Three reasons why we lost

[titan_uranus 25,176]

1 - Losing Davey in the second quarter. Double-whammy of losing his run and foot skills and the restriction it placed on our rotations. There wasn't a lot left in the tanks of the guys at the end.

2 - Under-sized midfield. Scully, Trengove and McKenzie are scrawny kids compared to Mitchell, Sewell and Burgoyne. Without Moloney in the guts we lost a lot of strength and it was far too easy for them to clear the ball from stoppages, despite Jamar's good work in the ruck

3 - Poor kicking. Too many kicks missed the target or floated up in the air. A few also went sideways/backwards for a switch when there was no switch on and it sapped our momentum and drive (and in one case, gave Ellis a goal).

There were still positives: Jurrah and Wonaeamirri in the first half, Sylvia, Bruce on Hodge, Frawley on Franklin, Rivers on Roughead, the backline in general really. But in the end we were never going to win with so few inside 50s, and that stemmed from the midfield smashing and the lack of drive we had.

Oh, and the umpiring was as bad as could be. Surprising, actually, I rated Rosebury and McInerny before today. But the deliberate out of bounds and the deliberate rushed behind decisions were atrocious, and there was little consistency with throws, pushes in the back and holding the man.

[Roost It 1,434]

1. Moloney

2. Davey

3. Hawthorn

[sylvinator 96]

1. Moloney

2. Davey

3. Hawthorn

100% agree.

Hawthorn did play well, so have to give them that.

Moloney was sorely missed today at stoppages

[titan_uranus 25,176]

Hawthorn did play well, so have to give them that.

Don't agree with that. Sewell played a blinder, Stratton was good down back, but on the whole I don't think they played that well at all. Better than us, yes, but not great.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Mistakes at crucial times.

Clearances for the reasons as mentioned.

[Jaded No More 68,975]

We were smashed in the clearances, and that was the number one reason we lost. We could not get our hands on the ball, which put enormous pressure on the backline.

I was also disappointed with some of the coaching today. In the pouring wet, we suddenly decided to stop handling and start bombing the ball long. WTF? It reeked of panic and immaturity, and so hopefully it was just our players losing the plot, and not a directive from Bailey. Because we had no chance in hell of ever scoring like that.

Of course the relatively poor output we had from Green and Dunn didn't help, and made our forwardline redundant once more, and some of the kicking from the backline, especially that of Bartram, made me want to burn my eyeballs. Seriously, Bartram has to handball AT ALL COST!

On the plus side, we played average with an undersized midfield, and a man short for 3 quarters, and we still stayed in touch until the last 10 minutes of the match. The backline was gallant as usual, and I was particularly happy for Rivers, who seems to have found his touch again. Frawley again was very good. Beat Franklin for pace, beat him at ground level, and of course had the misfortune of being on the end of some of the most pathetic and soft frees in history. Lance 'fat gut' Franklin, was KOTD today by 4 umpires. Trust us to cop it from all angles when our season is on the line

In round 1, we were 10 goals time at the main break. You have to appreciate the great inroads we've made. We can definitely walk away proud today.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,299]

We were beaten by more mature bodies and that was about it. I walked away disappointed but content in the fact that I doubt they will beat us again for some time.

[titan_uranus 25,176]

Oh, the other thing that didn't help was Bailey's relectance to man up Hawthorn's loose man in defence in the fourth quarter. Why we played a loose man with 5 minutes to go when we were down by 2 goals I don't understand.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,257]

1) The boundary throw in, in the 1st qtr that we gifted them a goal.

2) The boundary throw in, in the 4th qtr that we gifted them a goal.

3) The boundary throw in, in the 4th qtr that we gifted them a goal.

Seriously, some of our stoppages (lack of pressure) were shocking, we left the likes of Hodge and Burgoyne alone and they punished us. Bailey will let them know about it.

It's all a learning curve and we'll get there.

[stuie 7,374]

1. Bartram (tried hard, but shocking disposal)

2. Bruce (gave up on ALOT of contests, terrible kicking)

3. Johnson (smashed in the ruck today)

Honorable mention to Garlands atrocious kicking out, the MASSIVE loss of Davey, and the 3 extra players in brown and yellow

Just a tough day at the office, and a valuable learning experience

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Inside fifties/Clearances.

Given how many there were it was a testament to our defence that we were even close. Of all the sections of the ground, the midfield was probably the youngest, if you don't count the ruckmen.

[Geddy Lee 582]

We were beaten by more mature bodies and that was about it. I walked away disappointed but content in the fact that I doubt they will beat us again for some time.

Strange. I don't see why we would beat them next time. We can never contain them. They are a bloody good team with a scary midfield and forward line.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I was also disappointed with some of the coaching today. In the pouring wet, we suddenly decided to stop handling and start bombing the ball long. WTF? It reeked of panic and immaturity, and so hopefully it was just our players losing the plot, and not a directive from Bailey. Because we had no chance in hell of ever scoring like that.

You genuinely believe that handpassing in the rain is better than long kicking?

I've been a critic of Bailey in the past but I believe him moving to the bench has been a cornerstone in the team's recent good form.

[Deeoldfart 8,109]

....................... They are a bloody good team with a scary midfield and forward line.

............ and you think we won't be?

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

I was thinking that the 3 umpires had something to do with do it.

[Jaded No More 68,975]

Strange. I don't see why we would beat them next time. We can never contain them. They are a bloody good team with a scary midfield and forward line.

They think they are much better than they actually are.

Their backline is average at best, and yes they have good mids, but they are hardly bursting at the seams with depth, and they lack pace. Their forwardline is predictable and one dimensional when Rioli isn't there, especially when Roughead plays like a spud.

There is a reason why they haven't given a yelp since winning a flag. It's because they are not hard to figure out and shut down. A young team missing some of its most important players, managed to stay even with them for 3.5 quarters just by applying a lot of pressure and burning them with speed.

They are not nearly as scary or good as Geelong, St Kilda or Collingwood. They are a team with plenty of champions, but they definitely don't play the sort of consistent, damaging footy that champion teams do.

[Jonesy's jokers 0]

Don't agree with that. Sewell played a blinder, Stratton was good down back, but on the whole I don't think they played that well at all. Better than us, yes, but not great.

o dont think hawks played all that well. if they play like that against freo and pies they will be smashed. i think theyl go out td 1 of september

[Jaded No More 68,975]

You genuinely believe that handpassing in the rain is better than long kicking?

I've been a critic of Bailey in the past but I believe him moving to the bench has been a cornerstone in the team's recent good form.

You genuinely believe that bombing long to a 15-man forwardline is better than moving the ball with speed and precision by hand or with short kicks?

Hawthorn play a rolling zone and their press hard defensively when they don't have possession. The worst thing you can do against them, especially when conditions are poor, is to bomb the ball long, because they will always have numbers at the contest to hurt you on the rebound.

[agent_orange 0]

1. Bartram (tried hard, but shocking disposal)

2. Bruce (gave up on ALOT of contests, terrible kicking)

3. Johnson (smashed in the ruck today)

Honorable mention to Garlands atrocious kicking out, the MASSIVE loss of Davey, and the 3 extra players in brown and yellow

Just a tough day at the office, and a valuable learning experience

While I like Bartrams toughness, his disposals really hurt us alot B)

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,257]

Please don't blame the umps.

It's the most [censored] weak excuse after a loss.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

You genuinely believe that bombing long to a 15-man forwardline is better than moving the ball with speed and precision by hand or with short kicks?

You go and play footy in the wet and tell me how easy it is to move the ball with "speed and precision".

[Geddy Lee 582]

Please don't blame the umps.

It's the most [censored] weak excuse after a loss.

I know you weren't there so I'll excuse this comment.

[Jaded No More 68,975]

You go and play footy in the wet and tell me how easy it is to move the ball with "speed and precision".

Easier than asking forwards to mark the ball with 30 players around them in the pouring wet, with the ball being bombed over their head.

We have enough skilled and speedy players to try and execute short kicks and handballs in the wet. The only time we looked dangerous was when we found space by doing just that. We didn't kick a single goal from bombing the ball long.

[3Dee 1,153]

Bail great, Bruce meh, Jamar great, roving meh, Frawley great, buddy/umpires meh. Bring on 2011.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

We were smashed in the clearances, and that was the number one reason we lost. We could not get our hands on the ball, which put enormous pressure on the backline.

I was also disappointed with some of the coaching today. In the pouring wet, we suddenly decided to stop handling and start bombing the ball long. WTF? It reeked of panic and immaturity, and so hopefully it was just our players losing the plot, and not a directive from Bailey. Because we had no chance in hell of ever scoring like that.

Of course the relatively poor output we had from Green and Dunn didn't help, and made our forwardline redundant once more, and some of the kicking from the backline, especially that of Bartram, made me want to burn my eyeballs. Seriously, Bartram has to handball AT ALL COST!

On the plus side, we played average with an undersized midfield, and a man short for 3 quarters, and we still stayed in touch until the last 10 minutes of the match. The backline was gallant as usual, and I was particularly happy for Rivers, who seems to have found his touch again. Frawley again was very good. Beat Franklin for pace, beat him at ground level, and of course had the misfortune of being on the end of some of the most pathetic and soft frees in history. Lance 'fat gut' Franklin, was KOTD today by 4 umpires. Trust us to cop it from all angles when our season is on the line

In round 1, we were 10 goals time at the main break. You have to appreciate the great inroads we've made. We can definitely walk away proud today.

I agree with most of that except the bit in bold. When it started raining they played a simpler more effective style of footy and we were lucky that they couldn't capitilise. We did change that up as the game wore on. Also the rain meant more stoppages wich suited thier game style and slowed us down. When the rain fell they clearly gained the acsendancy.