The Hawks could be in for another rough season similar to their 2012 grand final hangover with the loss of Tim Noakes affecting the Hawks in a huge way.
The old football cliché of one man not making an entire team goes out the window with Augusta-Margaret River – without Tim Noakes the Hawks will not win games.
Noakes not only collected high amounts of disposals and goals, he also taught players and seemed to have a way of getting them to buy into his game plan.
Noakes has also taken his brother Ben with him along with Brandon Franz, Cody Enders and Justin Simmonds, all key players for the Hawks.
The club still maintain an array of good players but will struggle to pull it all together.
A goal kicking forward will be needed now along with multiple other key positions.
Last season AMR found it hard to field their best 22 in most games and if the same problem is to occur this year it could shape up to be a poor season for the Hawks.
Most opposition sides have improved this off season and with all the players they have lost the Hawks will struggle to contend this season.
However a change of coach and some fresh faces may prove a good thing for AMR but relying so heavily on a basis of local players won’t make for good firepower in those close games.
AMR can expect a dip this season but could still cause a few upsets along the way.
