On the Couch rumour

[Big Al]

Hawkins is the biggest passenger on a AFL list .. Would have been delisted at any other club . So overrated .. Let's give white a proper go not just 3 weeks at a time

Jesse has been "given a go" for the past 18 months and while I've been patient that patience has run out. He's not dominating in the NEAFL where he should, like TDL did, be making an emphatic statement to the selectors that he should be playing seniors.

Hopefully one day it will all click for him but time is running out.

[dimelb]

Not interested in Hawkins; he is better suited to "Home and Away".
He would have to beat LRT for the full forward's job and I don't think he's up to it.

[Nich]

Hawkins reminds me so much of one of those dumb jock quarterbacks from those American straight to video movies. I'd prefer someone with runs on the board. I do believe he has potential and has played several good games but he's a lemon.

[stellation]

Jesse has been "given a go" for the past 18 months and while I've been patient that patience has run out. He's not dominating in the NEAFL where he should, like TDL did, be making an emphatic statement to the selectors that he should be playing seniors.

To be fair, Trent's dominant NEAFL displays have been during very healthy wins over Tuggeranong, Gold Coast and Ainslie. From memory Jesse's played 3/4 as a back during a thumping when his opponents only managed 28 (you should remember the score!), 1/4 or so before going off the ground with an ankle and then a full game on the weekend when he kicked 4.

[Untamed Snark]

It's been said before-many times-but we need to put Jesse into the forward line and leave him there, he's not going to develop the necessary skills being jumped from position to position. He has the potential to be great; he just needs the time to develop his game brain. Hopefully he will really push for selection in the next few weeks, maybe Ted need to have a chat with him about how he pushed his way back into the seniors last year

[swanspant12]

hahahahah so true

[top40]

Reading these threads I can't help but wonder, if this time two years ago, what the reaction would have been among Swans fans concerning rumours of trading a young third ranked ruckman from Geelong called Shane Mumford.

[Jewels]

Hawkins had huge expectations from the start (Remember he's a father-son, too) comparisons with John Brown, etc. A fresh start might be great for him, isn't that what the Swans do well - reinvigorate? He certainly has some weapons. I wonder though what we would do if all of Johnson, Johnston, Reid, Grundy, White and Hawkins blossom? With ruckman, as well, and in the meantime Ted and LRT. I suppose it falls in-to "a good problem to have", but perhaps it would be better to draft a 27/28 year old from the state leagues who could come in just to take the number one tall away from Reid/Johnston. I cannot think of any mid twenties tall forward who could be reasonably expected to kick 60-70 that we could go for. Someone of the ilk of Drew Petrie, I would settle for. It means that player teaches Reid, Johnston (and hopefully White) some tricks, gives them the 2nd and 3rd defender, by the time they're retiring our two youngsters will be booming.

I've always thought of Hawkins as a bit of a spud, especially considering all the hype and carry on that preceded his arrival at the cattery, but perhaps that's the very thing that has prevented him from living up to the expectations!
What did everyone on here think when we recruited JoshuaP? I bet lots and lots of us thought pretty much the same of him as we think about Hawkins and I don't reckon that gamble has turned out too badly.
I'm not saying that Hawkins is going to be a JoshuaP, but if (as expected) my beloved Braddy goes, there's got to be plenty of spare cash in the kitty that it may be worth the gamble.
I'm with Al on the White debate. He made his debut in 2008, has played 45 games, I have no idea how many playing ruck/forward but I wouldn't have thought more than ten, and from my memory only a handful has he looked like being the player we all want him to be. I've run out of patience and I reckon Longmire and the other coaches might be pretty close too.

[nomae]

Jesse has been "given a go" for the past 18 months and while I've been patient that patience has run out.

This. I don't see why we shouldn't give Hawkins a go - we've done it so many times before and I definitely think we can do it again.

Also, someone mentioned Roughead? He signed for a three-year contract for Hawthorn last year.

[magic.merkin]

To be fair, Trent's dominant NEAFL displays have been during very healthy wins over Tuggeranong, Gold Coast and Ainslie. From memory Jesse's played 3/4 as a back during a thumping when his opponents only managed 28 (you should remember the score!), 1/4 or so before going off the ground with an ankle and then a full game on the weekend when he kicked 4.

Don't bring sound reasons and facts to this witch-hunt!

[aardvark]

If we were going to steal another big from the Cats Vardy would be a far better bet than Dorkins.

[magic.merkin]

Reading these threads I can't help but wonder, if this time two years ago, what the reaction would have been among Swans fans concerning rumours of trading a young third ranked ruckman from Geelong called Shane Mumford.

I was all for it, he had effort, heart and the body in Geelong games I saw. I remember in a Brisbane game, he was tackling and throwing his body around and I was "wow". Skills and consistency would come for him. lucky for us it clicked real quick!

I'm questioning Hawkins and Jesse's results on field. I believe Jesse needs a permanent forward role to settle into with some 1 vs 1 training from Bradshaw. And Hawkins I don't care for, we have a project player in Jesse that we have invested 5 years into. Getting a high profile proven forward is another matter.

[old blood]

Hawkins' problem is much the same as Jesse's - he simply doesn't have the instincts of a natural forward. If you want a comparison, look at TDL. He just knows where to go to get the ball and you can't teach that. I'd much prefer that we persevere with LJ and Sam Reid as our key forwards. If they are backed up by Gary Rohan, TDL, Benny and Jed Lamb, we could have a red-hot forward line in a year or two.

If we have to look elsewhere, you need to look at another natural forward like Taylor Walker. He's obviously got issues and will probably be snapped up by GWS, but his forward instincts are outstanding.

[nomae]

I believe Jesse needs a permanent forward role to settle into with some 1 vs 1 training from Bradshaw.

You don't think that's happened already?

[Big Al]

Don't bring sound reasons and facts to this witch-hunt!

No withch hunt at all. I've been a supporter of Jesse for a long time but my patience has run out with him. I want him to play the football I think he's capable of so I hardly think saying just that is a withch hunt.