Post match. Pies wallop the Hawks! All comments

[Snoop Dog]

Weird game - smashed in the middle and at stoppages but backs and fwds were fabulous.

Our mids were crap - sure Crawf got a lot of footy on the defensive side so his stats do not tell the story. Hodge was often let free - I think MM got the shits up Chad not being able to get near him that he thought he would let Hodge run free and bench Chad. Mitchell on the other hand was simply magnificent. That is one of the best centre displays I have ever seen. And for those that thought Obree was tremendous - you obviously were not watching the match ups at the centre and stoppages - OBree had him a fair bit. Licca was tried and benched and the OBree went to him at about the same time Burns was taken from Crawf and Holland put to him. Look they were both ok (probably OBrees best game for 05 but a low benchmark) but I am not sure either beat their man. Thought Fraser was good. Also thought Fanning did a good job on Spider early - Spider could have had a lot more influence.

For me it was the set up from half back. I thought Clement, Maxwell, Wakelin and Swan were v good. I thought Shaw, Lockyer and OBree were ok and provided reasonable link work. The fwds applied so much pressure that Hawks could not get set from half back which is what their game needs. Didak, Cara, Tazz were tremendous with TC providing a target. I agree with the person that said Rusling released Tazz - was obvious that Tarrant enjoyed his role more. Loved Rusling in close.

What was disappointing - Licca, Burns, Morrison, JOhnson and the fact it took MM so long to figure out Presti was the wrong match up.

Great effort though - 49 tackles tells a story about effort!

[Johnson#26]

I actually thought Jonno was ok. Solid, if unspectacular. Presti was a good match up, but Williams' ability to doubleback the leads hurt.

[Big T]

Highlight of the day for mine was actually the third quarter - its never easy trying to stem the tide when a team is clearly on top like the Hawks, but them failing to gain scoreboard advantage when dominating possession really deflated them.

Thought Swann was the highlight and has been absolutley fantastic since making his way into the team without any fanfare, hopefully has put that crap behind him from last year.

Fanning I think is well out of his depth and needs to go back to Willy - how far off is Richards? Website says TBA.

The other thing I loved was the discipline - we were at the ball, Hwaks played the man and it cost them. Burns being dragged for the free in the backline was harsh but sets a standard for the team.

Count how many frees the Hawks were pinned for when playing the man, and we managed on the whole not to retaliate. Fantastic composure and a sign that MM is turning his coaching fortunes and managing to implement some team rules which will benefit from free kicks.

Dids was malled all day, as was Cara and Taz, and none of them lost their cool. In days gone by Dids and Taz would have been far less effective under those conditions.

By the way was it not strange to see a first gamer getting double and triple teamed? Rusling must have some teams worried?

[Big T]

Another annoying thing on Fox was Tony Shaws commentary. Questioned both of Taz's frees and made no mention of the treatment he was getting, or Dids or Cara, off the ball. Maybe Eddies spray about Taz last week has galvanised all media outlets to not mention Taz's scragging at all, and although he did get a couple of frees yesterday, they were outside 50 and none of the inside 50 holding was paid.

But I guess every full forward cops a flogging in holding and scragging these days.

[Snoop Dog]

J26 - Yeah - I am a huge fan of Johnson and I really like watching him thru the midfield. I thought he was real good against WCE and maybe he didn't reach that same standard yesterday. He was on Clarke who went around pretty well. Was not all Presti's fault but as you say the doubleback caught him out a few times.

Big T - I think the problem Tazz has is that he pushes back into his opponent and forces them to come over his shoulders. He is looking for a free and I think the umps are saying - 'play the footy and don't look for frees'. I know I often look at him and think he is playing for a free. I thought the umpiring in general was well in our favour except for the Burns and Licuria calls. The Burns goal got them going again.

Swan was good - his last qtr I thought was very influential. His decision making is good. Shaw was similar - he is now looking for options more rather than getting rid of it. It looked terrible though when he over ran the footy.

This will upset a few people but has anyone noticed James Clement does not love putting his head over the footy. There were a couple of examples yesterday when he could have gone harder. He was not soft - it was just one of those 50/50's.

[skaman]

Big T - I think the problem Tazz has is that he pushes back into his opponent and forces them to come over his shoulders. He is looking for a free and I think the umps are saying - 'play the footy and don't look for frees'. I know I often look at him and think he is playing for a free.
I know what your saying Chris 71, but if they're there to be paid, they're there.End of story .Look at Lloyd, week in, week out getting the softest of free kicks. I always shake my head watching him crumble like ricepaper getting easies. If Taz got half of those frees, he'd be leading the Coleman. Consistancy from the umps is all thats required.

[Snoop Dog]

Would be nice to see him get more kicks for his efforts. Does a good job to keep presenting and not lose the plot. I think he enjoyed the 'floater' role yesterday.

[jimbeam]

Well we won this game without the experiance mids stepping up, this is a good sign, dids was a star great move by mick to push him up ground, tcloke presented well and played good, taz done some good things, cara is a star, jimmy, wakes, presto and johnno done it all day, well done. Eags is moving along nicely, fast hands and his footwork is looking better..
I still want to c davidson play though, cannot wait.. Josh played well too.. Our mids got owned, this is strange but we won because we played direct accountable attacking footy, backs stood up and never let go.. we can build on this.. 1-2 new mids to support licca and burnsy(bucks 1) we are on the way, draft trade whatever.. Going to be a test next week, g-long are strong down back and have a solid mid, time to bring in another forward like davidson or richo to let josh go forward, c if we can kick more goals again, **** defensive minded football, keep attacking.. nice game.. keep them kids playing as this is going to pay off.. finally.. oh and OB and swan played good solid games also, we need players like these 2.. honest

[Lone Ranger]

I'm hanging out for your thoughts Dr Alf ... what did you think of Rusling?

I thought he was crap.

Thanks Doc ... good to start the day with a good laugh

[Miz]

The Presti/Williams match up was a strange decision and a little bit like the Freo game a few weeks back when Malthouse threw J Cloke onto Pavlich, Presti was flogged by Williams but most people would have expected he was the wrong match up.

[1eyedpie]

[stonedpies]

We won so it was a great game....we r showing some attack on the footy which to me is the best part!!

Our kids r looking promising tho its still early and we dont want to put the mocca on them..

Overall ....good shit Pies..keep it up boys!!

[CQ]

I had to listen to it on the radio haven't seen the game yet but sounded good!! At least we're off the bottom now!!

[HAL]

Why?

[Dr Alf Andrews]

nah dr alf i was right at the back at southern stand in level 4 nah i am gonna get 15 on my jumper eagan is a star and which idiot did bag egan

Ah well ... You might be lucky. After Egan gets delisted at the end of the year they might give the number 15 to someone who CAN kick