Deeko2

Played a wonderful game tonight and glad to see him backing his kicking again and hitting some targets. I still believe he is judged to harshly due to the performances he’s put up in the past although he’s had some fair shanks this year which I’m not sure how that’s crept in. Kids still a star in my book. Has been since day 1

Horse handled it beautifully I thought. Didn’t give the media a big headline but made sure he came across disappointed in how Clarko whinged it up.

I’ve watched most of there games and have loved Steele this season. Hard as a cats scone and is a tackling machine. Hill tonight has been ok tonight but he’s been awful this year. Most supporters were calling for his head. Anyways, I may underrate a few of them but the point I was poorly trying to make is that I’m impressed at how they’re performing as a team which I think is a direct relation to Ratten taking over

Yes definitely some talent there and some good players across the list. If you ranked the top 50 players in the comp though would they have any listed? Not sure. Rihht now they’re looking at a top 4 ladder spot which is about 10 spots higher than where I would have had them in March.

My old man and brother are mad Saints supporters so I have a bit of a soft spot for them. I do like the energy they have around the contests and there speed around the ground. If they didn’t choke with big leads against Roos and Dockers they’d be 6 and 1 this year. I don’t think there is a lot of star power there so Ratten (who I’ve always rated) is doing a cracking job getting them up and about. Hope they bring it home with a few dodgy free kicks so the crowd torch the joint. Very very jealous of those who are able to attend.

The wheels are continuing to fall off the arrogance train known as Hawthorn and it remains glorious to watch. Clarko’s clip of Tom Papley today “He milks frees as good as anyone” is cringeworthy imo. For a senior coach to have a sook like that naming another player is deadset embarrassing. Imagine the players groups mindset hearing this from your coach. Our first pick in 2020 draft continues to improve with the Hawks continuing to falter. I thought the Frost trade for a future second rounder would have netted us around 28-30 but it’s now looking like it could be around the 20 mark. Glorious

Surely this will be the case. Gives the Roos a slight edge as they’ll be in QLD already and we’ll be heading back from Adelaide. Still - a 2.5 hour flight shouldn’t impact us too much I wouldn’t have thought

I’m a fan of Hunt but if we go fishing again then we have to release some money from somewhere. He might have a little bit of trade value currency but I doubt it. Really can’t see his kicking improving anymore noting hehas been around the club for nearly 7 years now. Jones, Jetta and Hunt have been favourites of mine at different stages but if moving them on brought in another best 22 player in say a Zac Williams (that we wouldn’t have to trade for) then I’d be all for it. Would love Cameron or a King boy at our club but you need to move heaven and earth to grab a proven key forward. Ben Brown is fairly under rated here. I’d have him in our team over the current lads. If Weid/TMac finish the year poorly then I’m happy to make a key forward priority one. But right now, I’m all about simpler improvements and whilst still bringing in high quality kids.

Saad has become a really good player over the last two years. Most bomber supporters I know really rate him highly. Id prefer Williams as he can play more roles at a higher level but would be very happy with Saad. The challenge is we’d have to give up a bit to get him where as GWS are under salary cap pressures so I doubt they could match what we’d be able to offer

As long as the Weid keeps performing and showing a bit, the only spot I think we need to look at is a small defender/running defender. I agree with the above posts on Williams. If he gets his body right he’d be my only target this off season. Hibberd has turned back the clock and been great but he’s still getting towards the end. Unfortunately and sadly my little favourite in Jetta looks to be getting there quicker. Not sold on Lockhart yet or Tomlinson for that matter so Williams all the way for me. Releasing Hunt, Jones, Wagners, Spargo, KK and Brown should free up enough cash and keep drafting in young talent on a lower base wage - although I doubt many of the above would be on much.

I hear what you're saying Titan but I personally find it hard not to have a look at the run home around who's in form and who's not. I even found myself perusing opposition injury lists last night to see who's out over the next month which is something I'd never do but have found more time due to the boredom caused from lock downs. Not being able to help myself in looking, the next 5 weeks we play the top 3 teams and bottom 2 teams. If we can't beat Adelaide and North who will be without at least Sloane and Ziebell then we should pack it in. The last game sees us against the Pies who will be coming off a 4 day break without Howe and DeGoey and us off a 6 day break. I'd love us to pinch that and at least jag 3 wins over the next 5 matches. I think this is a reasonable goal as we should consider ourselves a decent team. I'd take us sitting at 6 and 5 with noting we have two 'softer' matches we should win (Freo and Sydney). We then just need to jag two wins from St Kilda, Dogs, GWS and the Bombers which are all 50/50 at this stage. So all in all, we pretty much have one hand on the cup!

I'm only up for trading to fill a genuine need which I have no idea what this is yet. A couple weeks ago I was up for trading the entire list and then after Sunday there wasn't anyone in the 22 who I'd willingly let go. Our list is hard to judge at the moment but we need to start looking towards replacement for Jetta and Hibberd (although Hibberd has been great this year imo). I have been pleasantly surprised of late with Weid and OMac. The people I'm hearing will be up include the Crouch brothers and Ben Brown but all three aren't aspirational for us right now. I'll be intrigued as to who might want out if our list remains healthy and guys aren't receiving opportunities. Not sure why Preuss, ANB and Hunt would want to stick around if they're not getting a look in. Maybe we could get an upgrade on some later picks and keep some kids coming through.

I get where you're coming from Titan and if we were to play say the last round against a settled team who haven't travelled I would completely agree. The fact we are playing all the games against teams completing just as much travel on the same break time or less gives us no excuses in my opinion. We should be confident coming in to every game and won't have a better chance in knocking off potential top 4 teams in Bris/Port/Pies. If anything, I'm taking the positive thought pattern that the more time in transit will see the player spending directly more time together, experiencing more places and challenges which will surely help with group bonding. I'd say the Pies are usually the AFLs lovechild with scheduling and there travel journey is Perth > Brisbane > Adelaide > Brisbane. I'm willing to take this on the chin with the view the next block of games we will be looked after more accordingly. If not - then I'll come a hollarin.

Have loved this bloke since his first practice match for the club. I saw him charge past a team mate I think last week to lay a tackle. Just hunts bodies and is completely fearless. One of those blokes you want in your team knowing he's always got your back. I wish he would tidy up his kicking as it has hurt a couple times but I can forgive him a lot more easily noting the time he has spent out of the game with injuries especially to his foot. It's bloody hard kicking the pill even in bush footy when the fatigue kicks in let alone still trying to build fitness while playing AFL. Just hope his body continues to hold up as he deserves a good run at the top line with what he's been through. I'm not surprised about his facial injury if that's the case, even less surprised he continued playing on. I'd be surprised if he had some time off for it however, the kids a beast.

No worries. I get the hatred of Essendon. Mine is genuinely unhealthy how mush I despise them as well. Genuine scumbags and I appreciated your rant about them

Without knowing for sure I'd think this would be the case. I'd imagine they'd complete recovery that night and in the morning and then catch a flight directly down south and start preparing there. Feels like a waste of time, resources and money to fly back to Brisvegas and then back to Tasmania - but as I said.... I have no idea

It's crap in regards to travel and turn around times LH but have a read of my post above. The teams we play over the 4 rounds have either equally bad travel/turn around times or worse. Really, we have no excuses. Lets just bank the next 5 wins and look for some prime time when we're sitting 8 and 3

Tough on the travel for us but harder for our opponents. Rd 9 vs Port Adelaide sees us not travelling coming off a 4 day break. Port get a 5 day break but travelling from Adelaide. I'd say this is about even. Rd 10 vs Adelaide see us travelling to Adelaide off a 6 day break. Adelaide are coming off a 4 day break travelling from Brisbane. Win for us. Rd 11 vs North sees us travelling to Tasmania off a 4 day break. North are coming off a 4 day break travelling from Brisbane. I'd say this is par noting the flight is fairly similar. Rd 12 vs Pies sees us travelling to Brisbane off a 6 day break. Pies are coming off a 4 day break travelling from Adelaide. Win for us. So two pars and a coupla birdies. We definitely can't whinge at this fixture imo.

It's interesting this train of thought as even I was surprised at his showing and yet had a little smirk as it was something we probably all did at the time. It's fairly laughable to think that he doesn't care however. You can hear in his press conferences when he's disappointed and frustrated but he has to lead from the front acting at times like a duck on the pond. I have no doubt that he becomes as frustrated and excited watching us play as we all do however he tries to show some control. I don't think continually throwing a tantrum like a child is going to help - especially if you're losing. Players see replays/hear the noises and a slightly insecure 18-25 year old is not going to benefit from seeing a Scott brother meltdown and Clarko smashing a wall.

Agree Dr.D. Some very ordinary commentary here on a sample size of a couple weeks from what has still been a very good season from the kid. The kid wasn't at his best but is still in our first three picked along with Gawn and now Trac and again proved it on the weekend. Not sure what some people expect of our players.

If Gussy is our worst player during a match then we're in pretty good shape. We all know the kid can play and is clearly having a few challenges getting back to his best. I struggle a bit with the "third in the Brownlow" comments. It just shows the lack of knowledge that umpires have in giving votes for BOG. Gawn and Oliver were miles above Brayshaw in 2018. He was bloody good but he didn't even finish in the top 5 of our B & F playing as a midfielder with no recourse for his opponent. Last year he played on the wing in a team that refuses to use wingers. It seemed a spot wear we left good footballers out to die (Jones, Tyson etc). Also looks like this year and last that he is playing a more accountable style which is contrary to way he has probably always played his whole life. He is now behind Oliver, Trac and Viney in centre square ball ups but he's a pretty handy player as your first rotation. You don't trade players when they're at there worst - we back ourselves in to getting him back to his best. Right now his trade value is low but his ceiling remains high and he looks to be a very popular member of our young core group. Just keep picking him and back the kid in.

I know its bad karma to wish ill will on people, but I couldn't be happier that the Hawks have absolutely [censored] the bed. The smugness of their club over the last few years just amazes me. Yes they won flags and well done to them but every time a Hawks supporters pipes up about that I remind them it was when free agency came in and the draft pool was destroyed by GC and GWS leaving teams with no access to talent for development and trading. Might not be 100% true but, well, stuff them. The arrogance of there recruiter is on a whole other level and they have backfired massively over the last few years picking up multiple injured players and 'not quite rights' who they believed they could fix and turn into stars. Scully with a stuffed ankle is a shadow of his former self. Lot's hear despise him still and talk him down but his 2016 was sensational and his 2017 year was great as a pure winger until his injury. He ran hard on the weekend but squibbed at least 2 contests and didnt chase at times as well. Ty Vickery. Was a battler at the Tigs while the Hawkers were going to turn him into Carey V2.0 Jaeger cost them a P10 and second rounder. Is a B Grader at best Patton looks slow and even before his injury I wonder if he would get a game in stronger teams Jono O'Rourke. Former P2 bust who they beleived they could turn around They clearly over rated there list when they brought in Wingard as well. They bugger off a young talent in Ryan Burton and another first rounder to get him and although he's been good, for that kind of investment you want him being good in September. No way they will get there. Mitchell was a steal, I'll give them that. His injury was awful and I'll be surprised if he gets back to his best. Now they have a team full of NQR mercenaries, players impacted by horrific injuries and bugger all talent coming through and I'm very excited to watch a decade of Hawthorn filth.

I've always been a 'no changes' kinda guy when you're winning. With Jackson playing a really good "second ruck/forward" game the argument shouldn't be TMac for Jackson imho. Jackson must stay as his round the ground work was solid and we need to keep his confidence riding high. I'm very excited by him as a prospect but wasn't overly excited by selecting him last week thinking Brown deserved a chance. My thinking was he's still too raw but he definitely proved me wrong! Good lad. If TMac gets in, it would only be for the Weid as a permanent forward. Pretty easy decision as the Weid was great on the weekend and produced a far better game than 90% of TMacs last 18 months. Can't see us playing all 3 so Tommy can run around in the midday show until his form forces selection. Last time against the Lions I'm fairly certain May took Cameron and gave him a bit of a touch up. Has the speed and plenty of physicality. Certain this will happen again. Lockhart will stay in, he's a work in progress but is tracking fine. Milkshake isn't getting much of it, but I still think 10 of his touches are more dangerous then a couple more which say ANB/Jones/Sparrow might get. As much as a I love AVB, he really needs to improve his kicking as it's horrendous at times.

6 - Gawn. Ruckwork was incredible and his contested marking was some of the best I've seen for a long time. 5 - Trac. Once again amazing. Probably the best 'second best on' game I've seen 4 - Viney. Just ahead of Oli. He was everywhere in the first when the game was there to be won. Plus his kicking was wonderful today, hit plenty of targets and a few I/50 3 - Oliver. Just another standard Oliver accumulation game winning plenty 2 - Weid. Loved his crashing of the packs. Has gone way past TMac. 1 - May. Was a wall in the backline and his kicking was elite.

Ceglar hasn't been killing it for the Hawks but he'll be a decent out for them and maybe force McEvoy back into the ruck. I see that as a win as I'm worried about how Weid and LJ will compete already wrestling big bodies in Frawley and Frost before worrying about McEvoy and Sicily in the air. As much as I'm excited about LJ, I'm really not expecting to see anything other than the occasional flash of excitement this year and next. I'm not sure what he's going to add yet but hopeful of the best. Excited for a few matchups. First in Melksham on Sicily. Melksham got right under his skin in the 2018 semi final and I loved it. Want to see this again. From the Hawks games I've seen this year, I'd definitely have Harmes on a shut down roll on Smith and Viney to Mitchell. Smith is there prime mover of the ball and Mitchell isn't back at his best but is still continually winning lots of the ball. Hopefully if we negate these two in the midfield then Oliver, Brayshaw, Petracca and Harley can keep us moving.