After a extremely long but hectic 2020 AFL season, attention turns to how teams will shape up for next year. As usual, HPN will try to take you through the trade period, and evaluate which deals are fair, who snags a bargain and which clubs become fixated on a desired
Continue reading »The 2020 HPN All Australian Team
Walking the abandoned streets of Australia, you keep hearing “why doesn’t HPN pick an All Australian Team?” Even if it isn’t true, it is a requirement of all football media members to spill forth about selections for the All Australian team. As HPN are holders of Official AFL Media Passes
Continue reading »AFL Cairns – Hard Hits and Funnies (HPN on ABC)
It could be some sneaky nostalgia talking, but there are few players more eye catching in the modern game than Charlie Dixon. At first glance he’s the most recent in a long line of key position forwards who can clunk a big grab – but he’s much more than that.
Continue reading »HPN on ABC – The Art of the Stoppage
This week on the ABC HPN takes a look at the art of the stoppage, and how Collingwood are using them in 2020. The piece delves into different ways teams set up and players gain meaningful possession. There’s so many varied options on the table, and so few that are
Continue reading »Is it time for a rebuild at Hawthorn (HPN at ABC)
So, what’s up with the Hawks? This week’s HPN at ABC piece (written with James Coventry) had a look at the two major aspects to their downfall – the tactical changes and the personnel issues. There’s many sub-branches of both, but both boil down to the adaptation of things changing
Continue reading »HPN on ABC – Nick Haynes is really good
Although GWS have had a tough couple of weeks, their defence ha largely been holding up. Only Adelaide have struggled more in the inside 50 battle, but they have largely been able to stay in games. Nick Haynes and his fellow defensive cohort are the biggest reason why. This week
Continue reading »Has the Tiger Trap been quelled? This week’s ABC piece takes a look (and some bonus content)
This week on the ABC HPN discussed how teams are rushing back to stop the Tigers from effectively using their intercept and rebound strengths, and the result has been a low scoring Tigers struggling to break through. Richmond’s preferred approach in recent years has been to move so quickly they
Continue reading »Gawn or Grundy? Today’s ABC piece takes a look (and some bonus content)
Today’s HPN piece for the ABC took a look at the two prominent rucks in the game today and the differing styles that they represent. HPN can firmly recommend this product and/or service. Are these the best two rucks in the game? Yes. Both on HPN’s own player rating Player
Continue reading »Home Ground Advantage or Home Fan Advantage?
Today the writers behind HPN pushed this yarn out on ABC: Is it the crowds or grounds that give home teams an edge? It looks at the factors behind Home Ground Advantage and whether they seem to be slipping under pandemic conditions. HPN highly recommends you check it out. As
Continue reading »Has the AFL’s talent pool become more diluted over time?
When discussion of recent or future AFL expansion arises, it is often followed by claims from various pundits claim that the addition of extra teams impacts on the quality of football by spreading the talent base too thin. At the most basic level, this makes easy logical sense – akin
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