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Home » Blog » AFL 2021 Preview Hawthorn and GWS Giants

AFL 2021 Preview Hawthorn and GWS Giants

GWS GIANTS
2020 FINISHED 10th 8 wins 9 losses

THE GIANTS UP AGAINST IT IN 2021

There could be some real pain on the way for the GWS in 2021. The team who was smashed in the 2019 Grand Final were a mere shell of their former selves in 2020, They were erratic and inconsistent and whilst there were flashes of the old GWS it was punctuated with too many flaky efforts in between.

There has been a mass exodus out the Giants in the off season and none more important than their marquee player Jeremy Cameron to Geelong. This leaves a HUGE hole up forward and his presence will be sorely missed.  Another key departure could be the elder statesman Heath Shaw. Although he was certainly physically at the end his leadership and ability to get a team on the same page will be hard to replace.

The Giants have taken a bit of a risk to attempt to fix their forward structure by recruiting the much maligned Jesse Hogan. He has had a few down years that have been fuelled by poor off field decisions. The Giants will be hoping that escaping the glare of an AFL fishbowl and moving to the Western Sydney team will allow him to be out of the limelight and fulfill his ability.

No doubt there will also be a VERY dark cloud that will follow coach Leon Cameron strongly should they show some really ordinary performances early. There is still very much an undercurrent asking the question “is Leon Cameron the right man for the job”. After the stellar 2019 he was awarded with a contract extension but after floundering last year from the dizzying heights of a Grand Final it won’t take a lot to get his detractors coming forward strongly again.

The Giants will really want to figure out their ball movement as well. For a team formerly known for “the orange tsunami” their lack of cohesion and connection was a massive stumbling block in 2020. This club is coming from a long way back it appears off a tough off season.

2021 PREDICTION – GWS GIANTS 16th 6 wins

HAWTHORN
2020 FINISHED 15th 5 wins 12 losses

“TROUBLING SIGNS AT HAWTHORN”

There are some troubling signs coming out of Hawthorn, some periphery issues that may be the signal of something deeper. Season 2021 for Premiership coach Clarkson may just become a trying time.

Only weeks out from the start of the season the Hawks lost their long time Head of Football Graham Wright to the side he formerly played for Collingwood. Whilst it was stated he left for “further options” when you dig a bit deeper it seems he had a falling out with Clarkson.

You add to this that they are onto their fourth Captain in 7 years and this shows indecision around a leadership model. Off field issues with Jonathon Patton and the sudden retirement of Tom Scully there really appears to be a lack of direction/purpose. They will talk up “its all about the kids” but it does not appear this is the case

After a good start to 2020 Hawthorn were a disappointing side. They had wins over Brisbane and Richmond in two of the first 3 rounds of the season, things looked promising. But they only went on to win another 3 games for the rest of the year!!

The Hawks have lost a ton of experience in the off season. Premiership campaigners James Frawley, Ben Stratton Ricky Henderson Paul Puopolo and Issac Smith have all either retired or joined other clubs. It’s a clear indication of Clarkson looking to load with youth for another tilt in time. This does send the message however that there could be some more short term pain for Hawks fans. Clarkson had his hunger questioned by his former 4 time premiership player Jordan Lewis last year. Whether he has it in him for the full rebuild we are about to find out!!

2021 PREDICTION – HAWTHORN 13th 9 wins