Hawthorn Season 2011

[hearts on fire]

After another disappointing season by the Hawks after there 2008 Premiership, surely they have to get there act together and get right ack up there again!!

Apparently Buddy's looking his best ever and usually when Buddy's at his best, so are the Hawks!

For me, they will be pushing top 4.

Home of the Hawks for 2011!

FROM AFL SITE:

Hawthorn travels to AAMI Stadium in round one to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Adelaide's first official game. Matches against Melbourne and Richmond at the MCG follow, before Hawthorn does battle with West Coast in its first home game in Tasmania for the season.

Alastair Clarkson's men have nine matches outside Victoria in total, although four of them are home games at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.

Due to Anzac Day and Easter coinciding, Hawthorn will meet Geelong on Tuesday, April 26, which is the Anzac Day public holiday. To ensure both teams have adequate time to recover from that game, the Hawks and Cats have the bye in round six.

[MatteeG]

Hopefully we get off to a better start than 2010, where we spent way too many tickets getting back into the season.

Injury list much lower prior to the start which helps too. Interested how Hodgey handles the official on field leader role, and also how Mitchell goes without the skipper role. Cam Bruce adds experience, but I never rated him that highly at Melbourne so he will have to win me over!

Cant wait to see how Puopolo goes- reakon he could be a gem at pick 66. Also need some more pace- Bateman needs to not be tagging (and get fit) Young needs to stay injury free. New pick up Isaac Smith apparently has plenty of pace too.. Burgoyne could have a very good year with a preseason behind him. Also need more out of the Rough, including much better body language when he doesnt have the ball. Shoenmakers needs to stand up and claim a spot too.

Our best is good enough, but it would be nice to see it more than once or twice during the season....

And my main wish, that Bailey can get through a season unscathed.

[The Dark Knight]

If Hodge and Franklin have strong seasons that will set the tone for the rest of squad to perform well and they'll be pushing top 4 IMO.

[stan]

Hawthorn had a major turnover of players at the end of last season. A bit of list work really. Picking up Hale will be interesting as the ruck is an area that the Hawks were lacking, but then again they cut Skipper so really who knows what the master plan is. Bailey needs to have a few hours without an injury first. Still it will be interesting to what they produce. There top 10 players are sensational, but then thats where the problems start.The next 5 start to fall away a bit too fast.
The Hawks midfield is as good as anyones they have depth through there. Thats never been the problem, the forward line when firing is juganaut. Franklin had a good year in 2010 and should contiune, Roughhead needs to focus again and well through in young cyril down there and bang plenty of chances to kick goals.
Now the defence, Gibson should be better this season, but still its thin done there and that is a worry. I'm not sure what role Chenney will play but perhaps him and Renouf even need to assert more pressure back there. Who knows I definitly do not have the answers, but still they will win a fair share of games this season.
My prediction due to the unknowns is well open really. The hawks have the potential to finish top 4 and go out in the first round of the finals. Hence I'm tipping 4 - 10 for the hawks. Open I know, but it depends on what Hawthorn comes out this season.

[Smiling Assassin]

In all honesty iv'e been a hawks man all my life and the last 2 seasons have just sh!tted me to tears. After we won 08 we easily could have been in the top 4 of 2009 with the stock we had. Now we are a team with players and not a playing team. I predict a bottom 8 finish as low as 14th. Missed the boat and its not coming back for another 10years.

[stan]

In all honesty iv'e been a hawks man all my life and the last 2 seasons have just sh!tted me to tears. After we won 08 we easily could have been in the top 4 of 2009 with the stock we had. Now we are a team with players and not a playing team. I predict a bottom 8 finish as low as 14th. Missed the boat and its not coming back for another 10years.

If you finished 14th with Brisbane, West Coast and the Gold Coast the only sides behind you then I would be surpirsed. Your forward line can kick plenty and you seem to have recruited to a purpose. Hodge, Franklin, Lewis, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Gibson, Roughhead, now Hale, Bruce and Chenney - come on mate chin up. Even if they played line individuals they alone would still be better that 6 - 8 other teams!

[gadj1976]

I predict a bottom 8 finish as low as 14th.

Geezus, I reckon you're top 4 if injuries (fitness) go your way.

[Dirko]

[MatteeG]

As long as we P!ss you off and give you the sh!ts I am happy Jabber!

[Basher McCracken]

If we can keep a settled defence that will go a long way to the Hawky's finishing in the top four,if we do then anything can happen come final's time

[hawks21]

How good is Cyril Rioli!!

[MatteeG]

How good is Cyril Rioli!!

How piss weak was our second half?

Crows were running hot but we showed little resistance I thought. Getting caught out by 'Seagulls' Henderson (at least 50m in the clear) twice was just sickening.

At least we got our usual AAMI crap out of the way in round 1. Back in Round 7 for part 2

[valleys07]

How good is Cyril Rioli!!

Freak. Enough said.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Nil desperandum fellow Hawks. We never win in Adelaide so who cares? Lose this week, then I may start to become concerned. 21 matches to go. I actually thought the Adelaide v Hawthorn game was a good one to watch, and it was more a case of Adelaide being a better team than a lot of people think. The big worry is Sam Mitchell's wife just gave birth to twin girls, so Sam's form may take a bit of a hammering in the next couple of months

And Buddy Franklin .... star, great to watch, but I still cannot believe no work has been done on his overhead skills, or his habit of giving away silly free kicks. Luke Hodge is always a big out for us.

As for Cyril ... an absolute joy to watch.

[brod]

Nil desperandum fellow Hawks. We never win in Adelaide so who cares? Lose this week, then I may start to become concerned. 21 matches to go. I actually thought the Adelaide v Hawthorn game was a good one to watch, and it was more a case of Adelaide being a better team than a lot of people think. The big worry is Sam Mitchell's wife just gave birth to twin girls, so Sam's form may take a bit of a hammering in the next couple of months

And Buddy Franklin .... star, great to watch, but I still cannot believe no work has been done on his overhead skills, or his habit of giving away silly free kicks. Luke Hodge is always a big out for us.

As for Cyril ... an absolute joy to watch.

3 kids under 1yo..WTF???

[interested observer]

Nil desperandum fellow Hawks. We never win in Adelaide so who cares? Lose this week, then I may start to become concerned. 21 matches to go. I actually thought the Adelaide v Hawthorn game was a good one to watch, and it was more a case of Adelaide being a better team than a lot of people think. The big worry is Sam Mitchell's wife just gave birth to twin girls, so Sam's form may take a bit of a hammering in the next couple of months

And Buddy Franklin .... star, great to watch, but I still cannot believe no work has been done on his overhead skills, or his habit of giving away silly free kicks. Luke Hodge is always a big out for us.

As for Cyril ... an absolute joy to watch.

Will never be the out and out superstar he could be until he starts clunking those ones that he gets clear hands on...
Was at least 4 on Saturday night from memory when he had Davis cold and dropped what he should take.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Nil desperandum fellow Hawks. We never win in Adelaide so who cares? Lose this week, then I may start to become concerned. 21 matches to go. I actually thought the Adelaide v Hawthorn game was a good one to watch, and it was more a case of Adelaide being a better team than a lot of people think. The big worry is Sam Mitchell's wife just gave birth to twin girls, so Sam's form may take a bit of a hammering in the next couple of months

And Buddy Franklin .... star, great to watch, but I still cannot believe no work has been done on his overhead skills, or his habit of giving away silly free kicks. Luke Hodge is always a big out for us.

As for Cyril ... an absolute joy to watch.

Will never be the out and out superstar he could be until he starts clunking those ones that he gets clear hands on...
Was at least 4 on Saturday night from memory when he had Davis cold and dropped what he should take.

What would really help him IMHO is a season of basketball in the off season, taking rebounds (learnig how to block with the body and catch the ball overhead). Be just our luck for him to get injured.

[JK]

Nil desperandum fellow Hawks. We never win in Adelaide so who cares? Lose this week, then I may start to become concerned. 21 matches to go. I actually thought the Adelaide v Hawthorn game was a good one to watch, and it was more a case of Adelaide being a better team than a lot of people think. The big worry is Sam Mitchell's wife just gave birth to twin girls, so Sam's form may take a bit of a hammering in the next couple of months

And Buddy Franklin .... star, great to watch, but I still cannot believe no work has been done on his overhead skills, or his habit of giving away silly free kicks. Luke Hodge is always a big out for us.

As for Cyril ... an absolute joy to watch.

Will never be the out and out superstar he could be until he starts clunking those ones that he gets clear hands on...
Was at least 4 on Saturday night from memory when he had Davis cold and dropped what he should take.

What would really help him IMHO is a season of basketball in the off season, taking rebounds. Be just our luck for him to get injured.

Or get drafted to the NBA

[The Sleeping Giant]

Hawthorn's draw looks good for the rest of the year. Bye this week comes at a handy time. Should claim one of the remaining two top 4 spots.

BYE
MELBOURNE
FREMANTLE in Perth
NORTH MELBOURNE in Tas
PORT ADELAIDE
CARLTON
WESTERN BULLDOGS
GOLD COAST in Qld

[Jim05]

Will finish in top 4 but cant see them troubling the top 2