I just saw the Hawthorn players at their hotel in Adelaide.

It was very noticable how many players limping; Roughhead particually bad.

Wouldn't think that unusual. They usually all look after the game like they have been through the wringer.

Hope there are issues though for next week!

There were cramps all over the joint last night...

GREAT game of footy though. Only thing missing was perhaps a tiny bit of execution. Particularly by Buddy who's screwed me on UF... (not demonland one)

I just saw the Hawthorn players at their hotel in Adelaide.

It was very noticable how many players limping; Roughhead particually bad.

Probably because they received too many medical room disposals from 'The Bruce'.

Wouldn't think its injuries. I usually limp out of the gym and I do nowhere near the amount of running they do in a match.

Their weakness, as it has been for the last three or four years, is their backline. Quick movement out of defence, through their zone, results in their defenders being hopelessly left stranded.

Gibson, Gilham, Birchall, Bruce, Stratton are all OK as a group, but individually they're not much chop, and their skills aren't flash either.

It also helps when you have someone like Phil Davis who does a pretty good job on Franklin (who could have kicked 8 goals but still didn't stand out like he can).

Their weakness, as it has been for the last three or four years, is their backline. Quick movement out of defence, through their zone, results in their defenders being hopelessly left stranded.

Gibson, Gilham, Birchall, Bruce, Stratton are all OK as a group, but individually they're not much chop, and their skills aren't flash either.

It also helps when you have someone like Phil Davis who does a pretty good job on Franklin (who could have kicked 8 goals but still didn't stand out like he can).

Agree with all of that, & I didn't think buddy imposed himself on the game,as well.

...Particularly by Buddy who's screwed me on UF... (not demonland one)

yep me too.

Wouldn't think its injuries. I usually limp out of the gym and I do nowhere near the amount of running they do in a match.

Yeah, the general view seems to be that players across all clubs struggle to run out the first game and pull up a bit sore, don't think you can read much into a few players limping post-game.

BTW Pipefitter, did you happen to get your alias from a Canadian movie ...

Hawks are good enough to cause us issues even if they were all on one leg. I can't recall the last time we beat this mob.

No offence to the demon faithful here, but they're gonna smash us like electric guitars next Sunday.

Their first half alone was amazing. Better than anything we dished up, including the Petterd-inspired last quarter.

I think we are going to be beaten and I still think it will be 5 goals but I will be interested to see how we go. No Frawley will hurt but their backline looks weaker than it has last time we played them and our forward line is stronger. If we can get it out of the centre our forwards may put up a big fight.

And who's going to play on Buddy??

Hopefully Bruce keeps his form for next week.

Their first half alone was amazing. Better than anything we dished up, including the Petterd-inspired last quarter.

No it wasn't. It was more that Adelaide was insipid. Hawthorn's best last night was good, but not that good, and we showed enough today to convince me that we can win next week. It's about quick ball movement and keeping forwards (preferably a mix of Green, Jurrah and Petterd) deep enough so that a long kick can isolate them against Hawthorn's defenders, who suck.

I'm not saying it's going to be easy, or even that we're favourites, but we can beat them.