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Bombers Put Halt To Hawks Season
HAWTHORN'S season is in tatters after an insipid display against Essendon. After only three victories in nine matches, coach Ken Judge was blunt: "We are under the pump".
Only three weeks ago the Hawks stunned the previously unbeaten Geelong with an inspirational performance at Shell Stadium, but since then it has lost to Sydney by 28 points, the Kangaroos by 52 and yesterday by 60.
And the result was flattering. Essendon enjoyed 32 scoring shots to 12.
The Hawks managed only three goals and four behinds by three-quarter time, and looked in danger of recording their lowest score against Essendon, which was a miserable 3.7 in 1944.
"This was worse than last week against North Melbourne, who had too much ability. Today we were uncompetitive and it was most disappointing," Judge said.
"There was a bit riding on this. A scoreline of 4-5 would have been acceptable, but 3-6 is not good.
"We didn't have much intensity, certainly not the intensity which we have come to expect, from this side."
Judge accepts that the team depends largely on four or five key players, and that "three or four of them are struggling."
Nick Holland, the key centre half-forward, managed only eight kicks for the game, taking his two marks late in the last quarter.
"Nick is having a really rough time of it. He is not a natural at this game and his confidence is down," Judge explained.
Ruckman Paul Salmon was comprehensively beaten by Steve Alessio.
His lack of form in recent games is as much a handicap to Hawthorn as is Holland's inability to mark.
With Salmon beaten and Holland unable to mark, the Hawks chased all day.
Judge is at a loss to explain the drop in confidence and, subsequently, the standard of performance since the Geelong victory. But he is pleased that next weekend provides a bye because of the State-of-Origin contest.
"As hard as it will be, I would like to see a bit of enjoyment around the club this week before taking next weekend off. We need to regroup," he said, referring to the difficult assignment ahead with matches against Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda.
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, who had concerns about this contest following two successive defeats, was pleased with the manner of victory as much as the scoreline. He said he would have accepted a 6-3 scoreline pre-season, and he believed the team could improve.
One celebration in yesterday's lacklustre affair came with the fifth goal by full-forward Matthew Lloyd. He booted 5.4 to bring up his 200th goal in only his 68th game, taking his tally this season to 42.
The AFL Top Are:
West Coast 8 - 1
Brisbane 6 - 3
Kangaroos 6 - 3
St Kilda 6 - 3
Essendon 6 - 3
Bulldogs 5 - 4
Geelong 5 - 4
Carlton 5 - 4
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