Every four weeks we have reviewed every club but with the mid season break, we will go into more details with our monthly review of each club. We will review the year so far, what the year remaining looks like and also which players have been disappointing and which players have been a shinning light for each club.
Shaun Higgins has been one of the young guns this year that has stepped up to the next level.
We would love your comments as it makes us accountable and helps us to create a better service in what Kick2Kick provides. So please give us your thoughts and opinions on what we have written and discussed.
Western Bulldogs Mid Season Review
8 wins, 4 losses. 123.89%
After 3 consecutive losses the Dogs were looking down the barrell of a mediocre season but have turned it around with a scintillating six weeks of football. They are applying enormous pressure through the midfield and breaking teams down with hard and consistent football. Question marks remain over the forward line despite sitting second in the ‘points for’ category again. Only time will tell if they can perform in the finals.
Fairly tough draw lies ahead with games against the Saints, Cats, Hawks, Lions and two games agianst the Pies. The positive thing is after travelling 5 times in the opening 12 rounds they have only one more interstate assignment and 8 games at Etihad.
Improvement has come from the young guys in Higgins, Hill, Harbrow, Picken and the super impressive Callan Ward. Murphy, Cooney, Aker, Welsh and Williams have all missed chunks of footy and have not been missed so the signs are all positive out at the Whitten Oval. Are looking good for a top 4 berth and we all know that anything can happen from there.
Hawthorn Hawks Mid Season Review
6 wins, 6 losses. 94.93%
The Hawks had a break out season in 2008 but in looking at them this year maybe they peaked too early and should still be rebuilding as holes are being exposed. It was so bad that their president has publically apologised for his sides season form so far.
The club was aware that the season would start slowly with many players having a limited pre season but in todays AFL environment, No pre season = no finals. 7 of their last 10 games are against top 8 contenders so it will not get easy especially that the 2 other games are away in Perth & Adelaide.
Having to play Campbell & Hodge in key defensive positions instead of having delisted defender Zac Dawson to fill in the spot, was stupid. The ruck stocks also look one dimensional. Excusses aside the main problem is the fact last year they played for each other (zones etc) but this year they are not.
Mark has lived by the sword & by the way Port have been playing this yearm he probably will also die by it.
Port Adelaide’s Mid Season Review
6 wins, 6 losses. 89.63%
I was one of the many that perdicted that Port Power would do better than last year and with the return of form from Tredrea signs looked promising. However this year so far has been very up and down and along with the future of coach Williams it has become another year of turmoil.
Most tip Port having a new coach next year as the team looks disjointed, unable to play for eachother & the coach. Mark Williams controversial acts look to be wearing thin.
Technically they still are in the hunt for finals but the next two weeks they face Geelong (away) & Brisbane (home) and have other tough games against Hawthorn (home), Adelaide, Fremantle (away), Carlton (home) & Brisbane again (away). They would need to win 50% of these for a chance at finals.
It will not be made easy with injury and form limiting their forward functioning in Ebert, Motlop and Westhoff. Add onto that Harteltt is struggling with hamstrings and for the second year in a row Chad Cornes has broken down mid season.
North Melbourne Kangaroos Mid Season Review
4 wins, 8 losses. 76.27%
It has been a season from hell for the Kangaroo boys, the year after rejecting a Gold Coast move, their attendances for games has been rubbish, several players continually under perform & the coach walks out half way through the season. Wonder what be different if they moved to the Gold Coast?
The next month or two does not get any easier with games against the Bulldogs, Sydney (away), Hawks (Aurora), Richmond, Brisbane (away) & Carlton. Tough to see more than one win hear for new coach Crocker.
So did Laidley jump ship before being pushed? I think so.
Again Wells has been too inconsitent and he is not alone with Harvey (before injury), Hale, Petrie & Thomas. In fact the only players to really show anything this year are McIntosh who they tried to trade last year and first year player Ziebell.
Your mid season review of the Dogs, Hawks, Port & the Roos
Let us know what you think of how these four clubs are going half way through the season.
Will Port have a new coach and who do you think it will be? Will the Roos get Longmuire down from Sydney or will the coaching gig go to Buckley? Can the Hawks & Port Adelaide play consistent for the rest of the year to book a finals berth? And can the Dogs get into a grand final with their forward set up?
Only time can tell but let us know what you think.
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June 23rd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I think if the dogs can continue playing the way they have the last couple of weeks, there is a real chance they could beat any of those sides…even st kilda and geelong. they are playing well and a premiership is within reach.
The hawks have been really disapointing this year, but injuries have played a big part in that, but i agree they may have peaked too early, but i just dont think they are settled at all…players coming in and out of the side means they cant get alot of fluency, and i get the feeling some of the players are playing a little more for themselves rather than the team…i beg the question though…are Hawthorn really missing the leadershipf of Mr Guinness World Record Holder, Brownlow Medallist and Premiership Player Shane Crawford? i think maybe yes
Port need a new coach and a revival…the players don’t look excited about playing for the jumper…there is no passion. they had a huge loss against a spirited Bulldogs outfit, and while the Dogs were clearly the better team. Port should not have lost by that amount…they are a better team than that, they just are not delivering…
North Melbourne are in turmoil. The coach has abandoned ship, and i get the feeling they might do a little sinking before they can power ahead….
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June 24th, 2009 at 10:25 am
I think much can be written about Hawthorn. In the 2007 draft, Clarko recruited Dew to add grit to the team and on the back of his 3rd quarter in the 08 GF, he showed why. This year they knew Croad would be out for a long time, yet they let Dawson go? imo Clarko put too much trust in his team, if they kept Dawson (who has to be one of the most improved players) their defense would not look as weak.
They also had the option to trade Boyle to the Dogs which they could have gotten something for, Boyle while injured has not showed anything for the last two years, they wont get anything for him now…
Apart from poor recruiting and list management, they simply are NOT playing for each other. Whether they are cocky and up themselves they definitely have a premiership hangover…
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