9. Shane Crawford [Archive]

philhawk

20th August 2007, 15:18

http://hawthornfc.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/4742/Default.aspx?newsId=49404

Hawks down, but not out

2:17 PM Mon 20 August, 2007 | Back
By Catherine Murphy,
Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network
HAWTHORN veteran Shane Crawford says he’s never seen the playing group as dejected as after their agonising five-point-defeat to Port Adelaide at Launceston on Sunday.

The Hawks led by 13 points midway through the last quarter but goals from Kane Cornes, Daniel Motlop and Brett Ebert saw the Power clinch a last-gasp victory.

“As we walked off, I’ve never seen the guys so down on themselves,” Crawford said on Monday.

“So the positive out of all that is you can see that the guys really care about what we’re doing and where we’re going as a group and no doubt that will hopefully make us stronger for the future.”

Crawford says that although the group will “learn a great deal and no doubt be better in that situation down the track”, the side paid for their lack of discipline.

“You need to be switched on. You can’t afford to give sides like that the opportunity, which we gave away some free kicks and some 50 metres which are very costly and something we’ve been working on and will continue to work on,” Crawford said.

Unlike Daniel Motlop who converted his pressure kick with minutes to go, avenging the memory of last year’s missed kick after the siren against the Saints at Aurora, Hawk Jordan Lewis missed a set shot from 30m with less than three minutes on the clock.

“We had an opportunity to close it out and we didn’t. That’s the thing about AFL football, you’ve got to take your chances, especially when you get shots at goal and if you don’t it can come back to bite you on the backside,” Crawford said at the team’s recovery session at Waverley Park.

However, the 32-year-old, who recently extended his contract with the Hawks by a year, says “all is not lost”.

Although the defeat means the Hawks have relinquished second place on the ladder, the club remains in the top four, ahead of the Kangaroos and Collingwood by percentage.

“We’re in control of our own destiny, which is a great situation to be in, so it comes down to pretty much the group sticking together and working through and trying to achieve an opportunity to be part of the best part of the year,” he said.

“I suppose one way you can look at it is it’s much better going through that sort of situation now than doing it during the finals when you might not have another opportunity.

“As long as we learn and don’t get too down on ourselves. It was very shattering.”

In better news for the club, Luke Hodge, who suffered a corked hip during in the match, looks certain to fully recover in time for this Sunday’s match against the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome.

Skipper Richie Vandenberg is also in with a chance of playing. He has a fitness test later this week to see if he has recovered sufficiently from the knee injury he sustained in round 19 against Brisbane.

RustyHawk

18th September 2007, 20:03

Added pain for Hawks
18 September 2007 Herald Sun
Bruce Matthews

THREE key Hawthorn players face late starts to the 2008 season as Saturday night's semi-final defeat at the hands of the Kangaroos continues to reverberate.

Former skipper Shane Crawford, gun midfielder Luke Hodge and versatile Jordan Lewis were handed suspensions by the AFL match review panel yesterday following incidents from the game.

Crawford must sit out the first three games of next season for striking Kangaroo Daniel Harris, Hodge was offered one match for striking tagger Brady Rawlings and Lewis copped two matches for striking forward Brent Harvey.

The Kangaroos can prepare uninterrupted for Saturday's preliminary final against Port Adelaide after Harvey and Rawlings were cleared over other incidents.

However the Roos were fined $10,000 for causing a scuffle with Geelong players during the warm-up before the qualifying final at the MCG.

While the Hawks can compete in the pre-season competition and practice matches, all suspensions must be served in the home-and-away season and the penalties can't be reduced by early guilty pleas.

The club will decide this morning whether to challenge the penalties at the AFL Tribunal tonight. While Hodge and Lewis have nothing to lose, Crawford does risk an extra game if he fails to convince a three-man jury to either amend or dismiss the striking charge.

Crawford's swinging left arm to Harris' head in the third quarter was assessed as reckless conduct with high impact, classified as a level-four offence, drawing 325 demerit points and a three-game sanction.

However a one-game suspension for striking Fremantle's Peter Bell in the NAB Challenge in early March increased Crawford's points by 10 per cent. And the 1999 Brownlow medallist had 96.87 carry-over points from the Bell penalty and for accepting a reprimand for striking Docker Ryley Dunn in the same practice match.

It resulted in 454.37 demerit points and a four-game penalty, reduced by one match by the 25 per cent discount for pleading guilty.

RustyHawk

18th September 2007, 20:35

Hawks heed lessons from round 20 loss
3:32 PM Sun 9 September, 2007 | Back

Brought to you by ADAM COOPER,

AAP

News
HAWTHORN star Shane Crawford believes the painful fade-out to Port Adelaide helped the Hawks pip Adelaide in their final at Telstra Dome.

The Hawks learned the hard way about how critical the dying stages of matches could be, when they surrendered a narrow lead in Launceston in round 20, when the Power booted two goals in the final minute and won.

"You probably would say it's helped," Crawford said of what that result meant for Hawthorn.

"To lose a match which we thought we should have won, I think we learned a lot that day going through the review and a lot of guys were disappointed.

"So hopefully that was probably one of the reasons why we were able to get across the line when it really mattered yesterday."

While seven-goal hero Lance Franklin justifiably earned most of the plaudits after the 15.15 (105) to 15.12 (102) elimination of Adelaide, Crawford was one of several key Hawks who played great support roles in the club's first final since 2001.

Luke Hodge bravely returned from a knee injury suffered in the second quarter to influence the second half, Jarryd Roughead booted three goals, Sam Mitchell was busy in the middle and Jordan Lewis was damaging across half-forward.

That group proved there was no jitters among the Hawthorn finals debutants - that was the biggest question mark over Alastair Clarkson's side in the lead-up - even when Adelaide eased to a 31-point lead in the second term.

"The way the match panned out, where Adelaide started extremely well and (we had our) backs against the wall, I thought for such a young group which was very inexperienced, I think it was our best win," Crawford said.

As he basked in his 33rd birthday, Crawford said the Hawks would gain confidence from eliminating one of the more fancied sides in the finals ahead of next weekend's game against the loser of Sunday's qualifying final between Geelong and the Kangaroos.

"We can't get ahead of ourselves, we snuck across the line yesterday and we've got to make sure we get all the guys fit and healthy and ready to play next week," he said.

"It's very exciting for our club to be going on further into the finals and I'm sure if we apply ourselves in the right way and work for one another we can certainly be in it for a long time."

RustyHawk

7th October 2007, 07:44

Shane Crawford's good year of football was rewarded with a 8th place finish in the Hawks Best and Fairest awards.

What can be revealed is that Shane suffered a broken hand early in the season and played about 12 games during early to mid part of the season with this broken hand! Well done Shane.

Sewell claims first Peter Crimmins Medal
11:01 PM Sat 6 October, 2007 | Back

for hawthornfc.com.au

News
DANGEROUS midfielder Brad Sewell claimed his first Peter Crimmins Medal after a nail-biting finish in front of a 1300 strong crowd at Crown’s Palladium on Saturday night.

In the count to decide the 2007 Hawthorn club champion, Sewell (173 votes) and eventual runner-up Campbell Brown (172 votes) went into the semi final against the Kangaroos on equal votes.

However, Sewell scored the winning votes after his solid performance to narrowly defeat Brown. 2005 Peter Crimmins Medallist Luke Hodge topped off another consistent year finishing in third position.

After four seasons and 64 games, Sewell’s achievement crowns another sensational year for the 23-year-old, who played every game for the second consecutive season.

Shifted from a small defender’s role to the midfield, Sewell averaged 21 possessions per game – the biggest return coming in round 21 against the Western Bulldogs when he picked up 39.

He laid the most tackles of any Hawk with 104 for the season and had his fair share of clearances. He also managed to curb the influence of a number of the big names in the AFL including Chris Judd, Shannon Grant, Paul Chapman and Adam Goodes.

In other awards, Stephen Gilham was named the Most Improved after stepping up as a key defender and playing every game since his elevation from the rookie list in round 19, 2006. Gilham’s willingness to keep learning and working hard won him the honour.

Sewell also picked up the club’s award for the best player in the finals, while Brent Guerra was rewarded for his hard working year at half-back securing the Most Consistent award.

Xavier Ellis was named the best first year player for his impressive debut season.

In his second year at the club, Ellis made his debut in round one and played a total of 13 games for the season, switching between the wing and half-back.

The contribution of retiring trio Richie Vandenberg, Ben Dixon and Joel Smith was acknowledged during a fitting tribute to the popular players.

Vandenberg was also awarded Best Clubman, an acknowledgment of how his peers regard him.

The Peter Crimmins Medal - an Olympic-sized gold medal depicting a sculptured image of the former Hawthorn champion - was presented to Sewell by Crimmins’ wife Gwen who attended the awards with son Sam and daughter Amber.

Crimmins was vice-captain of the 1971 premiership team and captain for two years from 1974. He fell ill with cancer on the eve of the 1974 finals series, missing September action that year.

However, the ‘little fellow’ made a return from treatment to play at the start of the 1975 season. In round six that year Crimmins had to return for intensive treatment and never played senior football again.

Club awards
Best Clubman - Richie Vandenberg
Most Improved - Stephen Gilham
Best First Year Player - Xavier Ellis
Most Consistent - Brent Guerra
Leading Goalkicker - Lance Franklin
Most Votes in the Brownlow - Sam Mitchell

Peter Crimmins Medal voting – top ten
Brad Sewell - 173
Campbell Brown - 172
Luke Hodge - 161
Jordan Lewis - 154
Sam Mitchell - 137
Lance Franklin - 136
Brent Guerra - 136
Shane Crawford - 126
Trent Croad - 121
Rick Ladson - 116

Peter Crimmins Medal voting procedure
Votes for the 2007 Peter Crimmins Medal were awarded by the match committee, consisting of senior coach Alastair Clarkson and assistants Todd Viney, Damien Hardwick and Ross Smith after each home-and-away and finals match.

A maximum of 16 votes could be accumulated by a player after the four coaches’ voting cards were submitted using the following grading system:

- three votes to the best player or players

- two votes for a good game

- one vote to players who beat their opponents

On rare occasions a player or players may receive four votes for an exceptional game.

There is no restriction on the number of players who receive votes in a match.

RustyHawk

8th October 2007, 01:25

Shane Crawford is in Hawthorns Leadership group for season 2008 along side new Captain Sam Mitchell, Vice Captain Luke Hodge and Chance Bateman, Tim Clarke and Brad Sewell.

Kennett declares Hawks 'ready to hunt'
October 7, 2007 - 7:36PM

Having unveiled a new club logo and new captain Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has warned the emerging AFL team is "ready to hunt".

Mitchell takes over from Richie Vandenberg, who has retired, and Luke Hodge will be his deputy.

Mitchell, 24, and Hodge, 23, are symbolic of a young, well-led list that made the semi-finals this year.

Three years into Alastair Clarkson's reign as coach, the change of logo is another sign of the Hawks' lofty ambitions.

"We wanted a logo that was bolder, that was a little more aggressive and quite clearly demonstrated that we as a team are ready to hunt," said Kennett.

"This logo gives us that `powerfulness', it gives us that aggression.

"We have two young men who have a wonderful work ethic, they both have extraordinary leadership skills.

"My observation is that their leadership skills complement each other very well, although they are in one sense slightly different."

Hodge went further, describing himself and Mitchell as "totally different blokes".

But the man Mitchell calls "more of a lad" and the friend that Hodge rates as a consummate professional are sure they will work well together.

"He's probably a little bit more of a lad, when he got to the club he probably had a fair bit to learn about professionalism and all that sort of thing," Mitchell said.

"To his credit, over the last three years in particular, since Clarko has come on board, the steps he's been able to take have just been phenomenal.

"Last night they showed some footage from 2002 of Hodgey running around and the difference just in his body shape ... you realise how far he's come.

"I was probably a little bit straighter when I came to the club ... I was drafted a little bit older."

Hodge later laughed at the reference to body fat in his early playing days, but said Mitchell had a point.

"He did have some big hips, but as I said his little poddy gut did go before mine because he does everything right," Hodge said.

"We are two totally different blokes and the last 12 months we've got pretty tight.

"Being vice-captains to `Vanders' last year, we got to know a lot about each other - there's a lot of things that he does well and I don't, and vice versa.

"I'm honoured to be vice-captain behind him because you can't see anyone who does everything to be a professional footballer better than Sammy, right down to the wire."

The Hawks considered a joint captaincy, but decided to stick to club tradition.

Tim Clarke, Chance Bateman, Shane Crawford and best-and-fairest winner Brad Sewell will also be in the leadership group.

While the club spent several months before deciding on Vandenberg as captain three years ago, this time they felt there was no need to extend the process through the pre-season.

"It was an enormously-difficult decision - we did give due consideration through this process to joint captaincy, such is the regard that both these guys are held in by their peers," said coach Alastair Clarkson.

"The players and coaches ... thought that Sam was the guy to lead the club for the next 12 months and beyond and that Luke would be a more-than worthy deputy in that period of time as well."

© 2007 AAP

RustyHawk

8th October 2007, 01:31

Hawks trio have more than a few points to prove
Len Johnson | October 5, 2007

HAWTHORN will start 2008 without three of its best players — Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis and Shane Crawford — after all were suspended for offences in its elimination final loss to the Kangaroos in the second week of the finals.

That situation is bad enough, but the demerit points system in use since the AFL Tribunal system was reviewed means that Hodge, Grant Birchall and Campbell Brown also carry over enough points to put them in jeopardy of an extra game on any sanction they incur next year.

The Hawks on-field discipline — at least in terms of number of players reported — fell away late in 2007.

Coming into round 20, Hawthorn was second on the ladder. Losses to Port Adelaide and Sydney in the last three rounds cost the club a double chance.

Six Hawthorn players were reported on seven charges from round 18 until the end of the Hawks' season.

Hawthorn football operations manager Mark Evans said yesterday the figures were skewed by the elimination final and he did not believe they reflected a breakdown in on-field discipline.

"It is always a concern when you have players suspended, but take out the last game and the other offences are pretty minor." (Of the seven charges from round 18 on, four were for striking, one attempted striking, one contact with an umpire and one wrestling).

AFL Tribunal statistics for 2007 show that Fremantle had the worst record overall but the Hawks had the worst in the last quarter of the season. In addition, Crawford was the most reported player in the competition.

The 1999 Brownlow medallist was booked four times in total, twice on striking charges in a pre-season game against Fremantle, on abusive language in a practice game against Essendon and then against the Kangaroos in the elimination final.

Crawford got a reprimand on the first pre-season charge, missed the first home-and-away game after copping a week on the second, was fined $1800 on the abusive language count and was outed for three matches for striking the Kangaroos Daniel Harris in the elimination final. He is carrying 40.78 demerit points.

Besides Crawford, Hodge, Grant Birchall and Campbell Brown are carrying enough demerit points to make a significant difference should they be charged by the match review panel in 2008.

Overall, the club with the worst disciplinary record in 2007 was Fremantle. The Dockers started badly, with Michael Johnson and Jeff Farmer suspended for four and six matches, respectively, in the pre-season, and continued in the same vein.

Fifteen Dockers were reported on a total of 26 charges, nine of them being punished with a suspension.

Hawthorn and Collingwood were the only other clubs with a double-figure number of players charged. Each had 10. Collingwood's figure was inflated by five players being charged out of the melee in its game against Carlton.

Steven Baker copped the year's heaviest penalty, the St Kilda tagger receiving seven games for rough conduct against Farmer in round 20. Farmer, six matches for eye gouging Daniel Pratt in the pre-season competition, and Ben Johnson, six for forceful and high contact on Daniel Bell in round 20, were next.

RustyHawk

16th October 2007, 19:45

Young Hawks extending Crawford's career
5:48 PM Tue 16 October, 2007 | Back

By Catherine Murphy

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

News
STAR Hawk Shane Crawford says were it not for the exciting batch of players at Waverley at the moment, he most likely would have hung up his boots at the end of this season.

Hawthorn reached the finals for the first time since 2001 in a season which saw their young talent, including Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, step up to a new level.

The promise shown by the squad’s youth was the main reason behind the 291-gamer’s decision to extend his contract for another year.

“That’s the exciting thing about his group, you want to be a part of it,” Crawford said.

“I’ve been ready to move on to the next phase of my life for a couple of years but, as a lot of people have said to me, if you still feel good and you still want to do it, keep doing it. So I’m ready to move on but I’ll regret if I don’t get everything I can out of my body.”

Crawford is hopeful the Hawks’ young players, under the stewardship of new captain Sam Mitchell, can develop even further in the upcoming season.

“The group’s a really good group, a really motivated group and you know they’re going somewhere and if I can contribute in some way, I just want to be a part of it.

"I just hope these young kids come on so quick because I know all the Hawthorn supporters are really excited about the future and, not only them, I’m even really excited, being one of the older players.

"I just hope it all marries together really quickly and that we are competing and playing in a premiership.”

However, the 33-year-old veteran says one successful year does not guarantee that his side will progress further next season. He insists that he’s not taking premiership success in the short term for granted either.

“We’ve made really good progress this year but I think we really need to show that we can have another year like we had this year with the progress.

"Then it all comes down to if you can make the finals and what position you can be in to really make an assault on going somewhere from there.”

In fact, the talented midfielder says expecting success is the worst mistake you can make.

“I’ve played footy for long enough to know that as soon as you think you’re going OK and the side’s heading in the right direction, if everything’s not going right, it can come back and bit you on the backside.

"So I know we’re going in the right direction and with a lot of hard work we can have a lot of success. I’m hoping it will be next year, but you’ve got to be realistic about it, and we’ve still got a few years to work at it.”

Big Ronnie

24th December 2007, 19:39

Selection 9 is Hawkaz1 who has taken the man many of you feel is duped from being in the Team of The Century, yep, he's got Josh Thurgood!!!

No I mean Shane Crawford!

BR:thumbsu:

noosa hawk mad

7th February 2008, 18:33

Crawford a definite starter for NAB Cup

7:02 PM Wed 6 February, 2008 | Back (http://javascript%3cb%3e%3c/b%3E:history.go(-1);)
By Jason Phelan
Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

News

BY ALL accounts Hawthorn veteran Shane Crawford has flown through his 17th pre-season and the 33-year-old has signalled his intention to be a large part of the club’s 2008 campaign, starting with the round-one NAB Cup clash against Sydney.
“I’ll definitely be playing,” Crawford said shortly before a light hit-out at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Wednesday.
“As long as I don’t get injured on Friday, I’ll definitely be playing. We’re ready, we’ve done all the work and we just want to get into game mode now.”
The Hawks are in Tasmania as part of their community camp and will hold their first intra-club match on Friday.
Crawford will sit out the first three games of the home-and-away season after incurring a ban for striking the Kangaroos’ Daniel Harris in last year’s semi-final loss, but the veteran is still keen to get in some early match conditioning to top off what he said had been an enjoyable summer on the track..
“I’m just training smarter,” he said.
“As you get older you’ve just got to train a lot smarter and not do as much as you used to, but still have the quality there. It’s just a matter of making sure you look after yourself and approach it in the right way.
“It’s probably been a little bit easier to be honest, [but] don’t tell the fitness advisors and the coaches.
“That’s probably one of the reasons I’m still playing because I really still enjoy training and being around the guys and still have the real passion there to play and hopefully play well.
“I’m certainly really looking forward to this year, it’s been a good pre-season, the guys are fit and strong and ready to go so we’re really hopeful.”
In what will surely be a recurring theme for the former skipper in his twilight years, Crawford was quizzed about his playing intentions beyond 2008.
“When you get to my age you’ve just got to take it as it comes, but if you’ve still got the passion there and you’re body’s OK then you’d be crazy not to continue on,” he said.
“It just depends. It all comes down to my body and, as I’ve said, that’s in good shape and I have no issues. I’ve still got that real desire to play so if I feel that way next year then I’d like to think that I could continue on, but I haven’t made it that far yet; we’ll just see what happens.”

noosa hawk mad

12th February 2008, 20:32

Crawford frustrated after silly act

Daryl Timms | February 12, 2008 12:00am

HAWTHORN veteran Shane Crawford will sit out the first three games of the season for a silly moment he wishes he could have over again.Crawford admitted he became frustrated as last year's semi-final against the Kangaroos began to slip away.
With an old-fashioned coat-hanger, Kangaroo Daniel Harris became the innocent victim of Crawford's frustration.
The end result was a three-match suspension for the 1999 Brownlow Medallist, who joins three other Hawks who are also serving suspensions - Luke Hodge (http://superstats.heraldsun.com.au/profile/220047.html) (one match) and Jordan Lewis (two).
Collingwood's Ben Johnson (one) and St Kilda's Steven Baker (five) also have carry-over bans from last year.
Crawford said it was disappointing to miss the start of the season when he was fit and ready to play.
"It's disappointing that I'll be sitting in the stands feeling fresh and feeling as though I should be out there," he said.
"I've been doing all the training and feel ready to play and I want to get out there, especially at the start of the year."
Crawford said he could see some of his teammates also becoming frustrated as the Roos took control of the semi-final, which followed Hawthorn's gallant three-point victory over Adelaide.
He hoped his teammates would learn from the loss and also not become frustrated in similar circumstances.
"With me it was more of a reaction type of thing, but it's something that you just think 'What did you do that for?'," Crawford said.
"If you could take your time back, you'd move on.
"Daniel Harris, who I collected, is a good fellow who I get on well with. He goes about his footy fairly and it was just one of those things."
Crawford and his suspended teammates will be available for NAB Cup games, starting with Sunday's clash against Sydney at Launceston's Aurora Stadium.
He said the Hawks had not nominated a position on the ladder where they expected to finish.
"We just expect to improve," he said.
"With all of our younger guys who have come along very quickly, we are just hoping the progression is still on an upward spiral and that's where all of our improvement is going to come from.
"Our focus is to just start
the season really well and continue to improve.
"We haven't put any pressure on ourselves saying we are going to do this or do that."
Crawford said the way the side had been training, the expected improvement and pressure for positions should guarantee an exciting year for the Hawks.

noosa hawk mad

13th February 2008, 13:01

Interview S Crawford..Hawk Talk :thumbsu:
http://bigpondvideo.com/afl/43453

noosa hawk mad

5th March 2008, 14:40

Shane Crawford and Olivia Anderson
http://www.gspimages.com.au/images/thumbs/main/62643.jpg

noosa hawk mad

7th April 2008, 14:35

Shane ready for big match

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23489541-19767,00.html
Glenn McFarlane | April 06, 2008 12:00am

VETERAN Shane Crawford wants to put last year's semi-final indiscretion behind him as he gears up for his first game of the season.
Crawford, 33, is eager to make up for lost time after missing the opening three matches of the season for striking North Melbourne's Daniel Pratt in what he called a "silly moment" in last year's loss.
"I am ready to go," Crawford said yesterday of his likely return against Adelaide at Aurora Stadium next Sunday.
"I have had to hold myself back in the last month or so because I have been feeling really good and there is no point in training myself into the ground.
"I can't wait to get out there and do what I am asked to do."
Crawford said he had geared his training towards the Round 4 resumption after playing only an NAB Cup game against Sydney and two intra-club matches in the pre-season.
"I suppose I have had a bit of time to get my head around it (not playing in the first month)," he said.

"So you structure your training that way. But I would have loved to have been out there for the early games."
He said his absence - and the absence of other stars at the start of the season - had given the Hawks the chance to play a number of younger players, which would undoubtedly benefit the club in the long run.
"There are real positives about other people who probably deserve a chance," he said.

"It gives them some experience and if they keep playing well, it puts pressure on the people coming back, which is great for the team."
Four key Hawks - Crawford, Luke Hodge, Campbell Brown and Jordan Lewis - missed the club's opening game of the season due to suspension.
Hodge and Brown returned last week, while Lewis came back against the Kangaroos yesterday.
Crawford said he was looking forward to meeting the Crows again, the team the Hawks defeated in thrilling circumstances after Lance Franklin kicked his seventh goal seconds before the final siren.
"They are a terrific side," Crawford said of the Crows. "I'm sure it will be close.
"We love those trips down there, we love the ground and get good support there. So hopefully we can have a win."
Crawford, who has played 291 games, is on track to this year become only the sixth Hawk to reach the 300-game milestone. By season's end, he could become third on the club's all-time list.
The other Hawks to reach 300 games milestone have been Kelvin Moore (300), Don Scott (302), Chris Langford (303), Leigh Matthews (332) and Michael Tuck (426).

hawkaz1

7th April 2008, 15:47

You're stealing my job Noosa!:p
It's about time I actually posted something in here seeing as Crawf is 'my man' in 08.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/crawford-to-breathe-easier/2008/04/02/1206851012537.html
Crawford to breathe easier

HAWTHORN running man Shane Crawford has begun treatment for an unusual asthma-type exercise-induced respiratory complaint that could see his aerobic capacity significantly improved. The former captain and elite endurance runner learnt of the condition only recently when all players at the club were given a regular asthma test.
Crawford's lung capacity could be improved by 10 to 30% after treatment for a condition called exercise-induced bronchio-spasm in which, according to Dr Peter Larkins, the spasm restricts airflow, making it slightly different to normal genetically occurring asthma.
"It's quite amazing that Shane has only found out at his vintage age that he may be prone to this because we know him as an endurance and a stamina athlete and that is one of the things that can be restricted if your oxygen delivery is not good," Larkins told Channel Nine.
A club spokesman said the club did not consider it a major health issue for Crawford.

noosa hawk mad

4th May 2008, 08:05

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/elder-statesman-crawford-likes-watching/2008/05/03/1209235235293.htmlElder statesman' Crawford likes watching

Martin Boulton | May 4, 2008

JUST five games out from playing his 300th AFL match, Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford says he's enjoying the thrill of playing alongside some "freakish" teammates.
The 33-year-old turned on his own sideshow in the second term of yesterday's 65-point win over Collingwood, dancing around Magpies livewire Leon Davis and kicking to the top of the goal square, where Mark Williams pounced and goaled for the Hawks.
"You just want to get the ball to them up forward because you know they'll use it so well," he said after the match.
"It's very, very exciting playing with not only good players, but players who back themselves and have a lot of confidence in their own ability.
"Even at training you get excited with some of the things these guys can do. Normally you just get out there and do the work, but to see the way they go about it and some of the freakish things they can do … they're exceptional players."
Crawford finished with 25 disposals and four marks, but heads into the break knowing there's more hard work ahead for a team he believes is just starting to gel.
"It's nice to have a little bit of a break and reflect on it, but as soon as you get happy with yourself you get a kick in the backside and things don't work out," he said.
"We're very conscious that we've still got a lot of work to do and I believe we can still improve a lot."
Crawford's pace and pinpoint delivery into the forward line helped set up several goals yesterday, including a long handball to first-year player Cyril Rioli, who chipped across to Lance Franklin, who put the Hawks 47-points ahead.
For most of the afternoon Crawford had Irish import Marty Clarke shadowing him, but had the better of his younger opponent.
Crawford, who coach Alastair Clarkson said was an "elder statesman" of the club, said milestones were far from his mind as the club prepares for an assault on the finals.
"I'm not playing footy to play as many games as I can," he said.
"We've been struggling for many years and you can see this group improving. I want to be involved … we've been through some really tough times and I appreciate every game we play."
While he can't recall playing many games of late in front of 75,000 people, Crawford was thankful to the Collingwood fans for making yesterday's win a little sweeter.
"We don't often play in front of big crowds and we thought it was a great opportunity to come up against a good side in a finals-like atmosphere."

RustyHawk

19th May 2008, 18:12

Burgoyne, two Hawks face suspension
Luke Holmesby
5:01 PM Mon 19 May, 2008

PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Shaun Burgoyne looks set to miss three weeks following a charge of rough conduct against Hawk Sam Mitchell in Saturday’s match.

The incident was assessed as negligent conduct, high impact and high contact. Even with an early plea, Burgoyne would still miss three weeks.

Two other charges were laid from the same game with Hawks Ben McGlynn and Shane Crawford both cited.

McGlynn’s rough conduct charge against Port Adelaide’s Kane Cornes has also been assessed as a four-week sanction that can be reduced to three with an early plea.

Crawford was charged with a level two striking offence against Dean Brogan that has been assessed as a one-week sanction even with an early plea due to the former Hawthorn captain’s poor recent tribunal record.

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

noosa hawk mad

20th May 2008, 12:28

Crawf reclaims dubious record!
http://sportal.com.au/afl-news-displ...s-record-48767 (http://sportal.com.au/afl-news-display/crawf-reclaims-dubious-record-48767)
http://sportal.com.au/site/_content/leadimage/00020526-image.jpg

Crawf reclaims dubious record

20/05/2008 12:01:41 PM
Paul Gough

Sportal

Former Hawthorn skipper Shane Crawford has reclaimed his record as the player with the worst tribunal record of any current AFL player after accepting a one-match suspension from the match review panel on Tuesday for striking Port Adelaide's Dean Brogan.
The 1999 Brownlow Medallist, who would have risked a two-match suspension had he chose to contest the charge, will miss Sunday's MCG clash against bottom side Melbourne, continuing the unbeaten Hawks' recent poor run at the tribunal.
But his team-mate Ben McGlynn and Port Adelaide star Shaun Burgoyne will face the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night after choosing to contest their charges of rough conduct - resulting from Saturday's clash in Launceston - after both players were reported after making head-high contact while bumping.

http://view.atdmt.com/OAT/view/lssssts80180000030oat/direct/01/6250879 (http://ad.au.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=v8/36c6/3/0/%2a/r%3B199603805%3B0-0%3B0%3B17552990%3B4307-300/250%3B26231359/26249213/1%3B%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://clk.atdmt.com/OAT/go/lssssts80180000030oat/direct/01/6250879)

McGlynn and Burgoyne could have accepted three-match suspensions from the match review panel but will now be risking four-match bans if they are unsuccessful at the tribunal on Tuesday night.
Crawford, a four-time best-and-fairest winner who also missed the first three rounds of this season because of a suspension that carried over from last year's semi-final loss to the Kangaroos, has now been found guilty by the tribunal/match review panel on 12 separate occasions during his 296-game career.
And this latest suspension brings to nine the total number of games he has served in suspensions during that time.
Only three weeks ago Fremantle veteran Josh Carr equalled Crawford's previous record of 11 guilty verdicts when he copped a three-game suspension for kneeing Geelong's Gary Ablett but Carr has served a total of 10 matches in suspensions - one more than Crawford.
Former Carlton and Sydney champion Greg Williams holds the record for most games served in suspensions with 34 while another former Blue and Swan, David Rhys-Jones, is the game's most reported player, having been booked on 25 occasions.
Meanwhile, the Hawks and Port will be sweating on the results of Tuesday's tribunal hearing given the consequences of an unsuccessful plea.
McGlynn is risking 418.75 points for his rough conduct charge against Kane Cornes, which was assessed as reckless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
And Burgoyne is risking the same amount of points for his head-high bump on Hawks' skipper Sam Mitchell - which was assessed as negligent conduct, high impact and high contact.
Even though Mitchell was taken from the field on a stretcher, Port is likely to try to get the high impact downgraded to medium impact given Mitchell was later able to return to the field and play a crucial role in the Hawks' come-from-behind win.
Mitchell went into bat for Burgoyne on Monday saying the first-quarter incident was nowhere near as bad as it looked.
"I have seen it on (television) footage and I was just unlucky," he said.
"It was just one of those things. I turned that way and he just clipped me."
"I don't think it was very hard."
In other tribunal news, Eagles' wingman Matt Rosa accepted a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record for striking North's Matt Campbell while Essendon's Kyle Reimers accepted a $1950 fine for making negligent contact with an umpire and Fremantle's Dean Solomon and the Bulldogs' Tom Williams accepted fines for wrestling each other.

Would hate to see him miss any more games as the oldest & most experienced player at our Club! needs to set the example to Lewis Might Mouse & our younger players!

red+black

22nd May 2008, 08:14

Congrats to Shane for getting suspended, thus ensuring he plays his 300th in Melbourne :thumbsu:

Has to be seen as a win for all his fans.

Roughie

22nd May 2008, 13:40

Does anyone else agree that Crawf dudded him self with his missus :thumbsd: I expect better from him

noosa hawk mad

30th May 2008, 18:00

Crawford's knee keeps Hawks guessing
http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Defa...x?newsid=60558 (http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=60558)http://mm.afl.com.au/Portals/0/images/AFL/AFL%20F-J/Crawford_Rd708_246.jpgThe Hawks are unsure when veteran Shane Crawford will return

Rnd10 Press Conference: Clarkson (http://bigpondvideo.com/AFLTV/54403)

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson has revealed the club’s medical staff is in the dark as to how long veteran onballer Shane Crawford will remain sidelined with knee tendonitis.

Crawford, 33, has not played since the Hawks’ round eight win over Port Adelaide in Launceston and Clarkson said the condition of the joint would be monitored closely in the coming weeks.

"We’ll just take it as it comes, with tendonitis sometimes they settle very quickly or sometimes they can drag along for six weeks," Clarkson said on Friday.

"We’re not really certain, we’d love to say he’d be playing by [this] game or [that] game but we’re not too certain when it’s going to be."

The 296-game veteran was reported for the 17th time in his career for striking the Power’s Dean Brogan and Clarkson said the discomfort he was experiencing may have contributed to his aggression.

"It’s part of the reason Crawf gets in a bit of trouble with the tribunal; when his body’s not quite right he gets very, very frustrated," Clarkson said.

"He has a little bit of tendonitis in his knee and that probably led to his silly report against Port Adelaide which cost him a week."

In a measure of the depth of their playing list, the undefeated Hawks have struggled to assemble their best 22 players with Clarkson agreeing it said a lot about the quality of some of his youngsters.

"If you look at our side for the whole season, we were riddled by suspension early in the season and we haven’t had Luke Hodge for some time, Sam Mitchell’s missed games, Jordan Lewis has only played about four or five games … but we’ve been able to cover those guys with some of the young fellas," he said.

"Last week we debuted two young fellas in Josh Kennedy and Jarryd Morton and we’ve seen the emergence of guys like Xavier Ellis and those types of guys who have been able to help out, whilst some of those more senior guys have been out of the side."
__________________

noosa hawk mad

8th June 2008, 08:58

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/1,9191,23829452-19742,00.htmlIt's more than a Buddy joke

Shane Crawford
June 08, 2008 12:00am

GIVEN what we see on TV and elsewhere, nothing really shocks me these days.
But I have to confess to being totally surprised by what has happened this week to my teammate and friend Buddy Franklin.
In my time, I have played with some big names - Jason Dunstall, John Platten and Dermott Brereton - to name a few.

But the focus on Buddy is greater than anyone I've seen at Hawthorn.
We don't like footballers getting into trouble or acting in the wrong way, but, unfortunately, that is going to happen sometimes.
It's what happens in life. It happens to many in the community, and that's probably why the State Government has introduced a 2am lockout.

But I wonder in this instance if we have not gone too far in trying to read too much into this situation.
I say we, because I include myself as part of the media.
My biggest fear is that young players might start choosing other career paths because they may not want to deal with the scrutiny and negativity that is directed at AFL footballers.
You don't want to see a situation where players such as Buddy decide the pressure and lack of privacy is too much.

In Buddy's case, we are talking about a young guy who could become one of the all-time greats.
Only Buddy, the football club and a few others know the real story of what happened last Saturday night.
Football clubs will naturally rally around their players and, for the most part, that is a good thing.
Having said that, clubs are not going to defend players who continually put themselves in the wrong situation.

By all reports, Buddy signed a few autographs on the night, had a few photos taken of him and was happily obliging with the people.
Then, somehow, it got to a stage where he was thrown out of the nightclub. He was grabbed around the neck and he thought it was a teammate mucking around but, in fact, it was security.
That led to a situation this week where the media was camped outside his house, leaving him bemused and incredulous at all the attention he had received.
Don't you think that might be going a little too far? Look, we don't condone upsetting or offending people - far from it.

But when you look at what goes on here and elsewhere, this was a relatively minor situation which I believe has been blown out of proportion.
The fact he is a very tall man (196cm) means he cannot hide in the corner and keep to himself when he goes out.

But we would like to think he is a player who has come a long way in a short time since moving from Western Australia.
Yes, he was escorted out of a nightclub and, yes, in a perfect world, no one wants to see that happen. But does it warrant having him as the main focus of the media's week?
If we keep going down that track, we will lose players because they can barely get around these days without people knowing their every move.
AFL players are well paid. Very well paid. But surely we are entitled to a private life.
Nathan Ablett is an example of a player who decided the attention was too much.
To be honest, I am glad I am not starting out on my career now because it just seems to be coming from every angle. Players make mistakes just as other people do.
The ones you really worry about are the older ones who continually make mistakes. We need to educate and promote younger players, not polarise and penalise them.
When you look at the United States and the NFL, there have been players on murder charges, drug charges, corruption, cruelty to animals and God knows what else.
Can you imagine how that would sit if one of our players was in a similar situation?
It would be an absolute circus.
It begs the question - should we ban AFL players from going out and having a social life. I totally disagree with that because players need to have a life away from the footy.
Going out makes them feel as if they are living a normal life, which is what we all want.

You can't take that away or else players might consider walking away from the game.

noosa hawk mad

6th July 2008, 09:13

Shane Crawford: I'd trade 300 for a flag
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/spo...-19742,00.html (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23975169-19742,00.html) The veteran midfielder is "extremely doubtful" to play this week against Sydney at the MCG because of knee soreness.
The affliction, which sidelined him for six weeks before last weekend's match against West Coast when he did not complete the game, will determine which weeks he is fit for action in the lead-up to the finals.
Crawford, 33, has played 297 games, but will not play just to become the sixth Hawk to become a 300-game player.
"I would love to get to 300 games because it would be a great achievement, but I would love more to be part of finals action, especially to win a premiership," Crawford said.
His dilemma is that he needs to play to remain match-fit, but at the same time cannot afford to aggravate any soreness that could keep him out of action, especially at finals time.

"We are at a position now where we can be flexible when I am playing - using the rotation or playing only in matches when I am feeling really good," he said.
"We need to make sure it is cherry ripe for the rest of the year, especially when it matters most at finals time."
Crawford said he had pulled up sore after match against West Coast, in which he was an outstanding contributor for three quarters.
"We thought we wouldn't want to risk it going into the last quarter, and it is improving day by day," he said.
"However, I am very doubtful for this week. It is pretty much a week by week proposition on how it feels and is responding."
Crawford said the ailment was knee tendinitis, which is more often associated with high jumpers.
"It is caused by a lot of explosive training, which as a veteran I do to keep my speed," Crawford said.
"The area around the knee tendons become inflamed and the idea is to allow it time to settle.
"Playing each week causes it to flare up and it is difficult to know week to week how it will be on match day."
Crawford knows he faces a balancing act to play regularly and still be a contributor to the team in its finals quest.
"It is not a career-threatening ailment, but it needs to settle. That makes it hard when you want to get out there and play and be part of finals action," he said.
"You don't want to play for the sake of playing more games. You want to play and have a role and an input."
Crawford knows that, barring a catastrophe, the Hawks will play finals this year and are capable of a premiership.
"I still think we have to improve a little, but we have all the ingredients to be a really successful side - and obviously I want to be a part of it," he said.
Meanwhile, Carlton captain Chris Judd will return to lead the Blues in their vital clash with St Kilda on Friday night at the MCG.
There had been speculation the concussion suffered by the former West Coast star when he ran into Matthew Lloyd in the opening minutes in Carlton's clash with Essendon had been much worse than first thought.
But coach Brett Ratten said Judd would play.
Ratten said Judd would be a huge bonus for his club, having missed last week's victory against Richmond.
"Chris is certainly right," Ratten said.
"He has returned to training fresh after the break and a few days in the sun (at Noosa). After talking with him and seeing him train I believe he will benefit from the rest.
"He will be a handy 'in' for us."

RustyHawk

14th July 2008, 16:28

Round 15 2008 report

Shane Crawford played, despite knee tendinitis but had just 10 possessions and finished on the bench, with Clarkson describing him as a week-to-week proposition.

RustyHawk

14th July 2008, 17:30

Round 15 Report

Hawks to continue nursing Crawford

14/07/2008 11:28:14 AM

Paul Gough

Sportal

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admits his veteran midfielder Shane Crawford remains a week-to-week proposition because of on-going knee tendonitis.

The Hawks are resigned to nursing their 1999 Brownlow Medallist - who is desperate to be part of a premiership side in what is now his 16th AFL season - through until the end of the year.

Crawford has played 298 matches but only seven this season and is scheduled to play his 300th game in the Round 17 MCG blockbuster against Geelong.

But Clarkson said the Hawks were unsure at present whether Crawford would be available from week to week.

For example, Clarkson said it was widely expected that Crawford would miss Sunday's win over Sydney at the MCG - after appearing sore during the Round 14 win over West Coast - only to surprise the club's medical staff by being ready to face the Swans.

"We will just see how it goes from week to week because tendons are funny things," Clarkson said.

"Sometimes they just need rest but other times you need to keep the (work) load through them and that's why he played (against Sydney)."

"Everyone had written him off after the West Coast game and probably some of the coaching staff as well but the medicos and Crawf was staggered with how quickly he responded to treatment after the West Coast game."

Clarkson said the popular veteran still had much to offer the Hawthorn side.

"He is a very, very important player to our structure and we saw that in the West Coast game when he provided some fantastic rebound for us off half-back and that allowed us to free up Rick Ladson and give us more run through the midfield."

Crawford's experience will also prove valuable to the Hawks come finals time with most of the list only having last year's September experience - when the club bowed out in the semi-finals - to draw on.

In contrast Crawford has played nine finals with only Stuart Dew (14) and Brent Guerra (11) having played more on the Hawks' list.

Meanwhile, the Hawks are expected to welcome back key midfielders Chance Bateman and Jordan Lewis from quad injuries for next Saturday night's clash against St Kilda at Telstra Dome while Ben McGlynn should resume from his quad injury within the next three weeks.

RustyHawk

18th July 2008, 14:24

Clarkson hopeful of speedy Crawford return

By Catherine Murphy
12:45 PM Fri 18 July, 2008

HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson is hopeful veteran Shane Crawford will return to the side for next week's hyped up clash against the Cats despite missing this week's meeting with the St Kilda.

Crawford played two matches after returning from a five-week lay-off due to ongoing knee tendonitis issues but he was forced out of Saturday night's encounter with St Kilda when the injury flared again.

Clarkson said the club was keeping a close eye on the injury as it tried to get the star back on the track.

"It's a difficult injury to manage, tendonitis in the knee," Clarkson said.

"We'll see how he gets back into training early next week and that will determine whether he plays the Geelong game or has another rest but for this particular game he wasn't quite ready and hopefully he'll be right for next week's game against the Cats."

Clarkson admitted that the 33-year-old is growing frustrated with the ongoing injury.

"He's frustrated because he's usually so good at being able to manage his body and get himself right but tendonitis, it doesn't spare anyone.

"If it gets you, it gets you pretty hard so it's been frustrating because he just likes to get out there and for the bulk of his 16 years he's been able to get himself out there on more occasions than not."

Crawford is on a year to year contract with the Hawks and Clarkson said that the Brownlow medalist is eager to make the most of what is left of his playing career at the Hawks.

"He knows he's nearing the end, whether that's in six months time or 18 months time or even two and a half years… but he's such a tremendous trainer that who knows how long he'll play.

"He knows that he's certainly in the twilight of his career and he wants to be out on the park as much as he can be."

noosa hawk mad

6th August 2008, 17:22

Galloping into greatness

Michael Gleeson | August 6, 2008

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/new...702044168.html (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/galloping-into-greatness/2008/08/05/1217702044168.html)

BEFORE John Platten landed at Glenferrie Oval from South Australia, then-Hawthorn rover Richard Loveridge was said to have asked a fellow player who had seen Platten in action in Adelaide whether he was as good a reports suggested. The answer: "Yeah, better get used to the forward pocket."
Years later, when Shane Crawford arrived at Glenferrie, Platten was the entrenched rover, and not about to relinquish that role so readily.
"He arrived as a blond-haired skinny young lad who was pretty confident and just had a vision that he would play footy for 10 or 15 years," Platten said of Crawford. "The first time I met him was at a training camp at Puckapunyal and Alan Joyce said to me, 'This kid is coming down and we reckon he might be a rover so we have put him in your group for the training.'
"There was one session there where we had had to get someone from our team to run five kilometres to get a flag and bring it back and there was me and a few old blokes in the group and we said, 'OK, Shane, this is your first assignment — go and get the flag.' Of course, Shane came back with the flag; I think he was the first of anyone.
"He was just a breath of fresh air coming into the club, Shane. When he arrived he took the fitness to a new level. Just as probably Hodgey and Sam Mitchell have done for the group now, the new bloke coming in lifted the level that bit higher."
Crawford bided his time as Platten's understudy, but it did not last long. "There was a game we played against the Swans in Sydney and I was crook and didn't take the flight up and Shane played first rover and kicked five goals. All the boys were ringing me after that saying, 'Shane Crawford new No. 1 rover' and that sort of stuff," said Platten.
"It was good fun but that certainly made me stand up and say No. 1 rover be buggered, and I worked harder."
Crawford will play his 300th game this weekend, trying to manage his dodgy knees to perhaps hobble into a grand final and maybe win the one honour that has eluded the Brownlow medallist, four time best-and-fairest winner and Australian and Hawthorn captain — a premiership medallion.
But, that missing honour does not count against him when considering his worth to the club, said Platten and another club great, Gary Buckenara. "Without a premiership medallion around his neck I class him as a great of Hawthorn," Platten said. "Champion gets thrown around too much in footy now, but he is an out-and-out champion."
Said Buckenara: "The other 300-game players have all played in grand finals and won premierships but that does not count against Shane — he is a true great of the club. And hopefully he can win that this year."
Crawford yesterday revealed it might not have come to this, believing the arrival of Alastair Clarkson could have heralded the demise of his career. "I thought it was a disaster," he said. "I didn't really know Clarko that well and I had played on him several times and to stop me running he used to punch on with me. It was a love-hate relationship."
Clarkson's role in demoting Crawford from the captaincy and ushering into retirement senior Hawks proved a delicate period. "Clarko moved on a lot of my close mates, who were a bit older. I thought, that's not a great way to start a relationship," Crawford said. "(But) I honestly don't think anyone could have done a better job than what he's done … I have no doubt that's a main reason why we're having success."
Crawford has found a new love for the game, but finds passions outside it. He enjoys television work and a flirtation with acting. But his abiding love, outside of his new family, is at the track.
In Queensland one year he went to the races with a mate and a horse took his eye. Crawford recalled it went well in the wet — and it was at 100-1.
When he left the track that day, the TAB had to write him a cheque. It was a bit like Crawford himself — the galloper who paid out big.

noosa hawk mad

6th August 2008, 17:24

Crawf on 300 and the Hawks' flag hopes
http://sportal.com.au/mediaplayer/au...lag-hopes-3212 (http://sportal.com.au/mediaplayer/audio/AFL/crawf-on-300-and-the-hawks-flag-hopes-3212)
Crawf on 300 and the Hawks' flag hopes
Hawthorn veteran Shane Crawford speaks about his upcoming 300th game and the club's premiership chances this year.:thumbsu:

http://sportal.com.au/mediaplayer/vi...r-success-1745 (http://sportal.com.au/mediaplayer/video/AFL/crawford-still-hungry-for-success-1745)
Crawford still hungry for success
As Hawthorn's Shane Crawford approaches his 300th game this weekend, he talks about his need for success and has a laugh with coach and former opponent Alastair Clarkson.:thumbsu:
__________________

noosa hawk mad

8th August 2008, 19:32

http://sportal.com.au/afl-news-display/clarkson-crawf-an-inspiration-54101

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has labelled champion Shane Crawford a 'pioneer' of the modern game on the eve of his 300th match.
Crawford is set to become just the 55th player in the 112-year history of the VFL/AFL to play 300 games on Saturday when he runs out against the Brisbane Lions at Aurora Stadium and Clarkson paid tribute to the way he and St Kilda veteran Robert Harvey have revolutionised football.
"Both those guys (Crawford and Harvey) in my view have probably been the pioneers for the modern game," Clarkson said at Melbourne Airport on Friday afternoon before he and his team caught a flight to Tasmania.

"They've taken training and professionalism to a completely new level and there's a lot of guys in the competition who can thank Shane Crawford and Robert Harvey for the way that the midfield play is handled nowadays."
"The intensity and the pace of the game has increased enormously over the last 10 years and for guys like he and Robert Harvey to have survived and evolved with the game in that period of time is quite outstanding."
The 300-game milestone is undoubtedly one of the most exceptional individual achievements a footballer can ever hope to accomplish and even Clarkson, who normally does his best to play down additional attention surrounding his team heading into a match, has found himself caught up in the significance of the 1999 Brownlow Medallist's feat.
"It's hard not to get wound up in it all really because it's been such a stellar career and the tributes have been flowing thick and fast and rightly so too," he said.
"He's been a very, very decorated player at our footy club and, you know, it'll draw some recognition this afternoon (and) tomorrow I'm sure. Especially from the 21 guys who are fortunate enough to run out in the brown and gold with him tomorrow."
Clarkson believes Crawford's 300th match will be made all the more special due to the fact that he has remained a one-club player.
"He's only the sixth player at our footy club to have done that. He's done it in an era too where the game has evolved and changed so much," Clarkson said.
"I heard him talk earlier in the week about how at the start of his career you'd go out on the ground and it was more than likely you had the same opponent for the whole day and it was just survival of the fittest really."
"It's still survival of the fittest in this game, but a different type of survival because it's (the game) just so much more demanding."
And despite some concerns over Crawford's tendonitis-afflicted knee, Clarkson confidently predicted that the 33-year-old would play his 300th match on Saturday.
"I'm a bit scared to talk about selections leading into the Launceston games," he quipped in reference to his public lambasting of a Tasmanian journalist for reporting that Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell had left a training session early the day before the Hawks lost to the Bulldogs in Round 10 at Aurora Stadium.
"Unless something terrible happens in the next 24 hours, 'Crawf' will play his 300th tomorrow."
One Hawk who won't be taking the field is improved defender Michael Osborne as he continues to recover from a corked buttock sustained during Hawthorn's 11-point loss to Geelong a fortnight ago.
"It was really close to

A true legend of our club well done Crawf!:thumbsu:

noosa hawk mad

10th August 2008, 15:35

Shane Crawford finishes 300th game on high

Glenn McFarlane | August 10, 2008 12:00am

A FINAL-quarter direction from coach Alastair Clarkson to move Shane Crawford forward provided the Hawthorn veteran with the perfect finish to his 300th game.

With the Hawks more than 10 goals in front of the Brisbane Lions after wresting control with a superb second half, Clarkson sent the runner out late in the final term to give Crawford the chance to kick an emotional goal.
The 33-year-old did not let his coach or his team down as he booted the last goal of the game at the 32-minute-mark to give the Hawks a resounding 69-point victory. It was fitting that every Hawthorn player on the field rushed to celebrate with Crawford, while the crowd of 19,929 predominantly Hawks fans rejoiced.
"I actually got a message from Clarko to push forward and hang around there, and see if you could kick a goal," said an elated Crawford, who had 28 touches for the match.
"I did feel the pressure going back (to take the kick). I didn't kick it that well, but I reckon the crowd pushed it through. It was the perfect way to end what has been a fantastic week - and a great day for the club."
Clarkson said sentiment often had to take a back seat in AFL football, but given the margin at the time and the Hawthorn players' reverence for their former captain, he knew it was an appropriate move.
"I don't usually like to have that type attitude, but when you have got a significant margin we could perhaps afford a few liberties," Clarkson said.
"It was pretty late and we got on a bit of a roll towards the end of the quarter."
In what was expected to be a shootout between two gun forward lines, the first half proved anything but, with only four goals scored - three of them by the Hawks.
But six goals from Lance Franklin, who now has 91 for the season, and a 31-touch game from Luke Hodge across half-back, helped the Hawks career away in the second half.
Clarkson was pleased that the club's 15th win of the season guaranteed it a top-four finish with three games to play.
"It was a special day," Clarkson said. "You always like to win milestone games . . . both Brent Guerra playing his 150th and obviously Crawf playing his 300th. But more importantly we got the four points and it makes us a certainly to finish in the top four. Now we can take the next three games to get ready for the finals.
"It was a real arm-wrestle early in the game. But we continued to work hard around the ground and at the stoppages. I thought it was a demonstration of the maturity of our group to work through and get the points."
It was an emotional day for Crawford, who had his family and friends in Launceston for the occasion, and he ran through the banner with his two-year-son Charlie.
"I felt like it was my first game today. I've pulled up well and to get the win with the boys was great," he said.
The Brisbane Lions now face a difficult battle to stay in the finals race, with games against the Western Bulldogs, Carlton and Sydney.
Lions coach Leigh Matthews said: "The destiny is still our own hands, but we have to win three games."
He admitted Franklin was the hardest player in the AFL to match up against, particularly because he was also capable of going into the midfield in bursts, as he did at crucial stages yesterday.
Jonathan Brown had a day to forget, having just six touches and kicking one goal, while the Lions appear to have lost Josh Drummond to a season-ending quad injury.
"He's strained a right quad so that would be it for him," Matthews said.
The Hawks hope to regain Michael Osborne for Sunday's game against Richmond.

noosa hawk mad

10th August 2008, 15:37

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24153836-19767,00.html

Crawford puts team first in 300th match

Yes, it was about honouring Crawford, a club legend and only the sixth Hawk to reach the milestone.
But the pre-game yesterday had every bit as much to do with the team - how if the collective combined to do the right thing, then they would essentially be doing the right thing by the man of the moment as well.
And Crawf would not have had it any other way.
The former skipper, who turns 34 during the finals, has waited for some time to reach the milestone due to some troublesome tendinitis, but after a week of intense build-up, publicity and emotion, Crawford was simply happy to get on with the job yesterday and experience a moment he said he would never forget.
Although it was only his ninth game of the season, it was one of his best. He collected 28 possessions in a great display and capped it off with the last goal of the game, after which he was swamped by ecstatic teammates.
Before the match, in the cramped confines of the Aurora Stadium rooms, Crawford was confronted by his past, present and future.
The past was a hand-picked selection of former teammates and friends who had played key roles in Crawford's career and life, including Ben Dixon, Mark Graham, Tony Woods and Robert Dickson.
The present came from his current teammates, who came to him at varying stages of the warm-up, for a pat on the back, a word of encouragement and congratulations. Then they gathered around him and coach Alastair Clarkson before the team ran out to the roar of the crowd.
The future came from his two-year-old son, Charlie, who clearly has his father's cheesy grin and love of life.
An hour before the first bounce, Crawford drilled balls at captain Sam Mitchell. Part of the present linked up with the past when Mitchell wandered off and Crawford's loose punt was scooped up by Woods. A beaming smile broke across Crawford's face as he said: "You haven't lost it."
An appointment with the physio was followed by the team meeting with the coach in a side room. It lasted only a few minutes. The players clearly knew what to do.
Crawford emerged to begin a stretching session. Fittingly, his partner in the exercise was Brent Guerra, who - if you missed it - was playing his 150th game yesterday. He was far from a forgotten man in the rooms, as several teammates (Crawf included) congratulated him.
The Hawks then headed for their on-field warm-up 35 minutes before the first bounce. It was then that Crawford's pregnant partner, Olivia Anderson, brought Charlie down to the players race. Almost on cue, the Hawthorn cheer squad arrived - complete with specially designed Crawford T-shirts - with a banner that dwarfed the one about to be held up by their Brisbane Lions counterparts. It said simply: 300 spectacular games.
Back in the change rooms, Crawford found a quiet spot in a not-so-quiet room for a moment of contemplation. He sat back and perhaps thought about the journey that began 15 years ago, and the remaining steps ahead.
That moment did not last long. Trent Croad broke the silence with a reminder of what had to be done and who it had to be done for: "Rip into it and make it a special day."
Then Clarkson brought the players in for last word. They linked arms and were ready to go.
So, too, was Charlie. Crawf sensed his son's arrival in the rooms almost as soon as he came in. There was emotion etched on his face - not the welling tears from Thursday night's Footy Show, but the look of a proud dad. Charlie helped his dad run through the banner, before being whisked away by Dixon.
Crawford had a job to do. His first touch - a handball - came within 35 seconds. More important, he provided Lance Franklin with the first goal of the game after a sensational pass.
His first serious passage in the second term was not as creative, but almost as effective. He took on three Lions by himself and squared the contest.
Crawford gave us a reminder of what has been with a stunning third term. He had 12 touches for the quarter and was one of the catalysts behind the Hawks turning it on.
He finished it the way the milestone script demanded. A goal - the last of the game - with little more than a minute to play. Every Hawthorn player rushed to him no matter where they were on the field. Not even Hank Bulger could have scripted it better.