‘Overwhelmed by the occasion’
Were we trying too hard in #Silk400?
ROUND 16: HAWTHORN 53, PORT ADELAIDE 87
📝 Main recap: It was a build up fit for the occasion - a week filled with tributes to the great man Shaun Burgoyne. Interviews, news pieces, behind-the-scenes content, media spots and a whole lot more - it certainly was an epic lead-in that crescendoed as our 400-gamer ran through the banner.
Then the anti-climax.
For all the accolades, for all the fanfare, for all the buzz walking into the ground, Hawthorn put on one of its worst first-half performances of the year. The game was effectively over at the main break.
We were outhunted, out worked, and showed none of the heart that had us up and about since the bye - it was a horrible feeling at half time.
Overwhelmed by the occasion? Maybe, maybe not. We did fight hard in the second half and that in itself was encouraging. But we have a lot of work to do, and it was a timely reminder that complacency need not live here.
In the end though, did it really matter? We got what we had really come to see. Silk carried off, kids by his side, a guard of honour, and over 20,000 fans in force to say thank you to the legend of our club and the game.
Whatever happens for the rest of the year it’s a real “I was there” moment that will go down in the pages of all time - not just 2021.
↩️ Turning point:
While Port ran out comfortable winners in the end, Tom Mitchell’s undisciplined rush of blood to the head in the second quarter was a genuine turning point in the game. It all happened after an Academy Award-winning flop from Connor Rozee, earning the young Port star a free kick and a shot at goal from outside 50.
Rozee missed the shot and Mitchell let him know all about it, bundling him over while he was lacing his boots. A downfield free was paid to Charlie Dixon and he converted from the goal square, making it six unanswered goals for Port. This was arguably the moment the game went away from the Hawks. You hate to see it, but you love to see it, too 😈
✂️ Snippet of the match:
Changkuoth Jiath’s energy is limitless, and it almost single handedly brought us within touching distance deep in the fourth quarter. With little over five minutes left on the clock, CJ easily sidestepped Sam Powell-Pepper and delivered a dangerous ball into the forward 50, which was hauled in by Jacob Koschitzke’s outstretched single arm (the second grab he took like that on the night).
If Kosi converted we would’ve been three goals down with #Silk400 set for a grand stand finish. But he missed and that was all she wrote.
🍔 Ash’s nine key takeaways
Those with an eagle eye, and sitting close to the Hawthorn bench last Sunday noticed Will Day head to the bench with just a minute to go? Exhausted or injured, we wondered? Sadly, it was the latter, although not that you’d know from the pointless exercise that was the weekly injury video published by the Hawks on Tuesday evening. They didn’t bury the lede, they ignored it all together. No mention of Day’s injury, with the club sitting on the news that he was injured until the Thursday evening teams announcement. Integrity issues come to hand when the Hawks hide an injury such as that. Day has become one of the club’s most important players, and is a huge fan favourite already – he signed dozens of autographs and posed for countless selfies on Saturday night - and it was poor form not to declare an injury serious enough that he is on crutches and wearing a moon boot.
Brace yourself for Day not playing again this season. In a year where the Hawks aren’t going anywhere in terms of ladder position, there’s not a lot of point in bringing him back. We know what we have with Day, and it is pretty bloody good, so let his bothersome ankle heal without the pressure of having to come back and play, let him get that bit stronger and bring him back alongside DGB, James Sicily and Jarman Impey in what will be a super defensive unit in 2022.
Not having Day in the side means Shaun Burgoyne will likely see out the season. The backline would be all at sea without him and it will do DGB no harm to play a few games with Burgoyne alongside him for guidance and instruction. This is a development year and we need to remember that. Burgoyne still deserves an MCG finale and one last game in Adelaide at the very least.
Didn’t see enough from Damon Greaves on Saturday night to think he is guaranteed a place on the list net season. His lack of progress this year has been disappointing.
The stated reason according to the Hawks for bringing Greaves and Conor Nash back into the side was that their great form at Box Hill could no longer be ignored. Greaves filled a hole in Day’s absence, but Nash was recalled after 28 touches through the midfield last week for Box Hill. Yet there he was playing as a forward on Saturday night, again having minimal impact on the game. The prospect of Nash as a tall midfielder was intriguing, but if the club thinks he’s a forward and a forward only then I think I’ve seen enough.
Not good enough from Nash. Mind you, it was a tough night to be a Hawthorn forward because the midfield was truly disappointing. So good against the Giants, so poor against the Power. So hard to read from week to week. Time for another look at Finn Maginness. Give him a job and see how he goes.
It is good to have a villain at the footy and Connor Rozee lived up to the billing. It was as blatant an act of staging as you will see on the field, but Tom Mitchell pushing him over afterwards was plain dumb and only served to rally the Power and not the Hawks. As an on-field leader, Mitchell needs to be better.
Connor Rozee as his off-field alter ego ‘Thanos’. Anyone else think that the Hawks still get umpired as through they’re the unsociable team of Hodge, Mitchell, Buddy and Lewis when for years they’ve been anything but?
Hard to see too many more wins from here. Maybe Fremantle this week, maybe Adelaide and maybe Collingwood. The Tigers in the final round might be interesting if the bottom has fallen out of their season and they can’t play finals. Melbourne, Brisbane and the Bulldogs could do horrible things to the Hawks if they have the inclination.
Superstar/Rising Star/Falling Star
⭐️ Superstar - Tom Mitchell
Despite his uncharacteristic brain fade in the second quarter, Titch was our best player on the night, collecting 29 disposals (13 contested), eight clearances and six inside-50s. He’s now sitting second in the AFL in disposals, averaging a tick over 33 a game, and is working his way back to his Brownlow winning form.
💫 Rising star - Lachie Bramble
We now understand why Hawks premiership hero Andy Collins - now an assistant coach at Box Hill - has been talking up his former Williamstown protege as the hard running and skilful outside mid we’ve been crying out for. Bramble was solid (if not a bit nervy) in his first two games, but he started confidently against Port, with some penetrating kicks, genuine dash and seven tidy possessions to quarter time. Bramble finished the game with 16 disposals at 87% efficiency, and has every opportunity to make that wing position his own.
🤷♂️ Falling star - Dylan Moore
The trouble with being a mercurial forward is when you’re not kicking big goals or generating momentum swings off your own boot, you make absolutely no impact on the contest at all. After a career high four goals against the Giants last week, Moore would be disappointed with his 10 largely ineffective disposals and - crucially - zero impact on the scoreboard.
Unsung Hero & Scapegoat
👼 Unsung Hero: Kyle Hartigan
Question marks were raised when we recruited him from the Crows, and despite a needless three match suspension for an off-the-ball incident against the Blues, Hartigan has proved to be an upgrade on Lazarus Frawley. His hulking frame and strength makes him difficult to beat on-on-one, and he had a game high 11 spoils and nine intercepts on the night. Would love to hear the rationale for putting an undersized Frost on Charlie Dixon.
🔪 🐐 Scapegoat: Tim O’Brien
It’s one leap forward, (at least) two dropped hangers back for everyone’s favourite whipping boy. Just when you think snaring Mark Of The Millenia would be Tim O’Brien’s Ashley & Martin turning point™ he’s back to being an Almost Footy Legend. You’ve got to admire his commitment to jumping at everything, which brings others into play, but when is Windows O’Brien going to truly bash down the door and be the key forward we’ve waited a decade for? We believe in you Timmy, but our patience is wearing thin.
The Obligatory Ladder Check-In
We lost and it sucks, but at least pick two is back on the cards. Could we dare to dream and hope North Melbourne’s late season form and our looming injury crisis propels them above us? 🥄
Current forecast 2022 draft picks of note: #2, #20, #21 (Collingwood’s second round selection).
News & Notes
How many more games can Burgers play before he finally pulls up stumps? In his post match interview Clarko said Silk still had a role to play in season 2021, even hinting he could be medical subbed through the remaining rounds. “He’s the perfect medical sub,” he said. “He can play any position.” If he plays just four our of the seven remaining games, Burgers will go past Dustin Fletcher (400) and Kevin Bartlett (403) and into third on the all-time games list. Make it happen match committee! Some loop holes are meant to be exploited.
The Will Day effect is a real, with even Jaeger O’Meara singling out his absence in his post match interview. “Daisy’s a big loss for us,” he said, stating the obvious. Will’s already a fan favourite, but when Hawthorn’s vice captain is saying this about a 16 game player, you just know you’ve got something special. Put him in a cryogenic chamber until 2022.
Jack Gunston looks likely to sit out the remainder of the season, after niggling back spasms have limited him to only one game in 2021. While Gunston has made progress in his rehab - he is moving more freely from his back problems, apparently - Clarko now say it’s conditioning issue and they’re running out of time. “This season has been a train wreck for him unfortunately and we might have to get him ready for season 2022,” he said in the post match.
A special shout out to Channel 7 commentator and Hawthorn VFLW player Abbey Holmes on her heartfelt post match interview with Shaun Burgoyne, his wife Amy, and their four children. She summed up the emotion and gravity of the moment perfectly.
After an errant Jacob Koschitzke punch put him on the sidelines with concussion, Mitch Lewis is back on the track and could be in contention for a return against Fremantle. Emerson Jeka’s wayward kicking against the Suns’ VFL side and Conor Nash’s ineffectual performance (to say the least) as a forward could see him make a return against the Dockers.
Clarko Press Conference Bingo
✅ Acquitted ourselves really well
What They Said
🗣️ Shaun Burgoyne
“It’s been a big week and an enjoyable one. It would’ve been really good to get the victory tonight but Port Adelaide were far too good. That’s the way things go sometimes. Those guys [Kevin Barlett, Michael Tuck, Brent Harvey, Dustin Fletcher] are legends of the game. Had a chat with them during the week. They’re good people and it’s humbling to be in a mini-club with those guys.”
“When you surround yourself with good people, great medical advice, and people have great faith in you, it gives you a lot of confidence to chase your dreams and keep playing footy at the highest level. [There are] great people in and around Hawthorn and I’ve surrounded myself with those people. I couldn’t be in better hands.”
🗣️ Jaeger O’Meara
“A lot of it just comes down to their cleanliness compared to ours. We were so fumbly, especially early in the second quarter, and they just seemed to be so much cleaner than us around the ball. They’re a quality side and we’re on a bit of a journey. It’s nice to compete and match ourselves against the best and they’re right up there at the top of the ladder. Would’ve liked to get the win for Shauny’s 400th but we weren’t able to do that … A lot of it came down to their cleanliness and our fumbles.”
🗣️ Jonathon Ceglar
“It was a game of two halves. Their pressure around the ball and their system in the first half was well on top of ours. After halftime we corrected that, but the damage was done. A good side like that, when they get the lead they’re not going to cough it up.”
“I think the team has put a strong month together. Everyone has probably lifted their game a bit. We did a bit of soul searching at the break as a club. Everyone looked inside and in the mirror. The last four weeks we’re two and two, and we’ve played some good footy in patches. We’ve played some good sides and been competitive. It shows the system is there, and when we apply the system and apply the effort, we’re competitive with anyone.”
🗣️ Alastair Clarkson
“It looked like we were overwhelmed by the occasion to be fair. We made so many errors with the ball in hand, some of that to do with Port's pressure but some was just to do with us being too frantic with the footy when we had a chance to get composure with the ball.”
"If anything, strangely enough, it was like our lads were trying too hard. We lost our balance a lot in general play and around structure just by bees to the honeypot and trying too hard to go and get the ball. It gave Port the outside balance in the first half and they made us pay. You learn lessons all the time. We weren't disappointed with our players though - how can you be disappointed when your players are trying too hard?"
What They Said … About Shaun Burgoyne
🗣️ Alastair Clarkson
“There’s so many learnings to come from Shaun Burgoyne’s career. Fortunately for us as a footy club we get to see him every day and the influence he’s had on our footy club and his team mates for a long long time has been profound. When there’s an opportunity like this to celebrate such a milestone - and such a significant one in the history of the game - then it draws out the accolades from the generic football public. And even wider than that - people right around Australia. Politicians, business people, sports fans, non-sports fans, Indigenous - the whole kit and kaboodle have paid tribute to Shauny’s decorated career.”
🗣️ Jaeger O’Meara
“It’s been super to reminisce on his career so far. I’m lucky enough to share the locker next door to him, so I spend a fair bit of time with him. He’s been an amazing person to play with and teammate - not only the stuff you see on the field, more so the stuff you see away from the footy field. He’s such a good family man and he’s the kind of person that I think the Hawthorn footy club is all about.”
🗣️ Jonathon Ceglar
“It’s a privilege [playing with him] to be honest. When you’re a bit younger, you don’t appreciate it … It’s something I will cherish because I don’t think I will ever play in another 400th with someone, and a lot of blokes in this footy club won’t. It’s something I'm proud of that at the end of my career I’ll be able to say I played with Shaun Burgoyne. He’s an iconic person, a humble person, a family man. He’s everything you want in a team mate. From the bottom of my heart, I’m really privileged and honoured to play with someone of that calibre.”
🗣️ Amy Burgoyne
“I’m so proud of him on and off the field. He’s a role model to so many. We love him to death.”
🗣️ Travis Boak
“He [Shaun Burgoyne] has been an absolute champion of the game, champion of the Hawthorn footy club, champion of the Port Adelaide footy club. He’s someone a lot of us have admired and he’s still got plenty left. It’s been a special day but we really needed the four points.”
“I remember first getting to the club. He had time for me, he had time for everyone. I was lucky enough to learn a lot from him … The human being he is - he’s just a quality person and that’s why he’s so admired across the AFL and the wider community.”
Wins are not the point at the moment. Disappointing maybe but ponder that at the half it looked like an absolute drubbing was on the cards.
Port is a Top 4 team and there's a gap between Top 4 and the next 4 and then the rest.
This is the gap the Hawks have to make up. It will take time.
Guys like Moore and Kosi have played a lot of games this year. Their bodies and heads are not up to it, yet. they will be inconsistent and go missing.
If you have ever played against men you should know that it takes time, and you are not ready until you hit 23 or 24. Even the great Luke Hodge took 4 seasons to hit his stride.