Tatyoon Hawks proven finalists

Tatyoon Hawks have managed an amazing feat over the past decade in Mininera and District Football League with their results speaking for themselves.

In 10 years, the side has finished in the top five every year, three times on top of the ladder, and has played off in seven grand finals with two premiership wins.

The Hawks’ most recent flag came in 2016 over Wickliffe-lake Bolac.

This year the home-andaway season has been a little up and down for the Hawks.

They started the season well with three straight wins.

Everything seemed to be following a familiar trend, sitting in second place on the ladder and including a massive 215-point win over Ararat Eagles in round 12.

But round 14 came along and an injury-riddled Tatyoon suffered its worst loss for a long time, maybe ever, when it was unable to score a goal against Wickliffe-lake Bolac in a 164-point defeat.

This started a hard threeweek run for Tatyoon, resulting in the team losing three games on the trot and falling three places on the ladder from second to fifth.

However, if history has shown us anything, it is that Tatyoon is a finals specialist and can never be underestimated.

If the Hawks are in the finals then they are a threat.

With some of Tatyoon’s injury woes over, they will be heading into the first week of finals not at full strength, but better off than they were a couple of weeks ago.

Players who will have a big part in any success the team has during the finals are forwards Adrian Pilgrim, Steven Butler and Trevor-john Wanganeen, who between them have kicked 97 goals with an average of about 2.5 a game.

These three players are all good finishers in front of goal.

Other key players across the ground the team will look to step up are David Brady, Jack Antonio, Mathew Smith and Tim Mcdougall, who when on song are all talented players.

Then add Jarrod Blandford sweeping across half back.

The veteran reads the ball well and has the ability to cut off flow into opposition forward lines.

He also disposes of the ball correctly to give his team an advantage.

Although the Hawks go into the finals in fifth spot on the ladder, they cannot be counted out, especially if they are able to get through the first week or two and welcome back Sean Mcdougall, who is an important piece to their puzzle.