THE PROBLEM...
The Gold Coast dominated Hawthorn in the contested ball count by a 64-possession margin and had 25 more clearances than the Hawks on Sunday.
The Hawks managed only 118 contested possessions, less than 5.5 per player on average. This was the lowest tally of any team for round three.
THE SILVER LINING...
Tom Mitchell (14.7 contested possessions per game), Jaeger O’Meara (12.7) and Will Langford (12) are among only 33 players around the league that are averaging 12 or more contested possessions per game.
Only Fremantle, with Nat Fyfe, Lachie Neale and Stephen Hill, can match the Hawks’ three players in the same category.
THE PROBLEM...
The Suns were able to intercept the ball over in their own forward half on 19 more instances than the Hawks.
After scoring only 41 points through the first fortnight from defensive turnovers in their forward half, the Suns scored 42 more points than the Hawks in this area on the weekend.
THE SILVER LINING...
Forward half turnovers are typically produced by two things: forwards’ pressure on opposing defenders and the defence’s ability to set up and intercept the opposition’s defensive 50 exits.
Leading into the game against the Suns, the Hawks ranked second in forward 50 tackles.
Intercept possessions is an area that Hawks defenders Josh Gibson and James Frawley have excelled at in past seasons, proving that the Hawks have the personnel to turn things around.
THE PROBLEM...
The Hawks have grabbed just 28 marks inside 50 in the first three rounds, the second-fewest of any side.
After they took seven marks inside 50 in the first quarter against the Suns, Hawk fans would have felt as though the issue had been rectified. Unfortunately, the Hawks managed only two more for the game to finish with nine, equal with the Suns, but still an area for improvement.
THE SILVER LINING...
The Hawks have five of the top 35 players (Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli, Luke Breust, James Sicily and Ty Vickery) in marks inside 50 in 2016. This is more than any other club in the competition, showing that the potency of the Hawks’ multi-dimensional forward-line should ultimately come to the fore.
Read: "If we play at our best, we can match anyone" says Gunston
THE PROBLEM...
Hawthorn has been top three in the competition at generating inside 50s since 2011. So far this year they have the equal third-lowest rate per game.
THE SILVER LINING...
Despite enjoying a 3-0 start to the year, the Hawks’ next opponent, Geelong, have struggled to generate inside 50s, enduring a -17 season differential against their opposition. The Hawks will have the opportunity to improve their standing this week.
THE PROBLEM...
Another well-known strength of the Hawks has faltered in the opening three rounds of the season, with the team’s disposal efficiency falling to ninth best in the league.
THE SILVER LINING...
The Hawks have been outstanding users of the ball for the past six seasons.
• 2011- ranked 1st in disposal efficiency league-wide.
• 2012-1st
• 2013- 2nd
• 2014- 1st
• 2015- 1st
• 2016- 2nd
In 2016, eight Hawthorn players were listed in the top 100 ranked players (who have played at least five games) in terms of disposal efficiency. Of those eight, seven are still on the Hawks’ 2017 playing list. If these players can regain their 2016 efficiency in the coming weeks, their other stats will likely improve too.
