Round 19 - Other Matches

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Well that wa some game.
Brilliant opesning by Geelong, fantastic comeback by Hawthorn and then Geelong goal on the siren to maintain the streak.

Most exciting game I have watched this year.

[jeemak]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

I really hate Geelong, given I live down this way, but they continually find a way to beat Hawthorn. I'd be livid if I was a Hawks man.

Composure told a tale. Puopolo screwed it -- I remember him making critical errors v Collingwood in the PF too. I like his endeavour, but in these tight games, he makes a habit of coughing up the ball.

Shoenmakers is still suspect against quality KPFs.

I think a lot of Hawthorn's game is susceptible to one on one pressure. Thing is though, you have to limit their effectiveness each time you have a lapse and can't maintain that style when the game opens up, which it will.

The rest of the year will be interesting, as I think Hawthorn have been the first of the contenders to really hit their straps from a fitness and preparation point of view. If other teams can catch up and play at an intense level where they can limit the space the Hawks have for large portions of the game their kicking game will come unstuck.

[Bornadog]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

I really hate Geelong, given I live down this way, but they continually find a way to beat Hawthorn. I'd be livid if I was a Hawks man.

Composure told a tale. Puopolo screwed it -- I remember him making critical errors v Collingwood in the PF too. I like his endeavour, but in these tight games, he makes a habit of coughing up the ball.

Shoenmakers is still suspect against quality KPFs.

Hawks had a few opportunities to slow things down in the last minute but were determined to continue an all out attack. I actually hate players trying to kick the ball off the deck, why Puopolo didn't try and grab the ball is any ones guess.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

It's amazing what pressure does to players.
Shocking error from poppy, great kick from Hawkins.
Hawthorn monstered in the back half, Stat was 12 contested marks inside 50.
Ripping game though

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

I think a lot of Hawthorn's game is susceptible to one on one pressure. Thing is though, you have to limit their effectiveness each time you have a lapse and can't maintain that style when the game opens up, which it will.

The rest of the year will be interesting, as I think Hawthorn have been the first of the contenders to really hit their straps from a fitness and preparation point of view. If other teams can catch up and play at an intense level where they can limit the space the Hawks have for large portions of the game their kicking game will come unstuck.

Yep.

I am not sure the other sides have it mentally and physically over Hawthorn like Geelong do, though. Chapman, Johnson, Scarlett, Selwood, Taylor and Bartel (quiet tonight) have made a habit of out pointing Hawthorn in the hard contested footy.

Geelong's pressure has been immense the last few weeks, starting with that dominant win over Essendon.

I think Hawthorn are better than Collingwood*, Sydney and West Coast but if they have to face Geelong in a final, it's hard to see them winning. They are mentally choked by the task of beating them.

* Collingwood need Dawes and specifically Cloke to get back to their best form. Do that and they can beat Hawthorn, who just can't contain monster forwards.

Hawks had a few opportunities to slow things down in the last minute but were determined to continue an all out attack. I actually hate players trying to kick the ball off the deck, why Puopolo didn't try and grab the ball is any ones guess.

Hard to know what was going through his head. I suppose he thought he was under pressure, but it was a really stupid decision.

[Maddog37]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

How good is Enright!

Enjoyed seeing the Hawks get out muscled. Took them a while to wake up but Mitchell and Sewell came good. If Mitchell is quiet then the Hawks are nowhere near as impressive. Strange that he is no longer captain but is now the spiritual leader.

[Eastdog]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Do you think if Franklin played tonight for Hawthorn they would have won?

[Topdog]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Shoenmakers is still suspect against quality KPFs.

Very very very generous way of wording it

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Very very very generous way of wording it

I know, but I suppose he's had a decent year to date. Tonight was his biggest challenge yet though and he failed miserably on so many levels.

[jeemak]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Yep.

I am not sure the other sides have it mentally and physically over Hawthorn like Geelong do, though. Chapman, Johnson, Scarlett, Selwood, Taylor and Bartel (quiet tonight) have made a habit of out pointing Hawthorn in the hard contested footy.

Geelong's pressure has been immense the last few weeks, starting with that dominant win over Essendon.

I think Hawthorn are better than Collingwood*, Sydney and West Coast but if they have to face Geelong in a final, it's hard to see them winning. They are mentally choked by the task of beating them.

* Collingwood need Dawes and specifically Cloke to get back to their best form. Do that and they can beat Hawthorn, who just can't contain monster forwards.



Hard to know what was going through his head. I suppose he thought he was under pressure, but it was a really stupid decision.

Personally, I don't think the mental side of it comes in to it. Since 2008, Geelong has been much more settled with respect to injuries and talent on the park every time they've played the Hawks. Plus, they've had a team that knows how to win against pretty much all contenders.

Game plan comes in to it as well. Tonight we saw a team that was prepared to fight it out with intense one on one football against the Hawks for at least a quarter and a half, and for other periods throughout the game where they could still be competitive through stopping the Hawks run and carry for extended periods. This type of football isn't sustainable, and you need sufficient talent and nouse to hold off an opposition like Hawthorn to hold your lead. What's important though, was Geelong capitalised on their opportunities when they had them. Any team trying to negate Hawthorn needs to do the same, otherwise they'll get burned. I'm not confident Geelong have it in them to do the same when the whips are cracking at the end of the year.

I think the Hawks will be a very good chance to go all the way, though they're suspect in the ways our teams were in 2008-2009 were in some respects. Though, they seem to have that little bit of extra class, it's bloody hard in finals footy to hit up targets all the time.

[KT31]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Do you think if Franklin played tonight for Hawthorn they would have won?

In a word, yes.

[jeemak]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Do you think if Franklin played tonight for Hawthorn they would have won?

It would have changed the dynamic of the game, that's for sure, though not enough to stop the first quarter onslaught from Geelong. Hawthorn were asleep to Geelong's tactics in the first part of the game, and paid the price henceforth.

When Hawthorn started winning the ball in space Franklin would have helped a great deal, and would have finished off their work. But the ball goes back to the centre of the ground each time a goal is scored, and as a result the Hawks ability to apply pressure on forward movement from Geelong's defense would have been eliminated.

Plus, if Franklin played tonight he would have been a chance to tear a hammy, just like he was in the game he came back for instead of having a rest. I think the Hawks will rue the decision not to rest him against GWS. His injury is going to be a factor all year, as once you tear one you're a chance to do another one again very easily. It's a crap muscle to injure.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Hawthorn have been in red hot form and it was agreat fightback.

Concerns for them in the back half. West Coast and Collingwood also have big forwards to trouble them.

Suckling, who has been used to set up things was a non factor.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

How good is Enright!

Enjoyed seeing the Hawks get out muscled. Took them a while to wake up but Mitchell and Sewell came good. If Mitchell is quiet then the Hawks are nowhere near as impressive. Strange that he is no longer captain but is now the spiritual leader.

I'm not having a go at you Maddog37 but were did spiritual leader come from?
This is becoming a comment that makes me what to throw up, was it Bruce on seven?
Sounds very American and it's crept into the commentary on TV a lot and sounds like footballers are namby pamby.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Round 19 - Other Matches

Well personally I came away from this game thinking Hawthorns strangle hold on this years premiership is even tighter.

They were 50+ points down.. Geelong were clearly more hungry and wanted it more in that first quarter. This won't be the case come September.

Hawthorns ability to come from that far back to be in a winnable position was outstanding. Yes they made some criticle errors down the stretch, but by golly they will be extremely tough to beat come September.