AFL CANBERRA ROUND TWO 2011 $3.00 - neafl

neafl article
HAWKS READY FOR
THE CHALLENGE
By JOHN FORRESTER
By Joe Prevedello
The Tuggeranong Hawks are going into the revamped
NEAFL season 2011 with the goal to make the finals
after finishing in sixth position last year, with 6 wins
and 12 losses.
Coach Glenn Gorman, who will start his second year
in the job, said the Hawks focus has changed over the
summer months and the team are ready to make their
mark.
“LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT
BUILDING BELIEF IN THE
GROUP AND GETTING
AWAY FROM THE STIGMA
THAT WE WERE THE
EASY BEATS OF THE
COMPETITION,” HE SAID.
TUGGAS
“We spoke a lot about our goals this year at pre-season
camp where the group agreed that we really want to
make the finals this year.
“This year we want to get off the bottom, get out there
and compete against the top sides” Coach Gorman said.
The Hawks managed to post some positive results
towards the end of last year, including wins against
finals sides in the Sydney Swans and Queanbeyan
Tigers.
2011 will also see some new faces in the Tuggeranong
side as well as missing some familiar ones.
It was with resounding team consensus that Alex
Lawder take over after the captaincy following last
year’s retirement of long time Hawk and club stalwart
Jay Kickett.
“Alex will be a strong leader of the boys, he has the
support of all the players and will stand up and lead
the way” Gorman said.
The club has also lost the services of Rhys Cutifani and
Jimmy Rice who has moved to Narrandera, but has
gained young blood from Marist College in Kirk Mahon
and Shaun Kelly and Ben Hancock and Zeke Lamb from
the Gippsland.
“We are a young side but we’re ready for a challenge”
Gorman said.
Gorman believes that all sides in the competition have
the ability to be competitive this year.
The Hawks have an interesting first month of footy
hosting the bye in round two before beginning their
campaign away to GWS on the 16th of April, another
general bye, then away again at the Sydney Swans on
the 29th of April.
22