Have The Hawks become flat track bullies that wilt under pressure?

[PaulRB 6,435]

Hawks have smashed Geelong, Doggies and North.

Hawks have wilted to lose narrowly to Dons, Port and Giants.

When the pressure comes on they like to assert their dominance, or they struggle.

Reckon if we can put pressure on their ball carriers and then stand up to their inevitable attempts to bully and dominate we can get close.

With their outs and the mental weakness that appears to have entered their game and leadership this year, they are beatable.

As GWS just showed...

Big game.

[monoccular 17,699]

On those occasions that we have applied pressure this year we have done ok - well.

Trouble will be applying it for four quarters next (or any) week.

Time will tell.

[Gorgoroth 13,188]

Hodge, Lewis, Frawley, lake.

Take the equivalent of those four out of any team and they will struggle.

[frankie_d 1,471]

Without Hodge and Lewis, they might lose some sting. Those two are natural bullies. I will be looking for an immediate physical reaction if they try to push us around, and for a sustained "we'll keep putting our head over the ball".

I don't think they'll need to, though. In defense, we often set up a few meters behind the opposing player - and their footskills will kill us in that situation.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

So the back to back premiers are now being labelled 'flat track bullies' based on a few narrow losses?

Now I've heard it all.

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

The pressure is a necessity.

We did it once against the toiges.

Since then Freo and the swans have shown us what real pressure is.

When we train why don't we train with intense pressure?

Are we afraid of getting injuries?

We can't train bruise free and expect to play any different.

How you train is how you play.

We need more hard players, we lack that grunt, and the big bodies.

Van den berg is the hardest body in our side. Petracca next year will add to that.

Riley is hard and need him in and under against the Hawks.

Brayshaw Is hard and fearless. Viney ditto. Jones ditto. You can see what types we are trying to get on board.

Then you get Toumpas, Watts and starts to fall apart.

[Biffen 12,949]

Yep ,they are finished.

Everyone has got them sorted.

Now if Mitchell,Rough-head,Breust,Rioli,etc get injured we are a chance.

[PaulRB 6,435]

So the back to back premiers are now being labelled 'flat track bullies' based on a few narrow losses?

Now I've heard it all.

The "flat track bullies" label comes from the games they Won!

i.e 1st quarter vs North score at 18-19, and Hodge goes for North Captain with elbow off play (that be the bully part), North lose focus and Hawks able to impose (also the Bully part), Lewis follows up on Goldstein later to ensure North stayed submissive...

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

Beatable

[Earl Hood 6,152]

Short answer is NO!

[Moonshadow 17,678]

ATM a team with a good, fast midfield can possibly match them.

Unfortunately that's not us.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,407]

Short answer is NO!

Short answer is NO!

Short answer is NO!

Ditto. And we now have to face the Hawks on the rebound. Grrrrrrrr!

[John Crow Batty 8,886]

Don't underestimate the Hawks or even the Swans for poor early season form. It was the same story for both early last season. The real question is; are any of the fast starters true stayers come September?

[RalphiusMaximus 6,110]

LEts watch our team try to put pressure on them and take note of what happens. I'm tipping another 50+ point loss.

[PaulRB 6,435]

Of the three (Freo, Swans and Hawks), the Hawks are currently weakest in terms of injuries, suspensions and form...

If Frawley and Lake out, would hope one of Hogan or Dawes can kick a few.

Ideally we'd have Jetta and Viney back this week...

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Of the three (Freo, Swans and Hawks), the Hawks are currently weakest in terms of injuries, suspensions and form...

If Frawley and Lake out, would hope one of Hogan or Dawes can kick a few.

Ideally we'd have Jetta and Viney back this week...

I admire your optimism Paul, I really do... but the Hawks have pulled our pants down more than any other club over the last few years.

While we are a more competitive outfit nothing over the past fortnight suggests we will turn the tide in any way, shape or form.

I'll be hoping that we don't roll over in the first term and stick with them for most of the game... but I won't be counting on it.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

I said to my brother after last night's game that you can predict a similar result to the Sydney game, except add 20 points to our score and 30 to the opposition's.

[John Crow Batty 8,886]

I imagi

I admire your optimism Paul, I really do... but the Hawks have pulled our pants down more than any other club over the last few years.

While we are a more competitive outfit nothing over the past fortnight suggests we will turn the tide in any way, shape or form.

I'll be hoping that we don't roll over in the first term and stick with them for most of the game... but I won't be counting on it.

A lot of teams don't respect us and it's our fault because we don't usually fight back after they give us an early pummelling.

[PaulRB 6,435]

Fair enough Wiseblood!

Makes the week go easier fantasising that we can humiliate the team that's spanked us more than most...

It may not be us, but I reckon the alarm bells will be ringing out at Waverley at the moment, the Clarko incident, followed by Hodge and Lewis, is a sign of a team no longer thriving on the pressure of being the hunted week in week out.

The wheel will turn.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Fair enough Wiseblood!

Makes the week go easier fantasising that we can humiliate the team that's spanked us more than most...

It may not be us, but I reckon the alarm bells will be ringing out at Waverley at the moment, the Clarko incident, followed by Hodge and Lewis, is a sign of a team no longer thriving on the pressure of being the hunted week in week out.

The wheel will turn.

And your last sentence sums it up - the wheel WILL turn, but it won't be this week. May not be the next week and it may not be until 2017, but it will turn. We have played some very, very good football teams in the early part of the season and also beaten teams at our level, so it's easy to get a little carried away with the results we've had. We are a better football side that still needs a further injection of pace and skill.

[PaulRB 6,435]

I agree we have a way to go. But the Hawks, by losing to GWS, have increased the pressure on themselves to make a "statement" this week and belt us to re-assert their credentials...

Rope-a-dope time...

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

With the results over the weekend there really is no easy games at all this season, perhaps its better we play these teams first and maybe it will hold us in good stead for the rest of the year....

[Seraph 1,824]

Hodge, Lewis, Frawley, lake.

Take the equivalent of those four out of any team and they will struggle.

One of those is not like the others.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

One of those is not like the others.

True, Hodge is a terrible footballer...

[Je Roos Salem 661]

One of those is not like the others.

One of them's barely even put a Hawthorn jumper on