Hawthorn’s over-reliance on an ageing midfield core leaves them vulnerable against the AFL’s best sides, club great David Parkin believes.
Parkin, a respected Hawthorn premiership captain and coach, said last Sunday’s second half wipeout against Sydney might prove an aberration.
But it might also hint at a deeper problem.
Parkin suspects an excessive burden on tough midfield trio Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis is taking a toll on the pre-season premiership favourites.
He said Hawthorn’s midfield depth did not compare with their premiership rivals and the injury history of Luke Hodge and Cyril Rioli made it harder to solve the problem.
Along with the capitulation against the Swans, Hawthorn were over-run by Geelong in the last quarter in round two, contributing to their current 2-3 record.
“One of the great strengths of the clubs that are doing well at the moment is that they’re running between 10 and 12 competent players through the midfield,” Parkin told AAP on Friday.
“At the moment Hawthorn don’t have that as an ingredient in the team, they don’t have 10 or 12 what I would call competent midfielders.
“That significantly says that too few are carrying that load for too many and for too long.
“If you’re playing against good sides who do have those ingredients, it’s too hard for Sam and Lewy and Sewelly and company to continue to carry that midfield.”
Parkin said the issue would only become more apparent as the likes of Mitchell, 29, and Sewell, 28, aged.
“They’re getting into their late 20s now, which has taken them over the edge – 24 to 28 is when you produce your best football,” he said.
“They’ve been magnificent contributors.
“But there will come a time that, unless others are coming through that develop the same sort of characteristics … that might be a substantial struggle for them where the heart of the game is played.”
Parkin said captain Hodge, who returned from a calf injury to play in defence against the Swans, and skilful half-forward Rioli, could provide only limited help.
He said groin problems early in Hodge’s career meant he had never been able to handle the workload needed to become a great midfielder.
“He’ll add some depth to the midfield, but in my opinion he’s not a genuine midfielder in terms of the physical prowess he needs,” Parkin said.
Likewise, Rioli’s history of hamstring injuries meant he was only a “burst” player.
“That puts a ceiling on the kind of workload he can do in midfield,” Parkin said.
He said if the Hawks had other potential midfielders in the wings, they would be using them already.
“If they’re all standing up, I reckon they get to about eight or nine,” he said.
“If you’ve got eight or nine, you’re going to be two or three short when you come to play against the competent Collingwoods and Carltons and Geelongs.”
Parkin also said if he was coaching the Hawks, Jarryd Roughead would play at centre half-back, despite his enormous value in attack or ruck.
He said Hawthorn had shown they could kick goals without Roughead up forward, but had lacked a dominant big defender since Trent Croad’s career ended in 2008.
