How to beat the Hawks

[Blueyboy74]

I’ll admit. I don’t like the Hawks. Most their supporters are arrogant flogs. I am sure Geelong have their own methodology, but after watching the Dogs & Saints fall short tactically, this is how I would play the Dawks (quite similar to how Richmond beat them in August):

- Don’t turn the ball over against them in the centre corridor. Only hit up targets in there with certainty. They guard space in the middle.

- Instead, be patient and go via the flanks. Double-team their zone player on the flanks/wing to stack the odds in your favour. They don’t appear to have a Plan B (aka the Danny Frawley syndrome). That is, they guard space and I have yet to see them adopt man-on-man.

- Their ruckmen always seem to tap it backwards if they win the centre bounce. This strategy may change given Blake & Donut are very good tap ruckman.

- The reason why Buddy was not so good in his first year or two was that he is not a terribly good reader of the play (on the lead). He is such a supreme athlete, however, that the coaches merely said “ lead to here” and we will kick it to you. Watch him lead to his right (as does Roughead). Seems odd given they are both left-footers.

- Their zone is designed to limit Inside 50’s. They have concerns over their backline. If you do penetrate Inside 50, however, you are a better chance to score than against most teams. Patience is the key.

- HAVE to win the contested ball against them or at least break-even.

 

[daoula]

run and carry through the cluster with Pure pace through the middle, & TOUGh man on man tackle, quite simple.

 

[deledio3]

For more information on how to beat Hawthorn, refer to the tape of their Round 20 clash with Richmond/ The key ingredient is one M. Richardson.

 

[tigerdave]

Kick more goals!!

 

[Mac]

As well as their game plan, they also have talented individuals to be covered.

Geelong has the mid field to cope obviously, but for the Hawks, Mitchell is Mr Clean possession wise and he wins it a lot. But Joel Coery will get it even more.

Hodge plays like a basketball point guard and controls the attackes from the back of the square (NOT to be confused with a quarter back, which is different - I think it's more like a point gaurd, with Buddy and rough head as the "power forwards"). The sometimes maligned Varcoe could prove very useful against this role.

Sewel is the bloke often not mentioned when people talk of the Hawk's strength, but when the game is there to be won, he's a freakin machine. Makes his team mates look even better with first use - if the Hawks win, he'll be a show for the Norm Smith. Then again, Ablett and Bartel are no slouches. Ling - how good would it be to have a tough tagger that also hurts the opposition with his own game and kicks goals. Such mid field depth (and as Acker said on TFS last night "you can never have enough good mid fielders my friend")

Cats backline far superior to Hawks, yet Hawks forward line stronger than Cats. Delicious scenario.

Not sure I quite agree totally with the Buddy assessment. He's kicked some glorious goals from both sides of the forward line and through the centre (though I agree he does like that LHS 50m line/boundry intersection for that laws-of-physics defying screw shot - he likes to hear the crowd "OOOHHHH" at him)

Cats should have more depth, consistency, discipline and balance, but Hawks have a bit more X-factor (god, did I just use that term?)

 

[TOT70]

Both sides are very tactical. That is their great strength.

The Hawks have that well-publicised rolling zone. It is just a Basketball strategy on a bigger field. You get around it with patience, make them come to you.

Geelong have the strongest group of marking players across half back in the AFL. Harley, Mackie, Scarlett, Milburn and Taylor. All run off their man whenever possible and cut off the forward entries. They are straight on their bikes and run it through the corridor without any mucking around. No time to zone or try anything cute against them. No time to flood. Strong running midfielders use the corridor and kick to a combination of tall (Mooney, Lonergan) and mobile (Chapman, Stokes, Johnson) forwards.

It's a game between a disciplined outfit sticking to a rigid plan designed to keep the other team out of the middle and a disciplined outfit looking to freewheel through the middle.

Cats should win it.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Geelong have the strongest group of marking players across half back in the AFL. Harley, Mackie, Scarlett, Milburn and Taylor. All run off their man whenever possible and cut off the forward entries.

This is a very good point Tottie.

Watching Flanklin against the Aints he really struggled in the air against Hudgton and was clearly hampered by his wrist/hand injury.
No doubt Bomber will have noted this and the Cats defenders will be smashing his mits at every opportunity just to see how they are feeling.
If Buddy can't win it in the air then they'll make his life bloody hard at ground level because no other team in the AFL sweeps up the rubbish better than Geelong.
However if Buddy's hand's ok and takes the ball first time it could be a different story..
I expect Scarlett to go to him first but he's going to be a handful for the Cats if he is on song.

It really goes without saying but Buddy's game will be a huge key tomorrow.

 

[Leysy Days]

Both sides are very tactical. That is their great strength.

Not sure on the Cats being a tactical team ToO.

Thompson keeps things very very simple & uncomplicated. All his players must have the ability to win the ball in tight & use it well.

They are the best clearance & contested ball winners in the league. If they beat Hawthorn in this area they will be getting the ball in quickly to the Forwards b4 Hawthorn "zone up" & will win easily.

However if the Hawks can match Geelong around the stoppages & get Buddy, Roughhead et al one out there's not a defender around not scared at that thought.

geelong just dont get beat in that area so leysy expects them to win by 4-5 goals.

Scarlett is a cracking bet for the Norm @ 25's because if plays on & beats Buddy (who's hand may be an issue) & gets it as much as usual there will be enormous praise given, even if its the midfield that actually sets up a win.