Hawthorn’s 2016 report card: Hawks four-peat dream ends but quick rebound in the works

HAWTHORN knew there were some cracks in the castle walls this season and they got opened up in finals. What went wrong and who do the Hawks need to trade for?

Sam Mitchell after the Hawks semi-final loss to the Western Bulldogs.

HAWTHORN knew there were some cracks in the castle walls this season and they got opened up in finals.

And perhaps the biggest of them was contested ball.

HOW DID THE HAWKS FARE IN 2016? VOTE AND HAVE YOUR SAY

Alastair Clarkson has been adamant Hawthorn did not need to rely on wining first possession this season, and that their slick outside running game was good enough to topple the rest, as it has been in recent seasons.

But the Dogs smashed Hawthorn for hard balls in the semi-final win and Clarkson has since conceded the Hawks will now have to improve in this area over summer to re-launch at another flag.

JORDAN LEWIS: HAWKS WOULDN’T DO THAT TO BREUST

DESTINATION CLUB: SECRET MEETING TO SECURED JAEGER

FINALS LOSS: HEARTBREAK TO DRIVE HAWKS BACK TO TOP

KEY FORWARD: HAWKS HOPEFUL ON ROUGHEAD RETURN

Hawthorn’s ladder position flattered them this season, as the Hawks often scraped over the line, winning six games by less than 10 points.

Wingman Brad Hill started the season slowly and the club looked to young goalkickers James Sicily and Tim O’Brien, in particular, to help fill Jarryd Roughead’s big shoes.

Sam Mitchell after the Hawks’ semi-final loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Cyril Rioli was spectacular at times, but there wasn’t the same scoring power in attack. Hawthorn scored more than 100 points in only eight of their 24 games this year.

The small forwards dominated games but this was not the invincible team we have seen through 2013-15.

2016 SNAPSHOT

WINS: 17

LOSSES: 7

DRAWS: 0

LADDER POSITION: 5th (semi-final)

LAST YEAR: 1st (down four places)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

The Hawks didn’t have too many injuries throughout the season and while maintaining a relatively healthy list Alastair Clarkson also blooded six youngsters – Kaiden Brand, Kurt Heatherley, Ryan Burton, Blake Hardwick, Kieran Lovell and Kade Stewart. Getting senior experience into those players, plus the likes of Billy Hartung, Jono O’Rourke, James Sicily, Tim O’Brien and Daniel Howe will hold the Hawks in good stead for 2017. The return of Brendan Whitecross from a serious knee injury was also a big positive, as was his ability to cement his place in the best 22 and perform at a high level in key games, including during finals. Then there’s the trade request of gun Suns midfielder Jaeger O’Meara. He’s the hottest property this trade period and he wants to join Hawthorn.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Jarryd Roughead’s cancer battle was devastating not only for Hawthorn but for the AFL community. His health is first and foremost and everyone associated with the Hawks and the league wish nothing but the best for the four-time premiership player. He was sorely missed on the field but the priority is his health, as Clarkson said after his team’s straight-sets finals exit. We hope to see Roughy fit and healthy in 2017. Is time catching up with Luke Hodge and Josh Gibson? The latter had a disappointing finals series while Hodge wasn’t as influential as he has been in finals past but then again, neither were the Hawks as a team.

Jarryd Roughead with Issac Smith pre-game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

DRAFT/TRADE REVIEW

Draft picks: Ryan Burton (19), Kieran Lovell (22), Blake Hardwick (44), Luke Surman (rookie), Kade Stewart (rookie), Alex Woodward (rookie), Conor Glass (rookie)

Trade/free agency acquisitions: Jack Fitzpatrick (Melbourne)

On early look the Hawks look to have struck gold in the draft once again under the leadership of list boss Graham Wright. Ryan Burton was touted as a top-10 pick before a horrific injury and he slipped to Hawthorn who have one of the best medical departments in the competition. They got the star South Australian up and running and he debuted late and slotted in seamlessly. He played forward and back and even featured in the qualifying final loss to Geelong before suffering another injury. Kieran Lovell, Blake Hardwick and Kade Stewart all had a taste at senior level and impressed, while Jack Fitzpatrick kicked the match-winner against Collingwood but did little else in his three senior appearances.

HIGHLIGHT AND LOWLIGHT

The best win came Round 17 when the Hawks travelled to the SCG to take on an in-form Sydney in what turned out to be one of the games of the year. Late heroics from Sam Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli clinched the last-minute win, a huge victory in the context of Hawthorn’s season. The one-point nail biter against Collingwood to clinch a top-four spot was up there, too. But that all seems a distant memory now following the Hawks’ straight-sets finals exit. The two-point defeat to Geelong after Isaac Smith had a chance to win it after the siren will burn all pre-season and into 2017, while the team will be angry at the loss to the Dogs in the semi-final. And the 75-point loss to GWS in Round 6 was awful.

THE COACH

Alastair Clarkson as some work to do beefing up Hawthorn’s stoppage work. Or perhaps Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara will take care of that for him when they join the club next month. Clarkson squeezed as much as he could out of the Hawks this season and is smart enough to know the strategy must change again, in 2017. He is the master innovator.

YOU SAID IT

“It’s been shown throughout the year that we just haven’t played well enough … I don’t think the percentage lies on the ladder too much.”

- Alastair Clarkson after the Hawks semi-final loss.

Alastair Clarkson says Hawthorn are far from a spent force.

BEST-AND- FAIREST

Sam Mitchell will start the best-and-fairest count on fire but expect Shaun Burgoyne to finish like a freight train, with his run to begin mid-season. Burgoyne was a standout for the Hawks for most of the season, proving time and again why he’s arguably the most clutch player in the competition. Grant Birchall and Ben Stratton were consistent performers every week and should poll well, as will Cyril Rioli. Jack Gunston might be the wildcard after kicking 51 goals as the main man in attack.

B&F Count: Peter Crimmins Medal, Crown Palladium, October 8

SUPERCOACH STUD

Sam Mitchell just edges Shaun Burgoyne simply because he reached the ton more times over the course of the season. Mitchell ended the home-and-away season with an average of 104.4, the highest scoring Hawk for 2016. He started the season well, scoring 130, 144 and 141 in three of his first four games and didn’t score below 110 between Rounds 13 and 18.

SUPERCOACH DUD

After averaging 96.6 points per game last year Liam Shiels appeared poised to take the next step in 2017 as he assumes more midfield responsibility with the likes of Mitchell, Hodge and Lewis getting older. But it didn’t happen. While Shiels is an important cog in the Hawthorn machine and is a tackling beast, he didn’t turn his on-field importance to Clarkson’s team into SuperCoach scores. Averaged a disappointing 70.4 points from 16 games in an injury-interrupted season.

James Sicily helped fill the void left by Jarryd Roughead.

THE LIST

ELITE: Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli

BIG IMPROVERS: James Sicily, Brendan Whitecross, Billy Hartung

GONE: Shem-Kalvin Tatupu (NRL)

GOING, GOING: Zac Webster, Dallas Willsmore, Angus Litherland, Matt Spangher, Teia Miles, Jermaine Miller-Lewis

TRADE BAIT: Bradley Hill, James Sicily, Tim O’Brien, Will Langford

ON THE BLOCK

Brad Hill has requested a trade to Fremantle, likely in exchange for a pick in the 20s. But the bigger question is who will be moved on as part of the Jaeger O’Meara deal? Luke Breust, Will Langford, James Sicily and Will Hartung are in the mix.

WHAT THEY NEED

With Jon Ceglar set to miss most, if not all of the 2017 season the Hawks could use some back-up in the ruck department. Marc Pittonet has had two years developing in the VFL but the Hawks may look for someone more senior and Tiger Ty Vickery fits the bill as someone who can play a similar role to David Hale. That will likely spell the end for Jack Fitzpatrick despite his late-season cameo. Bringing in more midfield talent, particularly outside runners with pace, endurance and good kicking skills will be a priority should Brad Hill depart for Fremantle. Jaeger O’Meara and Tom Mitchell have been linked and will be a perfect fit with the retirement of Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis edging closer.

PREMIERSHIP CLOCK: 11.30pm

Much of Hawthorn’s premiership aspirations will depend on the form of Mitchell, Hodge, Burgoyne, Gibson and Lewis. All are playing on but time will tell whether it was the right call. If they all play to a level we saw this year, plus the addition of a fit Jaeger O’Meara and possibly Swan Tom Mitchell and Tiger Ty Vickery, that puts the Hawks right in the premiership mix. Still one of the teams to beat.

THE STATS

REPORT CARD: HAWTHORN 2016
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Source: Champion Data