View Full Version : When we Hawks again become the power of the AFL let's not become .....
Gary Shadforth
28 Aug 2006, 00:11
...... arrogant like West Coast Eagles and Adelaide supporters, both of their entities far from being born when our club commenced its three decades of dominance - nine premierships, 1961 - 1991..
In the present era we observe followers of those two hybrid founded clubs with an arrogant born to be perennial premiers sentiment.
Over the glory years, aforementioned, our club wore the tag, ‘those horrible Hawks‘. That phrase along with ‘white line fever’ was coined by scribes and commentators observing the bold confident assertiveness of our 20 players running out, week by week, onto the paddocks representing the feared brown and gold.
But as ruthless as our teams were in those glory years, never let it be said that our supporters, in general, were disliked as is many a Crow and Eagle of today.
As we intermingled over post-match convivialties with the opposition faithful we were always humble and appreciative of the hopes and aspirations they, the other teams' supporters, had despite some of the hidings we gave them.
At no time did we have the gall to believe that a premiership was a God-given-gift until the final siren on that one day in September.
Over this round we saw the two teams in question completely humbled in the so called local derbies. Both a week or so ago they kind of shared the title 'hot premiership favourites', not now.
When we are once again the rulers of the playing field, never let us be seen as having the ridiculous sheer arrogant attitude of the modern day Crow or Eagle.
Good post Gary,
That's why I'm adopting Fremantle this finals series, at no stage have the Dockers been given an easy ride, I'd much rather the Dockers win the flag then the Eagles or Crows.
Adelaide Hawk
28 Aug 2006, 07:56
I think supporters of teams like crows and eagles are more ignorant than arrogant. Many of their supporters never followed footy until these teams came into existence, never had an understanding of what went before, and have be spoon fed a steady diet of propoganda and diatribe.
I live in Adelaide, and the ignorance you hear in the media is astounding. They will tell their audiences anything they want to hear, and the people eat the crap like popcorn. Some people like KG Cunningham and Graham Cornes on 5AA have been spreading the garbage for so long they actually believe it themselves now, which is does not lend itself to balanced discussions on football.
Aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves !
Hawk Dork
28 Aug 2006, 08:54
I cant wait to be SMUG again.
Gary, it way well happen in the real world that our supporters hold their mouths and expectations, but right here on BF it will be on for young and old when we start strining wins together. Payback is wonderful thing.
Gary Shadforth
28 Aug 2006, 11:15
Gary, it way well happen in the real world that our supporters hold their mouths and expectations, but right here on BF it will be on for young and old when we start strining wins together. Payback is wonderful thing.
Well, GALON, I wrote it as it was in those days. Our club was respected for the calm integrity of our administrators and supporters in not having big-heads. Many other club supporters loved the Hawks, thousands of whom covertly adopted our team as a second one. If we are to become ignorant and arrogant in becoming successful, well, I'll have to accept that times have changed for the worse when it comes to supporting a team.
Aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves !
Not really, MHDKA, if we don't at least think 'when', where does our club stand in planning and commencing the great U-turn of proceeding to heighten itself on the competition ladder?
I think supporters of teams like crows and eagles are more ignorant than arrogant.]Fair enough, AH, you are closer to the expose of ignorance but it cannot be denied there is copious amounts of arrogance coming from those two clubs with nowhere near the amount of long-time historic pride ours has. I can see your point in saying many of their supporters 'never followed footy until these teams came into existence'. So it is more about marketing bulsh born out of promoting hybrid clubs.
Not really, MHDKA, if we don't at least think 'when', where does our club stand in planning and commencing the great U-turn of proceeding to heighten itself on the competition ladder?
Disagree Gary.
There is a very big difference between the club engaging on a rebuilding programme and for us to "..............again become the power of the AFL...".
The biggest danger for us in our rebuilding programme is to believe it will all become a "fait accompli" because there is a danger that we can then become complacent and the programme stall.
Frankly, over the last 3 years we have gone from 15, to 14 to probably 12th(at the best 11th).
We still have a very, very long way to go before we even revisit the success of the 70's and 80's let alone "........become the power of the AFL".
Gary Shadforth
28 Aug 2006, 11:40
We'll agree to disagree, MHDKA. To my mind it's all about positive thinking. Your definition of that appears to differ to mine.
Heropsychodreamer
28 Aug 2006, 13:03
Disagree Gary.
There is a very big difference between the club engaging on a rebuilding programme and for us to "..............again become the power of the AFL...".
The biggest danger for us in our rebuilding programme is to believe it will all become a "fait accompli" because there is a danger that we can then become complacent and the programme stall.
Frankly, over the last 3 years we have gone from 15, to 14 to probably 12th(at the best 11th).
We still have a very, very long way to go before we even revisit the success of the 70's and 80's let alone "........become the power of the AFL".
Things change quickly... look at Collingwood coming from 2nd last to flag favourites early this yr... bulldogs coming from nowhere.... where was Freo 8 rounds ago? THey were 10th!
Alot can happen in a yr... but so much can happen over two yrs... and when we get our playing list fully fit, the young kids maturing and bulking up... the other young kids getting experience, we will start to fire.
Remember, Mitchel and Hodge are stil 3 or 4 yrs away from peak!
There is no point having a pessimistic attitude to the clubs development, because itll force u to look at the negative side instead of enjoying the positives!
I'm so excited for next yr... i think it will be a good yr
As long as no-one says 'We deserve to win a premiership' I don't mind too much what the attitudes are of the other supporters...
Exactly,
It's alright to be excited, but being arrogant is another thing altogether
Well, GALON, I wrote it as it was in those days. Our club was respected for the calm integrity of our administrators and supporters in not having big-heads. Many other club supporters loved the Hawks, thousands of whom covertly adopted our team as a second one. If we are to become ignorant and arrogant in becoming successful, well, I'll have to accept that times have changed for the worse when it comes to supporting a team.
This is bigfooty.
The sane, intelligent and respectful drown at regular intervals.
Aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves !
Very much so.Hows the daycare centre coming along for the new recruits?
Very much so.Hows the daycare centre coming along for the new recruits?
They're in daycare already, they grow up so fast ;)
There is no point having a pessimistic attitude to the clubs development, because itll force u to look at the negative side instead of enjoying the positives!
I'm so excited for next yr... i think it will be a good yr
H, there is a lot of difference in being pessimistic, realistic and totally unrealistic.
Lets start competing in a few final series and even win a flag or 2 before we start talking about being the power of the AFL.
I agree we will have a better year next year but have realistic expectations about what is achievable.
Gary Shadforth
28 Aug 2006, 16:58
...... before we start talking about being the power of the AFL.
The fact is our club was commonly described as a power, 1961 - 1991, we had our lows but were never easy beats and popped up with successive premierships when someone dared to say we were.
I haven't been to the last two AGM's (though I thoroughly read the annual reports sent to me) where it is frequently quoted by our chiefs that the main thrust of our club is once again to be a power, meaning just not on the paddock but having clout when it comes to standing up to some of the idiosyncrasies of the ruling body, the AFL.
So what I'm on about goes beyond team performances.
The fact is our club was commonly described as a power, 1961 - 1991, we had our lows but were never easy beats and popped up with successive premierships when someone dared to say we were.
I haven't been to the last two AGM's (though I thoroughly read the annual reports sent to me) where it is frequently quoted by our chiefs that the main thrust of our club is once again to be a power, meaning just not on the paddock but having clout when it comes to standing up to some of the idiosyncrasies of the ruling body, the AFL.
So what I'm on about goes beyond team performances.
Fair enough Gary, obviously this is a big issue with you.
The title of the thread referred to us becoming THE power of the AFL. If you a talking about A power in the AFL that is a different thing. I remember the days well when we were A power.
Of course we still have a long way to go before we are close to that.
Unfulfilled Potential
28 Aug 2006, 21:11
Lets start competing in a few final series and even win a flag or 2 before we start talking about being the power of the AFL.
A Premiership should certainly be our goal, but it's going to take planning,skill and luck.
I think we have the foundations of our plan in place, as for winning the whole thing, I'm just looking forward to being part of finals action regularly.
It will be great to be studying the top half of the ladder and trying to calculate who we have to go through to win it all rather than sifting through information on the early draft picks, worrying about which pick we end up with.
I look forward to our club making an impact and not just making up the numbers.
buddy23
28 Aug 2006, 22:08
Very much so.Hows the daycare centre coming along for the new recruits?
Unfortuantly they broke out of day care, escaped to Tasmania and rampaged over the Kangaroos.
I guess you didn't hear the news?
Gary Shadforth
28 Aug 2006, 22:24
So much for being pedantic.
Collingwood hierarchy and its fans have been telling us for years that they are not just an AFL club but are the AFL. So let's push them aside.