Hawthorn’s inconsistency has been a bugbear of the brown and gold faithful in 2019.
Despite injuries undoubtedly playing a part, this last fortnight sums up the Hawks year to date: a stirring win into a faltering loss.
They are yet to record consecutive wins this season, with all four victories being followed by frustrating and seemingly avoidable falls.
Hawthorn is the only club in the competition that has won at least three games without back-to-back victories to this point in the season.
So, why is this?
Disposal counts certainly aren’t the be all and end all when coaches are breaking down games these days, but the Hawks’ nine tallies so far tell a worrying tale.
Alastair Clarkson’s side has had more disposals than its opposition just twice so far this year - in the wins over Carlton in Round 6 and GWS in Round 8.
There are many alternative statistics that offer greater insights into the game these days, but sometimes it’s the simple things that tell the truest story and perhaps, at the moment, the Hawks simply aren’t getting the hands on the footy enough.
Goal kicking accuracy has also been a cause for concern.
Over their last month, the Hawks have booted more behinds than goals in three of these four outings.
Typically sharp-shooters, Luke Breust and Jack Gunston have been among the culprits for wayward kicking.
This has all contributed towards the Hawks averaging just 74.3 points per game over this four-week period.
So, why should Hawks fans hold out hope of the side rectifying trends?
Back history in.
Breust owns the 11th best all-time goal kicking accuracy record for those who have kicked 100-plus career goals.
Across his nine previous years, Gunston has never finished a season with more behinds than goals – his 63.7 per cent conversion rate is also right up there with the very best in the modern era.
Throughout his time, Alastair Clarkson has built innumerable offences that have found ways to penetrate some of the most intricate defensive systems the game has seen.
Only twice in the past 12 seasons have the Hawks ranked outside the competition’s top six for scoring.
The Hawks inability to string strong performances together may be cause for frustration so far this year, but there is just as much cause for optimism that these blemishes can be rectified.
