Could Sam Mitchell not coach two years ago when Hawthorn couldnt get on the board? Looks like he can now when they are winning. It is gonna take time for kids to get up to scratch and players to gel and understand each other, let alone the game plan. We are winning a lot of key metrics and showing good signs. I am optimistic. A lot of people still have their winning goggles on and dont realise taking a few steps back to go forward is natural.
And the Hawks finished 16th last year.
They have levelled up and are really starting to gel. They clearly have confidence in what to expect from teammates (which as you stated takes time) and are now starting to play as a well drilled unit.
I wonder what some of the coaching geniuses on here would have been saying about Hawthorn last year when plays were breaking down due to a lack of cohesion? (which would have probably been assessed as a horrible game plan).
Or what would have been said when their defence was caught out due to not folding back quick enough? (probably would have been described as lazy or gutless defending)
The notion that Ooze should have been able to achieve the same level of cohesion with the current list balance and injury list is laughable.
But when anyone points out any facts about the situation that the team is in or any reasons as to why certain things are occurring (or not occurring in a game) this is sidestepped entirely and the discussion quickly changes to something else, like pointing at the final score, or inside 50’s or whatever.
As if game statistics that aren’t in your favour are some kind of undeniable proof of the coach not being good enough or the team not trying hard enough.
Yes there are things that are going wrong, but they are symptoms of a variety of things that include game experience, fatigue (for players not seasoned), not enough playing time with one another and structural deficiencies due to the lack of certain types of players. (I.e: a genuine *smile* key forward)
Anyone that was watching the game tonight would have seen patches of great play that the team was unable to sustain for 4 Qtrs. (Unless they were only looking for things to criticise, and then present as proof that Ooze can’t coach)
Some of the comments on here are nothing more than shallow analysis wrapped up in misplaced pravado with the stench of winni blues pouring out of the mouth of the loud guy at the pub who doesn’t realise he’s told everyone the same story four times already and that no one is interested.