It’s the question keen football observers have been asking after the Hawks went down to Melbourne by five points on Saturday afternoon. The side fought gallantly but simply weren’t good enough to beat a side that was 18th going into the game.
They opened up a lead in the first quarter and yet were unable to put Melbourne away early when they had the chance. And that’s been symbolic of their issues so far this season.
When you look at the sides they have beaten it hasn’t exactly screamed a who’s who of contenders. In Round 1 they had a good win over Adelaide, in Round 3 they were behind against North Melbourne before rallying home and the same occurred against Carlton after being six goals in arrears. Between those wins they lost to the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Geelong and Melbourne.
If you were looking at the ladder after Round 7, you could mount a case that Geelong are certain of making finals and potentially Adelaide as well.
The rest are either not good enough or unproven. St Kilda have been poor for the last two weeks and the rest really haven’t done much to convince me that they are top teams. So that leaves the question: where are the Hawks?
James Worpel of the Hawks (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
They seem like a team not quite sure of what their main goals are going forward. When you look at the age of their overall list it doesn’t paint a pretty vision for any long-term success down the track.
When you have 17 players aged 27 and older the consensus is it’s a premiership-contending team. When that isn’t the case and you’re languishing in 13th position, questions need to be asked.
The biggest issue for Hawthorn is the lack of young elite talent in the side that contributes week in week out. James Worpel has been the find of the season for them with his run and dash in the midfield. For a 20-year-old to average six clearances and four inside 50s a game is a great achievement and something the Hawks can build upon.
They have given game time to another James in James Cousins, and so far the young man has acquitted himself well. He has played just 13 games in his career but six have been in 2019 and his numbers are on the incline. He’s a player worth persisting with.
Their defensive stocks have taken a hit over the last 24 months but in Blake Hardwick they have a solid citizen to rely upon. His breakout season was in 2018 with a runner-up finish in the best and fairest and he looks like a player with leadership traits. He has done superbly well to hold down a position in the defence and is a much-underrated player.
Besides those three players I see James Sicily, Chad Wingard and Jaeger O’Meara as the ones to carry the side into the future. You can add Tom Mitchell into that mix as well; however, for this season he’s not there as he’s done his ACL in the preseason.
So that brings me to the older players. What should the club do to guys like Jarryd Roughead, Shaun Burgoyne and James Frawley. Should they tell them right now that the club doesn’t need them in 2020, or do they need another year from them to help the younger blokes build this club back up again?
I know the club made the finals last year, but that was due to a number of factors. Having Tom Mitchell winning the Brownlow helped, and his loss has been massive for his younger teammates.
Injuries to key personnel like Burgoyne and Liam Shiels have forced others to share the load, and they can, but not for long enough. We saw that against the Bulldogs and against St Kilda. In the past they could cover those absentees. The passage of time stops for no team and the Hawks just can’t will their ageing bodies to the next contest against these younger sides.
So this week is massive for the Hawks against GWS. Win and they are around the mark for the finals hunt still. Lose and I can’t see any way back for them. And even if the club makes finals, this list isn’t capable of playing good September football for long enough. Their last two September campaigns have shown a lot of tired footballers. You can only go to the well so many times.
Nineteen
Guest
I'm summarising what was said on the Hawk Talk podcast this evening as some of the points tie into Nath's article. What were you expecting from Hawthorn this year? This year is a development year. There's only two variables: the plan and the personnel. The problem is the plan not the personnel. Eg. Why does Hawthorn not play a second ruckmen to nullify Gawn's influence on the game when every side that has quelled his influence this year has done so successfully. That error alone saw Gawn rise to become Champion Data's most valuable player YTD. When Melbourne played an extra behind the ball why didn't Clarko adapt in the second half to negate that? Is it because he wants the younger players on the ground to work it out or is he too obstinate? The new 6-6-6 style doesn't afford older players the luxury of exerting their strength and pummelling the younger players into the ground. How many of Port's best players are young? Contrast that with Sydney's aging midfield. 6-6-6 is making it easier for younger players to compete. In yester-year Clarkson's lieutenants would interpret and deliver his instructions to the players. Now he is bereft of lieutenants he is having to go to the bench and deliver his message in person and perhaps this may not be as successful on the younger players. Wingard was meant to be the magician that could come in and be the Selley's Super Seal; he was going to be the guy who, like Cyril, could turn a crap forward 50 entry into a goal but that has yet to eventuate. There were plenty of other thoughts tossed around which tie into the comments Dean and Brian made below.
nathan savino
Roar Pro
Just my opinion mate. They look to be getting some form back and I know they have had an easy ish three weeks. Just a hunch. Crows still have a list to play finals and finish top 6 at least with a bit of luck.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
“Geelong are certain to make the finals, & Adelaide as well.....” Adelaide? The Crows are in trouble. They will be defeated by Port this week.
anon
Roar Pro
It's a horrible list and all credit for Clarko for making the top 4 last year. Clarko made the tough decisions with Mitchell and Hodge but can't bring himself to do it for Roughead.
nathan savino
Roar Pro
Sorry my bad ! ???? human error there lol
Brian
Guest
The list needs refinement but bottoming out just does not work. The poor teams of the free agency era have been Carlton, St Kilda, Melbourne, Fremantle, Brisbane & Gold Coast and by and large they are still poor. Why would Hawthorn want to join that list? Instead refinement is required to as Clarko says find the next 22 who may win a flag. Too many youngsters have not preally come on. Morrisson, Nash, Glass, Miles prime examples. Mirra & O'Brien need to either improve or be delisted as well Roughead, Burgoyne, Puopolo, Schoenmakers, Frawley and Birchall should retire at season's end. Premiership players all of them but they will not win another. They are no guarantees but the current group needs the best chance to succeed. Hawks should focus on 2020 and 2021. There is enough talent there to challenge if things click.
Dean
Guest
Impey has had a great start to the year playing in defence and Scrimshaw has slotted in nicely, both still young. Gunston has just turned 27 and will be a future captain of the club. Howe is only 23 and coming to be one of the best run with players and Morrison has shown he has plenty of potential but is going through a down patch. Mitch Lewis is showing promise and will only get better, it's time he got a game week in week out. It is time to move on a few of the older guys, Poppy, Frawley, Roughhead, Burgoyne might all be playing there last year. Rumours suggest Hawks are interested in Patton and should get him pretty cheap due to his injuries if he chooses to leave and Coniglio is on their radar and as a restricted free agent won't have to give up anything. Could be a another strong trade period with the addition of a couple of top picks that could quickly change things around, might not happen but you never know.
Captain Obvious
Roar Rookie
They won't be at the bottom as long as the awfully average Swans are in the competition! Write Hawthorn off at your peril, history shows they don't stay down for long.
TimeForTasTeam
Roar Rookie
ACL? I thought Mitchell broke his leg. Hawks will spend some time out of finals for a year or two maybe more. No doubt things will change Clarko cant stay forever,like Sheedy for the bombers Hawthorn will be forever grateful for his contribution to the club.Dingley headquarters will continue to make Hawthorn a destination club.
Raimond
Roar Guru
I think they'll beat GWS this week, but they can book their September holidays already.
The bow man
Roar Rookie
You make some good points there Nathan I think that may regret a few decisions in the trade deal with wingard burgoyne and roughed will retire and I am hearing rumors about Clarkson going to Carlton so maybe hawks wont be a destination club anymore
anon
Roar Pro
Where are they going? To the bottom of the ladder.