'Meara would be fantastic and I think we should do everything possible to get him. If not try and get a lower Draft pick in the top 10 for this years draft. I still do like what I have seen of Kieran Lovell and that he is the new and has started of similar to Sam in his first season. So just hope that he continues to develop.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
It is interesting looking at our timeline, i think we were at our peak in 13/14 and slightly lucky last year by getting teams we owned in Adelaide/Freo after getting pantsed by WCE. Then, facing WCE on our turf in the GF. This year, i think our Flag chances ended with Roughy's tragic news and the reality that goes with this is he will probably not play again meaning it changes our needs going forward. The main need is the midfield with it known by all that we are into Jaegar O'Meara big time. We are strong on the outside with the likes of Smith/Hill/Hartung and Willsmore in the wings but on the inside it is Sam or noone. Oppositions have wised to this and will tag him tight every game from now on. As for our youth, well it has shown promise but none have stood out as yet to hang your hat on. I do not think Litherland will be there after this year. Interesting times for Hawks fans