There were statistics to like in 2017, and there were statistics we'd rather keep in the past. Before we kick off our 2018 JLT campaign this Saturday, let's look over those stats the Hawks would like to maintain, and the ones they'll be looking to dramatically improve on in the season ahead.
The good…
Kicking efficiency 70.4% 1st
Disposals per turnover 5.99 1st
Points from forward half clearances 17.6 3rd
Despite missing finals for the first time since 2009, Hawthorn did a lot of things well in 2017. The high-skill game-style that underlined the threepeat premiership era remained a feature of the Hawks’ game last year. Led by defender Blake Hardwick, who had the fifth most disposals of any player in the league with an 85% disposal efficiency rate or better, the Hawks ranked first in the league for kicking efficiency. Other Hawks who featured prominently in the efficiency stakes were Conor Glass, who operated at an 84.2% efficiency, and stalwart Grant Birchall, who went at a typically impressive rate of 85.3% throughout his six games.
A similar statistic that Hawthorn excelled in was their ratio of disposals to turnovers. The Hawks held an average of just-shy of six disposals per turnover, which was the premier form of any other club in the land.
A third area that saw the Hawks become one of the league leaders in was points from forward half clearances, for which they sat third. This means that, once the Hawks were able to create a stoppage in their forward half, their ability to win the clearance and score was one of the strongest in the league. The Hawks were able to generate the equivalent of almost three goals per game from this scoring source.
Read: What's changed in six months?
The bad…
Opposition inside 50 to score 48.8% 14th
Points for 84.7 14th
The Hawks suffered major injury hits to some of their most important defenders in 2017, with experienced quartet Josh Gibson, James Frawley, Ben Stratton and Grant Birchall combining for just 33 games for the year. As a result of this, opposition sides proved potent when going inside their forward 50 against the Hawks. In 48.8% of opposition team’s forward entries they were able to register a score, placing the Hawks 14th in this state against the competition. The Hawks will be hoping that, with the returns of Frawley, Stratton and Birchall coupled with the ongoing development of the club’s young defensive nucleus, this statistic will be dramatically improved in season 2018.
Not since the Hawks last missed finals in 2009, did they also fall out of the top eight for points scored in the home and away season. With an obvious correlation to winning games, the Hawks fell to 14th in the league for points for in 2017. Captain Jarryd Roughead took out the club’s leading goal kicker award with his 38 goals for the season, the lowest winning tally since Nathan Thompson won his second award in 2004. But, with five goals from the skipper in the final round of the season, Jack Gunston's likely return to the forward line, and the inclusion of the explosive Impey into the fold, there is plenty to suggest the Hawks will improve on this statistic in the year ahead.
And the ugly…
Points from centre bounce clearance 5.8 18th
Despite being the best clearance side in the competition last season and second from centre bounce, the Hawks severely struggled to turn these efforts into scoring opportunities- in fact, they were the worst side in the league at it. Receiving a contribution equal to less than a goal per game from this area, the Hawks were almost completely impotent.
So, what is the silver lining for Hawks fans as they look ahead to this upcoming season? The return of Jaeger O’Meara. The explosive midfielder has given every indication that he is back to his best this summer, and, from what we know of the Western Australian, he will be able to top this stat off his boot this year!
