So how do we beat Hawthorn?

[The Fireman]

a semi automatic weapon ?

That's not even in the slightest bit funny

fully automatic ?

8:00 tonight funny guy (not) http://www.abc.net.au/austory/

look forward to watching it.....now semi or Auto ?

[Bluthy]

Also try and get Billings up to 50 possessions.

And there is the rub and one reason why we need a few more genuine stars. At present it will be too easy for the opposition to target say Billings for his ball use and say Steven for his run.

That's true but that is part their evolution at the moment - working through those tags and still finding a way to contribute. We've got some other highish pick midfield talent on the books - Gresham pick 18, Dunstan 19, Acres, 20, Freeman (pick 9 or something) and might end up with pick 5 or 6 this year to use on another classy mid. And then guys like Newnes, Ross, Weller, Savage, Minch who were lower picks I think but are developing nicely. Then of course throw in the older ARmo, Steve and Monty (who is still is in brilliant nick).

So I think we are developing a strong midfield that will bat deep. When we had the fab four - Lenny, Dal Santo, Ball, Monty - they were brilliant but after that we dropped off in talent really quick. I think that made us too easy to undo. In the grannie Geelong gave up the brilliance of Bartel to shut down Lenny because they could afford to and still have a good attacking midfield . Pies had a deeper, harder running midfield than us in the next year. WE might end up with less out and out stars than our previous grannie teams, but we will be more even and have better depth to cover injuries, drops in form etc.

[samuraisaint]

Stop Sam Mitchell

And their Wingers/HBs

And Sicliy. And Gunston. And Breust. And Rioli. And Lewis. Easy.

And McEvoy.

[dragit]

Kick more goals than they do.

[8856brother]

Kick more goals than they do.

Didn't help us in the 2010 GF.

[BringBackMadDog]

Keep playing the run and gun footy that we have been playing, don't give them time to organize their defence. We are currently playing on 47% of th time from frees or marks which is extremely high. If we fall into the stop and chip game we are screwed.

[dragit]

Kick more goals than they do.

Didn't help us in the 2010 GF.

Okay, I have a new plan - kick more goals and behinds than they do. Job done.

[Jacks Back]

What would Sun Tzu do?

Who?

[Jacks Back]

Also try and get Billings up to 50 possessions.

And there is the rub and one reason why we need a few more genuine stars. At present it will be too easy for the opposition to target say Billings for his ball use and say Steven for his run.

Billings
Steven

How does me saying their names help?

[ROLS-LEE]

Pray that it buckets down with rain. Torrential down pour. It will lower their kicking efficiency and hopefully our hunger and eagerness for the ball will get us over the line.

[saintspremiers]

If we win one quarter against them I'll be happy

[howlinwolf]

Massive pressure from our forwards to keep the ball in and don't let their defense build their patterns. They get enormous drive from their backline.
Also agree with previous posts about keeping Mitchell quiet. Could be a good job for Geary to run with him ? Geary has the tank.

[Locals322]

We don't with the skill execution we have. When the hawks are a year old and we've improved our skills and game plans we go again next year.
Locals has spoken.

[howlinwolf]

Their disposal is the best in the competition so it makes sense to raise the pressure to the max to limit the amount of times they have the chance to dispose of the ball.
Whether that means playing more man on man than usual and limiting space and opportunities I'm not sure.
But that's how I'd be thinking if I were coaching.
Probably good I am not !

[saintsRrising]

Easier said than done as Hawks can kill you in half a quarter.

We need to play fast and direct and hit targets and do it for 4 quarters.. So yes need to maintian our rapid play on game.

With the Pies we could chip sideways and set up, but against the Hawks that will not work us well. So we must be quicker to press forward. When the Dogs did this is when they were competitive. When they were slow to go forward the Hawks disciplined backs set up well.

Just checked the grounds dimiensions and from that it is actually bigger than the G. 175 x 145 m vs 171 x 146 m. The MCG space suited us, but it certainly also suits the kicking skills of the Hawks.

We need Hickey to play a blinder and to dominate the hit outs which against the Hawk rucks he is certainly capabale of doing.

We need to win the ball first as much as possible.

And then we need all the team to use the ball well. If not the Hawks will punish us if we have too many turnovers.

[spert]

Step one is to play with the desire and intensity of last game, but that alone is not enough. As a team, we have still had 316 points kicked against us in three games, so we need to put a lot of work into the defensive game, and not be all running ahead of the contest, as the Hawks will not be as kind as the Woods when the ball drops out into space and will punish any loose play. The midfield and half forwards really need to keep in control of the ball and hold it in our zones. If Paddy and Roo are out with concussion, then two taller swing players need come in, so I suppose Lee and ?

[White Winmar]

Webster to Rioli?

Mitchell gets under 20 possessions and we're half way there. He gets 30+ like he's Nathan Freeman playing VFL 2's... just ridiculous form at the moment and arguably the best player in the comp right now..

Can he be tagged? Who sacrifices their game to stop him? Head to head with Steven? Add to that he is uninjurable, so the idea floated earlier of sending them all off with the blood rule would fail as I can't remember the last time this bloke missed a game through injury.

Jarryn Geary, your moment has arrived! Worth an attempt at a total shut down role.

[stkfc1]

Aside from tagging Mitchell (must do), Gibson and Rioli are the other two we MUST make accountable. I'd try to isolate Bruce and Frawley as much as possible. Keep Gibson busy with a man so he has something to think about instead of peeling off whenever he feels like it. Possibly Membrey might be a chance here. Tell him to stick with him and try to take him away from the play where possible. Rioli is the wildcard but can go missing so make his day as frustrating as possible and it will help. Historically if these 3 have a quite day the Hawks are beatable.

[perfectionist]

Cheat.

[Sainternist]

Alas, I can't honestly see us pulling off an upset against the Hawks. Not even in my wildest dreams. We're not quite up to snuff to even be able to go toe to toe with them right now. On the contrary, that's not to say the boys should concede defeat. I actually think this match is vitally important. Hawthorn have proven to be leagues ahead of the rest during their three year reign. I would love to see us give them a good contest. I think if we can get within 6 or 7 goals, we may be quite pleased with that result and we'll be able to assess where we're at in terms of matching it with the best.

[BigMart]

Hawthorn are vulnerable this week. We probably won't beat them in Tas

But they are beatable

[Jacks Back]

Hawthorn are vulnerable this week. We probably won't beat them in Tas

But they are beatable

If they bleed we can kill them (and beat them - on the scoreboard I mean).

[magnifisaint]

We won't beat them but I hope we're within 30 points at the end.

[saynta]

We won't beat them but I hope we're within 30 points at the end.

22 footballers on either side. Always a chance imho.

[perfectionist]

Perhaps we could prevail upon our premiership team to have yet another reunion. Our last win against the Hawks was at York Park in Round 19, 2009 which coincided with the last reunion, and the last one to see Darrel Baldock, Rodger Head and Allan Jeans attend. Remember, we "rested" 7 players but still recorded our 19th straight win. We lost the next week on a kick after the siren.