So many reasons to love last night...

[comrade]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

He did some brilliant things on Saturday night and in fairness I should have given him votes such was his effect on the game. Wasn't his fault that he spent almost the entire last qtr on the bench with his feet up.

I loved the left foot goal in the 2nd qtr and the one handed mark when he pushed Campbell Brown out of the contest with ease (I thought he was supposed to be He-Man??). Those two pieces of play just reaked of absolute class.

Of our 3 young, gun midfielders (Cooney & Griffen), could Higgins end up the best?

[Mantis]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

Of our 3 young, gun midfielders (Cooney & Griffen), could Higgins end up the best?

I don't really care in the end, but it might be fun watching them battle for the no.1 position.

All are different in many ways, but gee they have some talent. I can't wait for the day that these 3 are at the peak of their powers.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

Shame TCD was home sick (a notable absence from Aisle 34) - how are you feeling now Barry? That should have eased the ailment a bit surely!

Still not well Ozza, thanks for asking. Back off to the doc's today so hopefully I'll know more later on today.

[Mofra]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

I loved the left foot goal in the 2nd qtr and the one handed mark when he pushed Campbell Brown out of the contest with ease (I thought he was supposed to be He-Man??). Those two pieces of play just reaked of absolute class.

To be fair, it was as much about timing & judgement as it was about strength. Having said that, Higgins did look pretty strong in the contests last night. He may be developing the "Griffen Shuffle" which will make him even harder to tackle.

Can't pick any midfielder on the Hawks list who comes close to Higgo for class.

[Mantis]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

Can't pick any midfielder on the Hawks list who comes close to Higgo for class.

I don't think they are alone in that respect.

[Ozza]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

Still not well Ozza, thanks for asking. Back off to the doc's today so hopefully I'll know more later on today.

All the best mate. Actually Dad and I both nearly didn't make it - he was crook also and I did my knee at footy on Saturday - so we were walking wounded but glad we decided to get there.

[ledge]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

Hope its nothing serious Baz, keep us informed.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

Hope its nothing serious Baz, keep us informed.

Nah, just a chest infection, with a rotten cough, hopefully these new anti biotics work without the side effects.

[LostDoggy]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

Did say last year that talented, undisciplined teams may have their moment in the sun, but they never maintain their level for very long. Hawthorn, and Franklin in particular, was never going to make the most of their talent or be able to stay at their peak for very long with their off-field lifestyles and crappy attitudes.. I did say that they had better win last year when they were 'up' because that would be their only opportunity for a long time, credit to them for stealing the GF, but I think they'll just be dangerous floaters for the next decade.

[LostDoggy]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

One small thing I noticed last game.

3rd Quarter, Johnson has the ball, Hawks have one opponent who can effect the contest. Griffen runs hard for a handball receive in the F50.

Johnson loops the ball over, Griffen takes his eyes off the ball, scans the F50, then looks at the ball again when it gets to him.

He takes it cleanly, and because he scanned the F50, knows exactly how much time he has to stady & kick the ball. Of coruse, he times it perfectly & kicks the goal.
Situational Awarness is a term stressed to military aviators, it seems Griffen had that innate understanding of how important it was to timing & positioning. It probably sounds like such a small thing to notice but I was very impressed. A lesser player would have watched the flight of the ball, panicked when he got it, rushed the shot and possibly fluffed it.

Great observation Mofra - now I totally know why I love my namesake! His poise and balance (when he's on) is an absolute pleasure to watch. I know we have discussed this type of stuff on this forum before, but I believe that type of awareness is a natural gift of ability, and is much harder to teach and/or learn.

[westdog54]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

One that I just remembered after watching the replay (something I'm still not sick of doing).

Johnno's rugby union 'chip 'n' chase' late in the last quarter with no teammates in front of him. Almost came off too, the kick was that well weighted. Matt Giteau would have been proud.

[comrade]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

One that I just remembered after watching the replay (something I'm still not sick of doing).

Johnno's rugby union 'chip 'n' chase' late in the last quarter with no teammates in front of him. Almost came off too, the kick was that well weighted. Matt Giteau would have been proud.

He also did the old ‘Kevin Bartlett’ handball to himself, that sucked in Sam Mitchell.

[Twodogs]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

One that I just remembered after watching the replay (something I'm still not sick of doing).

Johnno's rugby union 'chip 'n' chase' late in the last quarter with no teammates in front of him. Almost came off too, the kick was that well weighted. Matt Giteau would have been proud.

Yeah I remember that. It's just a shame that it was Franklin he had to have the foot race against, a couple of years ago Johnno would have burnt anyone in the AFL in that race for the ball but he's lost a yard or two the last couple of seasons.

[Ozza]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

Yeah I remember that. It's just a shame that it was Franklin he had to have the foot race against, a couple of years ago Johnno would have burnt anyone in the AFL in that race for the ball but he's lost a yard or two the last couple of seasons.

I haven't noticed Johnno lose any of his pace. In fact, when he burnt off two Richmond players a few weeks ago to run in and kcik one from the goal line it reminded me how quick he still is.

[Twodogs]

Re: So many reasons to love last night...

I haven't noticed Johnno lose any of his pace. In fact, when he burnt off two Richmond players a few weeks ago to run in and kcik one from the goal line it reminded me how quick he still is.

Yeah but they were only Richmond players...



He's still pretty quick but he doesnt have that uberpace past the first 5 or 10 metres that he used to have. A couple of times this year he's tried to pull off his signature play-the one where he will edge his opponent under the ball in the marking contest and then turn, gather and speed away at pace toward goal-and it hasnt come off.