Respectfully, some coaching tips for Schwab

by RICK KANE

RECENTLY, the Mighty Hawks, to be fair, have been far from mighty. After a crushing second half of a season they cling tenuously to a spot in the eight and do not readily come to mind when thoughts go to the last Saturday in September. Notwithstanding a Melbourne journalist's reference to Hawthorn's form to justify his argument that the top eight is a flawed system (they still won 13 games in the season, dickhead!) there are reasons, even for the die hards, to doubt the Hawks sustaining a successful campaign over the next four weeks. Let's face it, in the run home to the finals they have been soundly beaten by Fremantle and St Kilda. I couldn't imagine there is any way of putting a positive spin on that.

Then, in the last few days there have appeared some disconcerting items in the media apropos Hawthorn's finals chances. And the items have stemmed from where? From bloody Hawthorn, that's where. There was Parkin suggesting the players are selfish and then Schwab went ruminating to the press about Hawthorn's lack of credibility. If that was not enough, they had the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne come in and bless the bloody team - not for the Hawks situation could a mere priest be called on, oh no. Hey guys, have any of you ever played cards? It's not as if the other teams haven't seen what we're holding.

But what's with all this gloom and doom? It's the business end of the season, we're in the finals and that's the focus now. We must concentrate on what got us there rather than what nearly tipped us over, spat us out, stomped on our belief and confidence then ... sorry, back to the positive view.

So what follows are some constructive thoughts for Schwab et al. It can be summed up in three points: trust, focus and a ripper of a battle speech. The rest, as they say, will work itself out.

From the midfield to the forwards we need more trust. The backline has trust to spare, feed it up to the guys running forward. When in doubt, forwards, don't just boot the pigskin into the air, look to another TEAM member and pass the ball. And don't pass it out of fear but because you trust. Remember trust, and a fit list of players, with no injuries, won us our first eight in a row.

Shut out the criticism, and the barbs and especially the not so constructive recent memories. Don't focus on too much. In fact, focus on two simple but illuminating pieces of play, both which involve tackles and both won matches. Think Hay and think Chick. Think the Kangaroos being brought undone by the belief and strength of Hay. And what about Chick? I listened to that game on the radio and no one imagined chasing after the Carlton player (whoever it was) let alone bringing him down. Chick won us that game, have no doubt about it. When I saw the tackle later that evening on telly, even knowing what happens, I still couldn't believe it. It was tough, breath taking and mighty. And that is Hawthorn all over. They were not soft tackles or soft wins. Focus on these tackles, show them 100 times, get the grit back in the blood and keep Crawford away from The Footy Show.

Finally, the ripper speech. This is a tough one because most of the top shelf are either that well known they could be considered cliche or too individual to be reused. As inspiring as Henry V or a Barassi speech might be, for this battle the Hawks need something a little tougher. The speech I have in mind might not be immediately recognisable or conjure the warrior spirit but trust me, it worked for Martin Sheen in the film 'Apocalypse Now' and it'll work again.

I'm talking about the scene where Dennis Hopper tells Martin Sheen that it is up to him to kill Fatboy Kurtz (aka Fatboy Brando). Hopper's speech is simple, slightly inarticulate and includes swearwords (just like a footy coach's speech) but the point is made. Sheen is in a cage and fairly disorientated at the time Hopper delivers his speech - remind you of any team you know? From that speech he goes right out and hacks Fatboy to pieces before napalming the whole damn place.

Now, I'm not necessarily endorsing death here, it's Sheen's gumption that's the thing. That's what the Hawks need, gumption and other olden days words that we kind of think mean something important. Words and meaning like that can only come from ripper speeches that stay in the mind while executing the task at hand.

So Schwab, do what you will with this advice. Me, I'll be there on Sund'y, rain or hail (because the game is being played under a roof), barracking my head off and hoping like hell that I get the chance to use the phrase, the Mighty Hawks.

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