Upon his return in Round 5, it seemed he needed another month to adjust once again to the pace and level expected of an AFL player. From rounds five to nine of the season, Puopolo averaged just 5.8 disposals and three goals in his five games.
While he was performing his defensive role well, applying forward pressure and becoming a nuisance for opposition defenders (including five tackles against St Kilda in Round 6), he had little to no impact with ball in hand.
He soon hit his straps, however, starting with the Hawks big win over the Kangaroos in Launceston in Round 10. Puopolo had 17 disposals and kicked two goals in what would turn out to be the game that turned his season around.
From Round 10 to the conclusion of the home-and-away season, Puopolo averaged 13.3 disposals and became a regular on the Hawks’ goal kickers list, averaging 1.5 goals per game.
In that impressive 13-game stretch, Puopolo had arguably the best game of his short career, when he gathered 21 disposals and booted five goals in his team’s win over Port Adelaide in Round 20.
That output is rivaled by his performance against Brisbane in Round 12, when he showed exactly why he and Cyril Rioli form one of the most dangerous forward pressure partnerships in the league.
Puopolo laid a season-high nine tackles, gathered 16 disposals, kicked two goals and earned himself five free kicks. That was arguably his best “all-round” game.
His season, however, in the end was soured by poor returns in the 2012 Finals Series, when he failed to gather more than 10 disposals in each of Hawthorn’s three matches. He also didn’t kick a goal in the Preliminary or Grand finals.
Over the three finals matches, he averaged just seven disposals and kicked just the one goal.
What he did do, however, was show that his role in the side is more than just kicking goals. Throughout the high-pressure finals campaign, Puopolo made sure he was using his pace to applying much needed pressure on opposition defenders. Ensuring no easy ball was coming out of the Hawthorn forward line.
He averaged five tackles over the three matches - and laid seven tackles in both the Qualifying and Grand finals.
With another season under his belt, Hawks fans can expect improvement from the 25 year old as he embarks on the third year at the level.
| GA | K | H | D | DE% | CP | UP | M | CL | T | I50 | G | PCM | |
| 2012 averages | 21 | 5.6 | 5 | 10.6 | 73 | 5 | 5.4 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 3 | 2 | 1.1 | 45 |
Paul Puopolo always puts pressure on, this time leaping from nowhere to tackles West Coast's Adam Selwood.
Puopolo in the news in 2012
Puopolo realises his dream Puopolo excited by Hawks' future Hodge lauds forwards without Buddy We can cover Cyril: CameronVideos featuring Puopolo in 2012
Poppy flies high Poppy tackles hard Seven in Seven: PuopoloHow did you rate Paul Puopolo's 2012 season? Leave your view below.
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2012 Player Review
