BAD START COST US

Hawk says early losses came back to haunt them

HAWTHORN midfielder Brendan Whitecross says the Hawks’ dismal start to the season came back to haunt them when the loss to Richmond at the MCG last Sunday ended their bid to play finals.

The 27-year-old Hawk said the disappointment of not making September action was palpable for a team that had played in four straight grand finals up to 2015, winning three.

“No doubt our start has cost us,” Whitecross said. “A couple of those results earlier in the year, they go our way, and we’re sitting a lot better and confidence is higher.”

But Whitecross said the early-season struggles may provide a silver lining.

“Not only the performances at the start of the year, we’ve had a lot of injuries that have given guys an opportunity.

“And they’ve taken those with both hands and really shown they can play AFL footy, not just well, but make a massive impact.”

Hawthorn’s loss to the Tigers finished any realistic hopes of making the finals and players must now focus on their last match of the year in Launceston, against North Melbourne in a Tasmania derby at UTas Stadium tomorrow.

“There was a lot of talk around about us making finals but we lost sight of the things we had been doing well for the past few weeks,” Whitecross said.

“Richmond was on in all aspects of their game and they came out and ambushed us and we couldn’t get back in the game. The damage was done.

“It was a really good learning experience for us, with the amount of young players we’ve got in the side at the moment.

“We are going to take some really good learning out of that and build from it and hopefully move forward this week.”

Round 21 is the first time Hawthorn and North Melbourne have crossed paths this season.

“We’ve got to bounce back and put up a much better fight,” Whitecross said.

“Every time we play North Melbourne, regardless of where we sit on the ladder, they are always ready for a fight.

“It’s going to be a tough game and I think this weekend we need to renew our vows, focus on what we can control, see what the game presents and take it from there.”