WHAT'S HAPPENED TO MY HAWKS

Where are the mighty fighting hawks?

Merryn Sherwood

This week for myself, like many other Hawthorn supporters has been a difficult one. Particularly hard has been the criticism aimed directly at me as a result of my club and their lacklustre performance. I'm afraid all I can muster is "it's not my fault" as I wonder why this year Hawthorn has been so consistently inconsistent.

The bad news is that it doesn't look much better for the Hawks this year. They have just about a full-strength team but at any one time only one or two of their guns are firing. Nathan Thompson has been a focal point up forward with Jade Rawlings while Joel Smith and Angelo Lekkas have put in inspirational performances, but most of the criticism has been on the back of captain Shane Crawford. His appearance on the Footy Show as Hank Bulger only added fuel to the fire for his critics. However he is a good captain on-field and that's all that should matter. Apart from these players the rest of the top level are sadly missing. Richie Vandenberg hasn't shown the scintillating form he was in last year and Nick Holland has never fully recovered from his horrendous injury run. Jonathan Hay seems as injury prone as number one draft pick Luke Hodge who both seem to find new way to ensure they can't play each week.

Another interesting occurrence down at Glenferrie is the changes that Coach Peter Schwab is ringing through the field. Ben Dixon and Campbell Brown down back are playing well, but their goals have been sorely missed up the forward line. Perhaps to rectify this, Schwab has tried a number of backmen down forward. Jade Rawlings has worked as he played his junior career as a full forward as has the occasional pushing forward of Joel Smith, whose accurate kickouts helped bag a few goals. But sadly, Mark Graham a veteran of 78 consecutive games down back was dropped after a poor game down forward. He only gathered a few possessions which was to be expected as he generally takes the opposition forwards instead of being one. He should not have been cut.

Much criticism has been placed on Hawthorn's recruiting policy of small midfielders. But perhaps should be directed at the players that Hawthorn has let go and failed to replace in recent years. Trent Croad, Luke McPharlin, Aaron Lord, John Baird and Daniel Chick and have only gained one valid superstar, Peter Everitt, in return. The much maligned small players who have to replace them have potential.

Tim Clarke has endurance and his game has improved out of sight since last year as has his courage at the ball. Sam Mitchell tries his heart out and has the hardness and skills to match. Michael Osborne has undeniable courage at the ball and Rick Ladson creates opportunities around goal with his silky kicking. Perhaps the most underrated are Chance Bateman and Brett Johnson, both are strong, can run, get the hard ball and kick goals but the bottom line is these players do not have the physical presence of a Croad or Chick. Adding to the confusion is that Hawthorn had first dibs on Chris Judd and John Baird and let them slip though. Now both are regular performers for their respective teams and have the physical presence Hawthorn desperately need.

Maybe the obsession with small midfielders comes with the fact that Hawthorn are better at breeding them. John Platten and Crawford are fine examples and while the backmen aren't far behind it seems in terms of ruckmen Hawthorn are sadly lacking. The last three ruckmen have come from other clubs, Paul Salmon, Shaun Rehn and now Peter 'spider' Everitt. The two waiting in the wings at the moment Robert Campbell and David Loats are handy, but aren't Spider material. Loats seems to have the ruckman's mind while Campbell the presence and in this case two halves do not make a whole.

After a few health scares the Coach Peter Schwab has been asked to go easy on his heart and it seems in sympathy many of the players have lost theirs. On paper Hawthorn have the team to stick it to the best, so why on match days can we not deliver? Its confusing at least, devastating at worst for the clubs many supporters. The year is not shaping up too well for Hawthorn, so if it all just gets too much go down and watch Box Hill. Their form is looking so good that at least there might be one Hawthorn finals campaign this year.

Merryn Sherwood:

Is a year 12 student in Bendigo. She currently writes for the Bendigo Bombers and credits her first memory as the 1991 Grand Final. She hopes to become a hard-hitting sports-journalist and one day cover a cricket world cup and a Hawthorn Grand Final.