On the Couch rumour

[Red]

If Hawkins can't prosper off the delivery of the Geelong midfield, how's he going to go with ours?

The answer is not well. And I don't think he's got the ground game to compensate for it. A big NO THANK YOU to Hawkins.

I see other clubs are sniffing around Brian Lake. Could we resurrect him as a full-forward?

[Donners]

I'd rather see the return of Mark Brown. At least he kicked plenty of goals. Why didn't he ever get a senior game?

[magic.merkin]

You don't think that's happened already?

I'm sure it has to a degree, mixed in with team drills, midfield training, ruck coaching, rehab, surgery etc (combining both of them). It seems Braddy will have more spare time now, and as stated I'd like Jesse to be able to purely focus on being a forward.

But it aint up to us, and we don't have to balance the side and cater for all circumstances.

[magic.merkin]

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.

Mate your not leading the witchunt, and I'd barely say your even involved. There IS a witchhunt on a few boards, it's been taking numbers even from the Bevo hunt of late.

I believe the football he is capable of will come when he is fit, and can dedicate himself to the forward line. If he gets that opportunity and still no dice, then i'll be sad but he has to go.

[stellation]

You don't think that's happened already?

I don't think he's really had a permanent forward role this year; last year he did and I thought he was fine and building okay as the season went on. He finished with 22 goals from 20 games, but 16 of those came in the last dozen or so games (which included a game and a bit playing as backup ruckman).

As for 1 vs 1 training with Braddy, my understanding is that hasn't entirely happened in the manner that the club had hoped- because of Braddy's injury woes a huge amount of his time has been spent just focusing on getting himself right. I imagine that will free up now.

[Big Al]

Mate your not leading the witchunt, and I'd barely say your even involved. There IS a witchhunt on a few boards, it's been taking numbers even from the Bevo hunt of late.

I believe the football he is capable of will come when he is fit, and can dedicate himself to the forward line. If he gets that opportunity and still no dice, then i'll be sad but he has to go.

Fair enough!

[wolftone57]

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.

I was with the plot too. This guy always had the potential but was a bit overweight (puppy fat). He was impressive in his aggression in the few games he had for the Cats. Hawks is a problem and it is about attitude, I think he may be a sook? He seems to think it is all going to fall into pla instead of going & getting the pill. He hangs back , is slow & seems at times disinterested. Could he do well up here? There is a chance of course but he has tio really want it & he's more of a CHF type not FF as he doesn't have a natural lead & tries to rely on his strength. I thing the resies have several who may slot into FF eg; Harren or we couls play TDL out of the Goal Square ie; Darren Jarman for Adelaide.

[Swansongster]

Not sure about Hawkins. if at the right price, it could be worth the gamble as other options also develop.

The other thing I liked on OTC last night was the reference by Gerard Healy to TDL being a bit like Nick Davis. I'm paraphrasing here but he said something like "a genuine goal scorer ... he knows where the goals are ... he creates goals".

I thought his forward defensive work rate was pretty good on Saturday. Largely preaching to the convereted here, but he is an X-factor and is a first 22 player in my books based on our current list.

Not quite Davis in 2005 but he has also kicked the winning goal in a final already.

[Hartijon]

Not sure about Hawkins. if at the right price, it could be worth the gamble as other options also develop.

The other thing I liked on OTC last night was the reference by Gerard Healy to TDL being a bit like Nick Davis. I'm paraphrasing here but he said something like "a genuine goal scorer ... he knows where the goals are ... he creates goals".

I thought his forward defensive work rate was pretty good on Saturday. Largely preaching to the convereted here, but he is an X-factor and is a first 22 player in my books based on our current list.

Not quite Davis in 2005 but he has also kicked the winning goal in a final already.

Yeah,i am a convert ,he has the skills that you can't learn,you either have them or you don't.

[Mountain Man]

I also feel that Hawkins offers noting that White couldn't deliver.

If it were to happen, I would have the consolation of knowing that we had in-house advice from Henry and the Mummy as to character and potential.

[rojo]

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.

+1

[wedge.maverick]

I still see key defence as more of an issue long term with us. How would Troy Chaplin look in our side?

[i'm-uninformed2]

Stefan Carey > Tom Hawkins

[Bas]

I was watching a replay tonight and after both Gerard and Mike quizzed Roosy about Hawkins and he denied vehemently, Gerard finished by saying and Roosy's nose has grown a bit longer.

I'd be happy for him to be transformed into a Swans and the Swans will have the money to persuade him to leave Geelong and join his old team mate in Sydney.

They wouldn't be chasing him if they saw a future for Jessie at FF. However Jessie may still be retained in defence.

We'd have a better spine than a super model's.

[happy]

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.

agreed about everything ....except the potential bit