HAWKS HOME, DEMONS AWAY by Scoop Junior

On a balmy evening at the MCG, the Hawks played some of their best footy of the season in a rampant first half that resulted in a 22-point defeat of a plucky Melbourne outfit.

Quite simply, Hawthorn was too good. The reigning premier did what the reigning premier should have done against last year's and this year's (current) bottom-placed side.

While no one could question Melbourne's effort and endeavour, the Hawks produced a brand of footy with a team chock full with talent that was simply too much for the Dees to handle. Right from the start, the Hawthorn midfield was on top at the stoppages, with Mitchell and Sewell getting first hands on the ball and displaying clean ball use. And when the ball was loose, Hawthorn's greater pace won out. This pace discrepancy was noticeable on a number of occasions and in particular where a Hawthorn player started a few metres behind his Melbourne opponent yet won the foot race to the ball. Pace is no doubt a key issue for the Demons, but it is one which has been identified by the coaching staff and steps have been taken to improve in this area.

With the Hawks' dominating the first half, the Dees went into their shells and stopped taking risks and displaying the free flowing corridor footy that served it well in recent narrow defeats to the Eagles and Bulldogs. The Hawthorn zone was doing its job and the Demons were struggling to move the ball with the required speed to penetrate the zone.

On top of this, when Melbourne did get the ball forward, it made a number of elementary mistakes which cost the side easy goals. Matthew Bate missed from 15 metres out, Brad Miller stuffed up an impressive piece of play by Addam Maric by handballing well wide of Robbo and Robbo himself turned an impressive trademark hanger into an embarrassing miss by making the ridiculous decision to play on despite lying on the ground.

Nevertheless, Melbourne did display a commendable level of fight and while at one stage the Round 1 2008 result looked set to be repeated, the Demons fought back well in the second half and gave the scoreboard some respectability in reducing the final margin to 22 points.

While the final margin did not reflect Hawthorn's early dominance, it did reflect the fact that the Dees lifted their game in the second half, started to take risks and moved the ball better. It was very pleasing to see this attitude despite the game being effectively over at half time. Despite the basic errors in the first half, the forwards worked hard to finish with a respectable scoreline after being held to just four goals at half time.

Stefan Martin provided a target in the last quarter and kicked a remarkable snapped goal after taking a clever mark and deciding (somewhat curiously, but nothing in comparison with Robbo's earlier decision) to play on.

It was not really a great performance from Melbourne's marking forwards. Brad Miller, while working hard as usual, lacks the key ingredients of a good forward - creativity and firepower. We all know about his lack of goals but it's also a lack of genuine forward footy smarts that continues to hold him back.

The midfield was beaten by a far superior opposition midfield, but their effort and work rate did not wane. McLean was busy, as was Green in his first game back from injury, while Moloney also put in a reasonable performance. With the pace issues mentioned previously and the fact that none of the above players possess raw speed, it may be that one or two of the bigger bodied slow-paced midfielders that Melbourne seem to have in abundance may make way in the coming seasons for quicker, fresher legs.

While Nathan Jones' courage and work rate is to be admired, he makes a number of mistakes and is often caught with the ball due to a failure to make the correct decision quickly enough. I think there were about five turnovers in the first half that came directly from Jones - he will need to improve this aspect of his game to retain his place in a developing midfield.

Without a doubt the star of the show was Colin Sylvia, who put in a game that actually matched one of Yze Magic's countless pre-game prediction posts that have been a regular occurrence since 2004. 37 possessions, 4 goals and 4 assists was the culmination of a brilliant performance that supporters have longed to see from Col for five years. In one blistering spell, he kicked three goals in a row to try to ignite his side. The most pleasing aspect of his game was the amount of possessions, as Sylvia has never been a high possession winner. While he has always won his fair share of contested ball, he has struggled to get easy, uncontested possessions in his time at the club. Given his good ball use, the more possessions the better. Hopefully this will be the start of a consistent run of form for him.

The defenders recovered well after being worked over by Franklin and Roughead early. Warnock did a solid job on the dangerous Roughead and a return of three goals to the Hawk was a win for the Demons. Frawley and Rivers both spent time on Franklin, with the latter in particular making some good spoils in the second half.

So in the end the Dees move on to Round 10, with another (somewhat) honourable loss in the bag (which isn't necessarily a bad thing - but I won't go there!).

The continued improvement of young players such as Bennell, Grimes and Morton (though all three didn't have their best games on the weekend) should provide fans with something to get excited about. Maric is another youngster showing good signs and after a few poor games he has started to show why he was highly rated in the 2008 draft. His decision making and execution appear to be first class and something usually happens when the ball is in his hands. It is young players like this that the Dees are pinning their hopes on in their attempts to build something special at the club.

Melbourne 2.5.17 4.6.30 8.10.58 13.14.92

Hawthorn 6.2.38 11.7.73 16.9.105 17.14.116

Goals

Melbourne Sylvia 4 Martin Robertson 2 Bate Bruce Johnson McDonald McLean

Hawthorn Franklin 4 Roughead 3 Bateman Guerra Rioli 2 McGlynn Muston Osborne Williams

Best

Melbourne Sylvia Green McLean Warnock

Hawthorn Lewis Muston Sewell Morton Rioli Franklin

Injuries

Melbourne Robertson (cramp) Whelan (nose)

Hawthorn Stokes (hamstring tightness) Moss (leg)

Reports

Nil

Changes

Nil

Umpires Rosebury Hay Avon

Crowd 39,395 at the MCG

Starting with Cale Morton's game, there's no doubt he wasn't as effective today, but it's a sign of a good player that even though tagged, he still found the football, with 23 touches. I think what was most notably missing tonight, in his performance, was correct decision making. I don't mean to say all the time, but a few times he got the ball, I thought he used the wrong option. In recent weeks, one of his strengths has been his ability to assess the situation and sum it up quickly. This has enabled him to make the right decision, however that skill let him down tonight. That said, he's still a young player and still learning the game. He's a beauty.

Obviously, Sylvia's game was easily the most pleasing and exciting aspect from the Hawks game, but there were many positives we can take from the game. Firstly, Grimes played another very promising game, having the better of Rioli in the first half. His kicking today was "centimetre perfect", as was Sylvia's excluding his shot on goal earlier in the night.

Watching FOX SPORTS NEWS, I was annoyed to hear something along the lines of "Hawks produce impressive display to easily account for the Demons". Were they watching the game? They only won by 22 points. That's not easily accounting for an opponent. I thought Hawthorn's second half was pretty pathetic really, especially considering they are the premiers....they didn't play like it. And how about the last 5 to 10 minutes? That was some of the most negative football I've ever seen, even worse than the days of Essendon and Kevin Sheedy. Surely, they had to back themselves to win one on one contests, against the side sitting at the bottom of the ladder? Instead they chipped it 'round and eventually turned it over. I thought some of the Hawks skills were terrible tonight. I think Bailey has his zones right and the team did him credit and the last 5 minutes or so was proof of that.

We did, however let ourselves down early on with our kicking. Had we kicked straight like the previous two weeks, we probably would have come closer. Still, 22 points is not a blow out by any means and once again our defense did its job, with an honourable mention to Jared Rivers. He was fantastic down back and was in our top 5 tonight.

Maric also showed what he can deliver with sublime foot skills, pin pointing 50 metre passes on more than one occasion. Bennell showed bits and pieces too. Johnson had another solid game and I thought out rucked Campbell for most of the game. Robbo's decision making and kicking let us down again tonight though. I know he's a fan favourite, but his selfishness often hurts the team. On at least two occasions he could have shepparded the ball through for a goal, but instead attempted a mark that was not on and was spoiled. Need I mention his brain freeze on the goal line? As a senior player, he needs to pull his head in next week. If Watts was available next week, I'd play him ahead of Robbo, on Robbo's performance tonight. I'd almost give Newton another try next week, instead.

Now back to Sylvia's game. If he can show this sort of endeavour consistently, for 4 quarters, for 22 games, he has the game to become an absolute superstar. I just hope he follows this performance up, with another impressive display next week, against the Saints. His attack on the ball and man tonight was fantastic. He really looked hungry and it was the first time I've ever seen him play four consistent quarters. Remember, he might have had five goals, had he kicked properly early in the peace. Furthermore, there were certainly glimmers of leadership in his game tonight.

Finally, another pleasing thing about the game was we weren't blown out of the water. That is becoming a theme when we loose these games. Even when we were down by 55 points, we kept at it and with that we came reasonably close in the end. Had Hawthorn had the balls to play the game out for the last 5 minutes, who knows what could have happened.

Another round gone, another major stepping stone in our development. Let's hope next week, we really take up to the Saints and give them a scare. Go Dees!

PS. Where the heck were all the Melbourne supporters? I read threads about wanting to play at the 'G and not Ethihad, yet when we have an MCG game, no one turns up! It was embarrassing to be out numbered so easily. Especially, when you think, just over ten years ago Hawthorn were in a financial crisis, just like us.

Yeah, agree with you 100%

Was great to see the guys fight back - they're been finishing strongly lately - in contrast to previous seasons.

Disappointing about the poor MFC supporter numbers though...

Watching FOX SPORTS NEWS, I was annoyed to hear something along the lines of "Hawks produce impressive display to easily account for the Demons". no one turns up! It was embarrassing to be out numbered so easily. Especially, when you think, just over ten years ago Hawthorn were in a financial crisis, just like us.

I agree with just about everything in that post and reckon you summed up the day beautifully. Except this sentence.

We were looking at an 80 goal loss. Yes, we fought back, but they also took their foot off the gas a bit. The scoreline flattered us. It looked more to me like a 40+ point loss...

Loved the endeavour by the boys today.

The thing that frustrated me the most about today's game was the number of times Hawthorn had a free player in the middle of the centre square 30 meters in the clear. Would it kill them to man up!

Everytime the Hawks had it on their Half back line, all they had to do was open their eyes and there was someone in the middle without an opponent

I'm not sure if anyone has covered this anywhere else,

I thought chipper was fantastic on buddy last night. Could not see the match ups properly in the 1st Q as I'm not used to sitting behind the goals and the other end is a long way away. But the goals he did kick early I thought were on JR rather then JF. After chipper went onto him he only kicked 1 or 2 and one of those was from a push that was right infrount of the ump. Aside from that chipper gave him a bath. He is fast becoming one of our most important players.

agree - thought that frawley was good.. his pace is fantastic!!

i was most disappointed with robbo!! lacked real leadership last evening.... time for a spell.........

IMO, Frawley really struggled on Buddy. Buddy kicked three on him in no time at all. I'm not sure who played on him for the 3rd term, but Rivers killed him in the final quarter. We missed Garland I reckon. As for the manning up, it's frustrating to me as well, but it seems that we're playing more zonal, rather than man on man. As for Hawks taking their foot off the pedal, maybe but I think that's not giving our boys enough credit.

Apart from the continuing pattern that we are continuously beaten with speed through the midfield (especially after clearances) I was pretty happy with the performance. We have no players in our midfield with explosive pace, it really hurt us early on when the Hawks were winning the clearances and spreading/running hard into space.

IMO, Frawley really struggled on Buddy. Buddy kicked three on him in no time at all. I'm not sure who played on him for the 3rd term, but Rivers killed him in the final quarter. We missed Garland I reckon. As for the manning up, it's frustrating to me as well, but it seems that we're playing more zonal, rather than man on man. As for Hawks taking their foot off the pedal, maybe but I think that's not giving our boys enough credit.

In the first quarter I don't think there was much Chip could have done to stop Buddy, the ball was coming in that quick. Players like Scarlett etc would have struggled to contain him.

The thing that frustrated me the most about today's game was the number of times Hawthorn had a free player in the middle of the centre square 30 meters in the clear. Would it kill them to man up!

'A' free player? The ball went down the wing numerous times until the lateral kick into the middle turned into a raffle between 3-4 totally clear HFC players. Drove me nuts.

I've read a few topics now that posters have ripped into Robbo, there is no question that our forward line is better with him in it, he is a hungry forward that wants to kick goals. One brain fade but if it goes through we stand up and cheer. He will be our leading goal kicker this year.

I'm sick of hearing week after week that the team we play was down or took the foot off the pedal, one or two weeks you cop that but every game give me a break. Has anyone thought maybe we are causing these teams to play badly.

IMO, Frawley really struggled on Buddy. Buddy kicked three on him in no time at all. I'm not sure who played on him for the 3rd term, but Rivers killed him in the final quarter. We missed Garland I reckon. As for the manning up, it's frustrating to me as well, but it seems that we're playing more zonal, rather than man on man. As for Hawks taking their foot off the pedal, maybe but I think that's not giving our boys enough credit.

Stiff on frawley... one was from a free kick that had nothing to do with him! Another was a miss kick that fell into his arms, one other there was clear hands in the back twice!!!

Thought he did pretty well. Is a lot quicker than rivers who i think is better suited ot the floating back role!

Thought he did pretty well. Is a lot quicker than rivers who i think is better suited ot the floating back role!

Agreed.

I'm not sure if anyone has covered this anywhere else,

I thought chipper was fantastic on buddy last night. Could not see the match ups properly in the 1st Q as I'm not used to sitting behind the goals and the other end is a long way away. But the goals he did kick early I thought were on JR rather then JF. After chipper went onto him he only kicked 1 or 2 and one of those was from a push that was right infrount of the ump. Aside from that chipper gave him a bath. He is fast becoming one of our most important players.

Started off like rabbits caught in the spotlight, totally reactive, not initiating anything at all. Thought the backline fought back well, only goal to Buddy after quater time was after a double push in the back to Frawley which the umpire totally ignored, Roughead also got one from a blatant push in the first quater. SEcond half we started to take the game on and played much better

Stiff on frawley... one was from a free kick that had nothing to do with him! Another was a miss kick that fell into his arms, one other there was clear hands in the back twice!!!

Thought he did pretty well. Is a lot quicker than rivers who i think is better suited ot the floating back role!

One rule book for Hawthorn: another for us helped them get a start.

That said, we began hesitantly as shown by Miller's refusal to take a shot. The heads were not in the right space.

Sylvia obviously was fantastic. Bate was OK too. Frawley worked hard and would have learned plenty. That goal resulting from the multiple in the back was not his fault and could have been his free - other times saw him working very hard off the ball.

Like the Dogs game, centre clearances killed us.

Apart from Jones, who made mistakes but worked very hard, I was disappointed with our mids. Maclean must be playing hurt. Macca had little impact. They shut Davey down well.

We lacked leadership - note Miller, Macca and Robbo's brain fade.

The persistance and fight back were admirable and a good sign for the future. 17 minutes into the last term we were a quick goal or two away from giving them real concern.

I said in other threads that the margin made our performance look better than it actually was. Hawthorn outplayed us convincingly for the first half, and may well have continued on with it if they didn't cop two injuries in the third quarter. I was really disappointed with our first half.

Nonetheless, we never gave up, and I love the fact that we've won 7 out of 9 4th quarters. It's a great thing to be able to run out matches (regardless of the opposition).

It was a good effort by the Boys,

But when the Heat was on in the 2nd Q we were murdered Through the Mid Field & Wings.

Miller would not impose himself or KICK!!!! IT DROVE ME BONKERS !!!!

We played some good Footy after half time & made Hawthorn earn it. That was good but we still lack elite Midfielders.

Jonesy & Brock really try but lack Pace.

Brad Green was Awesome, Col showed he can do it. (finally) will it continue??

Key Forward & Quicker Mid Field & september is attainable.

Should've been a 14 goal loss.

We didn't work hard enough in the first half, especially runningwise

In the first quarter I don't think there was much Chip could have done to stop Buddy, the ball was coming in that quick. Players like Scarlett etc would have struggled to contain him.

Agreed, but I would have been interested to see how Garland would have dealt with it.

I've read a few topics now that posters have ripped into Robbo, there is no question that our forward line is better with him in it, he is a hungry forward that wants to kick goals. One brain fade but if it goes through we stand up and cheer. He will be our leading goal kicker this year.

I'm sick of hearing week after week that the team we play was down or took the foot off the pedal, one or two weeks you cop that but every game give me a break. Has anyone thought maybe we are causing these teams to play badly.

I'm with you for the latter part of this post, but the first bit on Robbo, he certainly straightens us up and we do look better with him on the ground, that said, his selfishness and lack of team awareness often gives me the shits. In some ways, I would rather them give a young bloke a go and see if they can't present a focal point up forward.

Is a lot quicker than rivers who i think is better suited ot the floating back role!

I'd agree with that as well. That said, I think Rivers did a fantastic job on him in the final term. The tackle was first class, in a pressurised situation.

I said in other threads that the margin made our performance look better than it actually was. Hawthorn outplayed us convincingly for the first half, and may well have continued on with it if they didn't cop two injuries in the third quarter. I was really disappointed with our first half.

Nonetheless, we never gave up, and I love the fact that we've won 7 out of 9 4th quarters. It's a great thing to be able to run out matches (regardless of the opposition).

Like I actually said to my old man after the game and something Clarkson later confirmed in his press conference, was that if we had another quarter we would have over run them. Hawthorn actually became more ineffective in the 2nd half, when we applied the pressure. Just as their kicking went off and they became less accurate.

I'd agree with that as well. That said, I think Rivers did a fantastic job on him in the final term. The tackle was first class, in a pressurised situation.

I couldn't understand why early on, we were playing Rivers on Buddy and Martin as the loose man in defence.

In my opinion, Rivers is the best 'loose man in defence' we have ever had, and Martin has better size and speed to go with Buddy.

I'm not the coash, but I thought we were really exposed by this decision early

I'm not sure what to make of the fact that we had only two scoring shots less than the reigning premier in this game (and but for Robbo's brain fade it would have been one less). They had more forward 50 entries but in the end, it could have been a close call.

Perhaps we are getting closer ...