How you expect us to be playing by Round 1?

[MADTIGER2010]

Was a disappointing result on Saturday, but the Hawks did get about 10 of the most ridiculous free kicks and 50m penalties you'd ever want to see which probably resulted in half a dozen goals. So they really should have been about 60 points up at 3/4 time as opposed to 100 points. Anyway, I'm still very positive about the proper season ahead which starts in 5 weeks and here's some points in our favour:

-Cotch will greatly improve over the next 5 weeks due to match practice
-Cousins, Jackson and Foley to return to the midfield
-Mcguane and Thursfield to return to defence
-Great signs by Martin, Gourdis and Astbury
-Tambo and Lids were a bit rusty in first real hitout, will be better for the run
-Griffiths likely to get some match practice in a couple of weeks and is rated a ready made forward like Astbury
-Post, Vickery, Astbury, Gourdis, Griffiths to really benefit over next 5 weeks and feel more comfortable as KPP by Round 1
-Hislop and White may struggle to get a game soon
-More potent and prepared midfield to provide alot more forward entry by Round 1
-Farmer impressing and should play in defence and free Tambo or Edwards onto the wing


I'm really looking forward to Griffiths getting a run. We may be surprised by his and Astbury's body size and maturity at senior level. Can't wait for Round 1 with our strengthened midfield and defence, plus a new look forward line. I'm over the practice match we played the other night. The Hawks midfield looked alot more prepared than ours

[the claw]

Was a disappointing result on Saturday, but the Hawks did get about 10 of the most ridiculous free kicks and 50m penalties you'd ever want to see which probably resulted in half a dozen goals. So they really should have been about 60 points up at 3/4 time as opposed to 100 points. Anyway, I'm still very positive about the proper season ahead which starts in 5 weeks and here's some points in our favour:

-Cotch will greatly improve over the next 5 weeks due to match practice
-Cousins, Jackson and Foley to return to the midfield
-Mcguane and Thursfield to return to defence
-Great signs by Martin, Gourdis and Astbury
-Tambo and Lids were a bit rusty in first real hitout, will be better for the run
-Griffiths likely to get some match practice in a couple of weeks and is rated a ready made forward like Astbury
-Post, Vickery, Astbury, Gourdis, Griffiths to really benefit over next 5 weeks and feel more comfortable as KPP by Round 1
-Hislop and White may struggle to get a game soon
-More potent and prepared midfield to provide alot more forward entry by Round 1
-Farmer impressing and should play in defence and free Tambo or Edwards onto the wing


I'm really looking forward to Griffiths getting a run. We may be surprised by his and Astbury's body size and maturity at senior level. Can't wait for Round 1 with our strengthened midfield and defence, plus a new look forward line. I'm over the practice match we played the other night. The Hawks midfield looked alot more prepared than ours

oh dear ignorance must be bliss.

[Penelope]

by Round 1 I'm expecting to see;

 The ball carrier getting harried when the opposition have the ball,
 Numbers to be contest
 Regardless of the result the opposition to know they have been in a game of football because of the physicality,
 A style of play that is more focused on preventing the oppostion from kicking goals than doing so ourselves. St Kilda and Hawthorne both went through this early on. Once you learn to stiffle the opposition through pressure, the offensive aspect will become easier. When we start to see some low scoring, boring, defensive games, then you will know that things are starting to fall in place
 The players to continue to attempt to implement that they have been drilled to do, so regardless of the state of the game, if the opposition ease off, lapse or buckle under pressure you will see something positive happen.

What I am not expecting to see;

 I am not expecting to see any of these things carried out to the level that you would like, not in another month. That would be as delusional as expecting to see no turnovers through skill errors or poor decision making.

 I not expecting any player who was previously a Buffalo Girl to suddenly become a hard in and under footballer. Nor do I expect to see players that just aren't  up to it to suddenly become champions. What I am expecting is to see players trying to play as directed, which if they get right will go some way (no, not ALL the way, just SOME way) to covering the skill deficiencies until those players can be replaced.

I want to see more of this, lots more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvjM_uiPV_E

(Yes I cut it before the muck up that turned it over)

[Smokey]

The players to continue to attempt to implement that they have been drilled to do, so regardless of the state of the game, if the opposition ease off, lapse or buckle under pressure you will see something positive happen.

The most positive aspect of Saturday night Al.  Last year with our best side we would have folded and lost by 120+.  You could see them still trying to stick to the plan for 4 quarters if you looked.  They didn't succeed for most of the game but the effort in sticking to the game plan was always there.  And that's the all important first step in changing a bad habit and learning a good one.

[Penelope]

It's quite a big positive isn't it, not to throw in the towel and let the opposition totally run amok?  It shows that Hardwick is starting to change their mindset.

The only game i can remember for quite a while where the opposition was on top and we showed anything resembling a bit fight was the draw against north. I think the fact that we opened up a big lead and north fought back meaning scores were close at the end rather than being 10 plus goals down was the only difference then.

[tony_montana]

whatever MT states will happn i'll go the exact opposite so without actually reading his OP i'm guessing he's picking us to be geelong-esque with all our midfielders to be in tip top shape and form at a snap of the fingers and maul the scum tankers, so flip it round -

we'll get reamed

dry i might add

[MADTIGER2010]

whatever MT states will happn i'll go the exact opposite so without actually reading his OP i'm guessing he's picking us to be geelong-esque with all our midfielders to be in tip top shape and form at a snap of the fingers and maul the scum tankers, so flip it round -

we'll get reamed

dry i might add

It's as if you want us to get pumped. Another ultra negative piece of faeces 

[MADTIGER2010]

oh dear ignorance must be bliss.

yeah you are ignoring the fact we have a number of top midfielders