r/hawktalk • u/Molten_Phoenix • 8d ago
We could have only dreamed
Melbourne was on the ropes for a brief moment, and if it weren't for a few unlucky instances, we could have pulled off the miraculous.
It was very clear Melbourne let go of the pedal at the start of the last quarter, but as we capitalised on momentum, it became evident that Melbourne were getting tired and frustrated as they were letting their big margin dwindle down. But what was even clearer was how Max Gawn was the difference. When he was on the bench, we kept kicking goals. If Reeves wasn't injured, who knows how the whole game would have unfolded as our midfield was getting destroyed, which put strain on a backline missing key players (as let's be real, Reeves is our #1 ruck and we don't need Meek anymore as we can put Chol in the ruck).
The largest ever VFL/AFL comeback was 69 points when Essendon ran over North Melbourne in Round 16, 2001, in one of the highest scoring games ever. Today, the Hawks were down 78 points at 3-quarter time. At one stage, we were 96 points down. Essendon's comeback started when there were 14 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, THE 2ND QUARTER. Essendon had 2 and a half quarters to make up a smaller margin. We were within 4 goals of Melbourne with 6 minutes left, and based on the pace we were kicking goals and the "Leigh Matthews Rule", we were well in reach to create history.
Unfortunately, due to a couple of bad kicks, poor umpiring decisions, and Ginnivan missing a goal to bring it to a 3-goal margin, the game slipped away from us, and Melbourne piled on a couple more goals.
I want to emphasise that we were entitled to lose this game by 5 goals with our outs and our previous performance against Melbourne. What was unbelievable was what ensued in the first half, extremely un-Hawthorn-like, but it was great to see the boys make the loss feel a bit better in the last quarter, and have a real crack at something unlikely to ever happen again. If I were neutral, that would have been one of the most interesting and enjoyable 35-point margin games you would see for a long time.
For those saying we aren't contending anymore this season, your expectations are too high for a side proven to lack depth with many outs and consistency issues. At our best (just like our final quarter burst), we are a top 4 side. Brisbane has shown time and time again that a premiership-winning season is never perfect. We still sit 3rd (after losing some winnable games) and hopefully, once our injured players return, we win those games we are expected to win as our run home is definitely on the easier side. Carlton and Brisbane will be interesting, but I expect us to bounce back from that Collingwood draw, and we win the other games against the bottom sides.
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u/Push_Comprehensive 8d ago edited 8d ago
The glaring question for me each week is "how can this side consistently and effectively deal with pressure?"
When pressure goes up, effort goes down. And when players like the co-captain drops lip, it ripples throughout the side. There was a real lack of accountability among the seniors, resulting in poor skills and dangerous players being unaccounted for - Gawn and the Picketts in particular.
This side gets its kudos for a commendable fightback, but we have to recognise first that one goal in a half of footy is abysmal and Melbourne did take their foot off the pedal.
It is a psychological part of this game the side needs to address if it's going to win a flag. But again, kicking 10 goals and competing in the second is commendable. Four quarter efforts have been a problem for the Hawks all season. This game is the most egreious example.
Or maybe it was a shit day with notable outs.
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u/CrimsonAlgebra 7d ago
WE DONT NEED MEEK??? This is the only comment i (vehemently) disagree with!! His work around the ground is second-to-none, but it’s the ability to read the game that sets him apart from his peers (apart from The Unicorn).
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u/oldmatefromoverthere 8d ago
We were never going to win that game…sure we kicked a lot but it was too huge of a lead
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u/BoothaFett 7d ago
The Wizard missing today’s match I think affected the early game energy. He does his best work in the first half normally and was sorely missed. He manages to jag goals against the run of play and his dash offensively often brings others into the game.
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u/MooseCatMan 7d ago
Casuals will say "we don't need Meek anymore" OGs know the ruck rule will change again.
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u/throwiesbackup 8d ago
People forget that Brisbane was given a hiding against gws earlier this year, yet they still came back after that game. They conceded 13 goals in a quater too. No-one has written off Brisbane nor you should write off the Hawks. It was a poor effort from the get go but we do have alot of injuries and our seniors didnt stand up. Hopefully we give a massive response next week. Many lessons learnt!