TOPIC:

Bazza wrote:

Dirty Weekender wrote: Remove the best 2 midfielders out of any team in the comp and they are going to struggle let alone against Hawthorn at the moment. One A grader down in the midfield can be covered but lose 2 and any team will lose a gear. If I was a Freo fan I wouldn't be too concerned

That hold some water,,maybe, apart from the fact that the hawks had some huge outs, far more than freo,,sound more like a piss weak excuse to me.

Tend to agree Bazza. Losing 2 mid fielders wasnt the reason, i think the "dismantlng" of the Freo game plan" was of greater concern i suspect.

Bazza wrote:

Dirty Weekender wrote: Remove the best 2 midfielders out of any team in the comp and they are going to struggle let alone against Hawthorn at the moment. One A grader down in the midfield can be covered but lose 2 and any team will lose a gear. If I was a Freo fan I wouldn't be too concerned

That hold some water,,maybe, apart from the fact that the hawks had some huge outs, far more than freo,,sound more like a piss weak excuse to me.

I hear ya Bazza, its still no excuse for the poor showing. I base my comment on a very healthy respect I have for 2 great players in Fyfe & Barlow and also for the Hawks who are clearly the best team in the comp right now. Reckon the player the Hawks could least afford to lose is Gibson.

Was great to watch, Hawks were on fire and I loved watching them move the ball. I think their key to beating fremantles usual relentless pressure was their spread, freo locks down and causes turnovers when teams are doing really short handpasses to break their pressure, hawks would have one or two short handpasses, find that release and then spread. With players like Brad Hill and Isaac Smith bolting from congestion as they spread, not many teams will go with them.

Also, Hawks are the best recruiters in the game, Josh Gibson....undersized defender plays 3 feet taller than he is (best and fairest in a premiership year), Burgoyne is one of the most composed footballers ever, would b great in any team playing fwd, mid or defence, Gunston....Hale....McEvoy.....this list goes on.

And they've no longer have to live with that achilles heel J. Kennett they've carried for the past few years smashing their "useless" coach at very opportunity...anyone who beats them to the cup will deserve it in 2014

Who do you guys think will be the better footballer out of the Hill brothers? We all know what Steven can do when on song, but for me he can be a bit lazy at times, especially when defensive efforts are required. Its probably too early to tell with Brad though.

Very similar in skills. I think Stephen is pretty consistent now and his brother will probably follow. Both are burst players and very dangerous when given the opportunity.

yolo swaggins wrote: Who do you guys think will be the better footballer out of the Hill brothers? We all know what Steven can do when on song, but for me he can be a bit lazy at times, especially when defensive efforts are required. Its probably too early to tell with Brad though.

Great question Yolo, kept thinking this to myself throughout Fridays game. Different body types yet very similar players. If I had to have my money on it I'd say at the end of their careers we'll be saying that Stephen was the slightly better player with a little more brilliance but that Brad has had a better career ie. more success & more consistent performance. One on one I think Stephen beats Brad, for the next few years anyway until little brother has his day. Both great players to watch when on song. You prepared to make a call Yolo???

stephen quite oftne gets tagged, be interesting how Brad reacts when under real "tagging" pressure

UNKA2 wrote: stephen quite oftne gets tagged, be interesting how Brad reacts when under real "tagging" pressure

Yep at the moment Brad has the luxury of being at Hawthorn, the way he's playing ATM it won't be long before he gets a tag I reserve judgement till then Stephen is well ahead of him at the
Moment.

@DW - I am of the similar opinion. Very tough call and impossible to call at the moment. Both players have a lot of great footy ahead of them. It would be interesting to see what Brad would be like in a team that isnt the best in the league.