Premiership Season 2008 - from Pre to Post Season

[RustyHawk]

Table of Contents - Collection of articles and reports specific to HFC in season 2008.

Post Number then Title of article:

1. Hawthorn leadership group 2008
2. No Good Friday match
3. Draw for season 2008
4. Hawks return to Prime Time
5. Hawks 2008 Fixture
6. Hawks finalise their list for 2008
7. Unsigned players training at HFC prior to the draft
8. Hawks back in harness
9. Pre season snap shot
10. 2008 NAB AFL Draft
11. All 3 draftees can play in 2008 - Pelchen
12. 2008 AFL Rookie Draft
13. Hawks in tropical jungle
14. Hawks blend of height and pace - discussion on draftees
15. HSBC announce sponsorship extension
Page 2
16. five to fifty - 14.12.07
17. five to fifty plan - 14.12.07
18. AGM Guernseys announced 14.12.07
19. DWS to partner Hawk Coaches - 14.12.07
20. Who is the youngest of them all -[which AFL team has youngest list] 23.12.07
21. Hawks in Tassie - 21.12.07
22. Hawks Regional Training session details - 08.01.08
23. Hawks seek atonement - 25.01.08
24. NAB Cup round 1 details v Sydney in Tassie - 17.02.08
25. NAB Cup Qrt Final details - 23.02.08
26. Hawks fall to Crows - NAB Cup Semis - 01.03.08
27. Muston injury confirmed - 03.03.08
28. Membership tally - 27.02.08
29. Pies out muscle Hawks [final training game report] 07.03.08
30. Danny Jacobs announces retirement - 12.03.08
Page 3
31. Membership 19.03.08
32. Sam Mitchell signs on till end 2010 - 19.03.08
33. Rd 1 Team vs Melbourne 22.03.08
34. Rd 1 results -
35. Rd 1 Match report - 23.03.08
36. Report on Trent Croad wrist injury - 27.03.08
37. Rd 2 Team v Fremantle @ Freo - 27.03.08
38. Rd 2 Match Report - 30.03.08
39. Rd 2 results all games - 30.03.08
40. Hawks make it 2 from 2 - 29.03.08
41. AFL Ladder end Rd 2 - 03.03.08
42. More reports Rd 2 match against Freo. - 31.03.08
43. Hawks beat all time membership record - 01.04.08
44. Rd 3 Team v North - 03.04.08
45. Rd 3 Match Report - win vs North- 05.04.08
Page 4
46. Rd 3 Match Report II - 05.04.08
47. AFL Ladder end Rd 3 & match details all games
48. Lewis accepts 1 match ban - 08.04.08
49. Rd 4 team v Adelaide - 10.04.08
50. RD 4 team: Hawks make 2 late changes - 13.04.08
51. Rd 4 Match report - 13.04.08
52. Rd 5 Team vs Brisbane - 17.04.08
53. Rd 5 match report - 20.04.08
54. Rd 5 match details - 20.04.08
55. Rd 6 Team vs Richmond - 24.04.08
56. Rd 6 Match report - 27.04.08
57. AFL Ladder at end Rd 6 - 27.04.08
58. Hawks are the new innovators by Lyall Johnson - 28.04.08
59. Rd 6 match report II - 28.04.08
60. Rd 7 Team vs Collingwood - 01.05.08
Page 5
61. General Cluster Rides Again - article by Gerard Healy about Clarko's Cluster - 02.05.08
62. Injury list Rd 7 - 02.05.08
63. Kennedy to tower over Hawks HQ. - 28.04.08
64. Rd 7 Match report - 03.05.08
65. Rd 7 Match report II - 05.05.08
66. Hawthorn players stats after Rd 7 - 05.05.08
67. AFL Ladder after Rd 7 - 05.05.08
68. Rd 8 Team vs Port Adelaide - 05.05.08
69. Clarkson re signs with Hawthorn - 14.05.08
70. Clarko puts star on notice (Mark Williams) 18.05.08
71. Box Hill news to date - not been good - no wins - 18.05.08
72. Power cant dam Franklin - match report Rd 8 - 18.05.08
73. Hawks maturing nicely - article by Robert Campbell - 17.05.08
74. AFL Ladder at end Rd 8 - 19.05.08
75. Williams (Mark) choke no joke - 19.05.08
Page 6
76. AFL leading goal kickers after round 8 - 19.05.08
77. Burgoyne and 2 Hawks face suspension - 19.05.08
78. Benny McGlynn outed for 4 weeks - 20.05.08
79. Josh Kennedy to debut - 22.05.08
80. Rd 9 Team vs Melbourne - 22.05.08
81. "Demons must move or die" - something Hawk Pres J Kennett said - 23.05.08
82. Final selected side Rd 9 - 23.05.08
83. Rd 9 Match report - 25.05.08
84. AFL Ladder at end Rd 9 - 25.05.08
85. Match review panel decisions - Rd 9 - 26.05.08
86. Interview with Hawk Stephen Gilham. - 26.05.08
87. Mitchell's Brownlow hopes gone - 27.05.08
88. Dr. Sandy Ferguson remembered - 29.05.08
89. Lewis Returns for undefeated Hawks - Rd 10 Team v Western Bulldogs - 30.05.08
90. 40,000 members - 30.05.08
Page 7
91. Cagey Clarkson -
92. Rd 10 - Hawks suffer first defeat for season -31.05.08
93. We weren't hungry enough - Clarkson 31.05.05
94. Dogs beat us at our own game - Mitchell
95. AFL Ladder end Round 10
96. Hawks react to Clarkson spray - 03.06.08
97. Buddy Franklin nightclub controversy - 03.06.08
98. Bump stance wrecking footy - Doug Hawkins -
99. Rodney Eade unlocks Hawthorns Rolling Zone - 02.06.08
100. HFC Statement re the Buddy issue - 03.06.08
101. I need to change my ways - A Clarkson -
102. Clarkson did not deserve - Patrick Smith 04.06.08
103. Rd 11 teams (Hawks v Essendon)
104. Shoulder injury sidelines Brad Sewell - 06.06.08
105. Round 11 Match Report - 07.06.08
Page 8
106. Roughead decoy behind Buddy rise - 09.06.08
107. Round 11 Ladder - 09.06.08
108. Round 11 results
109. Box Hill update (not good news so far) 10.06.08
110. Round 12 Team vs Adelaide - 13.06.08
111. Hawks confront Crows hoodoo - 13.06.08
112. Hawks pip Crows in a thriller - 15.06.08
113. Buddy report sours gutsy win - 15.06.08
114. Match report Round 12 - 16.06.08
115. Round 12 AFL Ladder
116. Key trio could return for Hawks - 16.06.08
117. Max Bailey does his knee again - 16.06.08
118. Franklin offerred a reprimand - 16.06.08
119. Hawks Ace Footys Hardest Challenge - by Mike Sheahan - 17.06.08
120. Round 13 team v North Melbourne
Page 9
121. Xavier Ellis has been cleared by AFL - 19.06.08
122. Round 13 Hawks fall to gritty Roos - 21.06.08
123. Ellis is a relieved young man - 20.06.08
124. Clarkson praises North Melb's effort - 21.06.08
125. AFL Ladder end Round 13
126. NAB Rising Star Rd13 - Jarryd Morton - 24.06.08
127. Jarryd Morton on the rise - 24.06.08
128. Rd 14 teams v WCE
129. Hawks wont speculate on Cousins - 26.06.08
130. Preview Hawthorn v Eagles - 26.06.08
131. Members celebration Round - 25.06.08
132. One flu over the Hawks nest - Gerard Healy - 27.06.08
133. Rd 14 result: Hawks hammer Eagles - 27.06.08
134. Week off welcome - Clarkson - 27.06.08
135. Crawford and Lewis injuries - 28.06.08
Page 10
136. Horrible way to earn points - 28.06.08
137. Renouf takes 2 match ban - 01.07.08
138. 10 Hawk stars tred thin ice with tribunal - 02.07.08
139. Hawks await Shane Crawford injury - 01.07.08
140. No love lost between umps & Buddy - 02.07.08
141. Defenders in for a Rough time - 02.07.08
142. Tram hit leaves Polak in coma - 30.06.08
143. Hawks out fly Eagles to earn week off - 30.06.08
144. Hawks attract rush on seats - 04.07.08
145. Sewell doubts for Swans clash - 07.07.08
146. Sam Mitchell finds captaincy 24 hour job - 07.07.08
147. Round 14 Results
148. AFL ladder at end Round 14
149. Round 15 team vs Swans
150. Round 15 results
Page 11
151. Hawks break Sydney HooDoo - 13.07.08
152. End of Round 15 Ladder
153. Buddy & Roughie flawed marksmanship - 14.07.08
154. Lance Franklin yips no cause for alarm - 14.07.08
155. Buddys big day on the way - 14.07.08
156. Hawks tick all September boxes - 14.07.08
157. Hawks continue to nurse Crawford - 14.07.08
158. Hawks Big Men Firing - 14.07.08
159. Round 15 - Match Review Panel findings - 14.07.08
160. Round 16 Team vs St Kilda
161. Finals race blown wide open - 13.07.08
162. Clarkson hopeful of speedy Crawford return - 18.07.08
163. Saints outgun Hawks - 19.07.08
164. AFL ladder end round 16
165. History repeats itself as... 22.07.08
Page 12



















The Hawthorn Leadership group for 2008 is:

Captain: Sam Mitchell

Vice Captain: Luke Hodge

Leadership group: Shane Crawford, Chance Bateman, Tim Clarke and Brad Sewell.

Added late in season but before the finals by Clarko: Stuart Dew

[RustyHawk]

No Good Friday match in 2008
8:04 PM Fri 12 October, 2007 | Back


Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

News
AFL chief executive officer Andrew Demetriou today said the AFL Commission had determined that a Good Friday match would not be part of the AFL's fixture for the 2008 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

The AFL Commission met in Melbourne today for its regular monthly meeting and Mr Demetriou said it had formally signed off the AFL Executive's recommendation for the season to start a week earlier next year, over the Easter Weekend, with the first match of the season to be scheduled on Thursday March 20.

"The games we have scheduled on the Thursday night leading into the Easter break in recent years have developed both strong crowds and television audiences, and we will continue that format in 2008," Mr Demetriou said.

The 2008 AFL fixture will be released later this month, with the key dates for the 2008 season as follows:

* NAB Cup round 1 – February 15-17.
* NAB Cup round 2 – February 22-24.
* NAB Cup semi-finals – Febuary 29 - March 1.
* NAB Cup Grand Final – March 8.

* Round 1 – Toyota AFL Premiership Season, March 20-24 (Easter).
* Round 22 – August 29-31.
* Week 1 – Toyota AFL Finals Series – September 5-7.
* Week 2 – Toyota AFL Finals Series – September 12-13.
* Week 3 – Toyota AFL Preliminary Finals – September 19-20.
* Week 4 – Toyota AFL Grand Final – Saturday, September 27.

[RustyHawk]

AFL draw for season 2008 - What it means for Hawthorn. From AFL.com

Hawthorn
The Hawks might be off to Tasmania for another four games next season, but their Melbourne followers will be treated to an extra two matches at the MCG and one less interstate trip in total.

The Hawks will play 10 matches at the MCG in 2008, and four at Telstra Dome (one less than this year), while they'll hit the road just four times, excluding their Tasmania commitments.

Supporters will also be given back-to-back Friday night blockbusters, with the Hawks set to face Geelong and Collingwood in rounds 17 and 18 on the big stage. They have been given three Friday night games in total, as well as two twilight timeslots (round one v Melbourne and round six v Richmond, both at the MCG).

They play Melbourne, the Kangaroos, Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Richmond, Collingwood and West Coast twice, and, curiously, will play Carlton for the first and only time in round 22.

[RustyHawk]

Hawks return to Prime Time12:13 PM Fri 26 October, 2007 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News
The 2008 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture was today officially released, confirming Hawthorn will play 10 games at the MCG, seven of which are Melbourne based home games, while the Hawks will return to prime time TV with 12 of their matches to be picked up by free-to-air broadcasters.

The Hawks’ season opener is against Melbourne on Sunday March 23, with the Hawks set to play each of the co-tenants, Melbourne, Richmond and Collingwood, twice in 2008 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The first season of a five year deal with the Tasmanian Government in 2007 saw the Hawks play four eventual top four sides at Launceston’s Aurora Stadium and 2008 promises to deliver another group of enthralling Tasmanian home matches with Adelaide (Rd4), Port Adelaide (Rd8), Western Bulldogs (Rd10) and Brisbane Lions (Rd19) all set to make the trip south.

Chief Executive, Ian Robson, said the strength of the 2008 Hawthorn draw reflected the strong performance of the Club on field in 2007 and the increased interest by broadcasters to show Hawthorn games on free-to-air television.

“We’re pleased that we have further entrenched our position with regard to our seven home games at the MCG and these have been supplemented by a further three away games at the MCG,” said Robson.

“We will continue to work hard with our colleagues at the AFL as we continue to strive to have these strong features within our fixturing as we move forward.

“The broadcasters and the AFL have shown a degree of confidence in the future prospects of the team by the scheduling of 12 matches into free-to-air timeslots, a 50 percent increase compared to the previous season.”

The Hawks have attracted 12 free-to-air matches in 2008 (2007:8) and will play an additional two Friday night fixtures (2007:1) with three games next season, including a Friday Night Blockbuster against reigning premiers Geelong at the MCG on Friday July 25.

In a replay of last year’s thrilling elimination final encounter the Hawks will play their first Tasmanian home game against the Adelaide Crows at Aurora Stadium in Round 4.

2007 Grand Finalists, Port Adelaide, will again make the trip down to the Apple Isle (Rd 8), with the Hawks keen to revenge their 5 point loss to the Power at the same venue in the run into last year’s finals campaign.

The Western Bulldogs will return to Tasmania following a five year absence to take on the Hawks in Round 10, while The Brisbane Lions will make their first trip to the island state in search of premiership points. The Lions game is sure to attract extra attention amongst the Tasmanian AFL supporters with the chance for footy followers to watch AFL superstar Jonathan Brown up-close and personal and the added spice of Hawthorn Legend Leigh Matthews at the helm of the Lions.

Other notables of the 2008 Hawthorn draw include:

• Melbourne matches 14 (2007:13)
• Interstate travel, excluding Aurora, 4 (2007:5)
• Telstra Dome away games 4 (2007:5)
• Friday night home games 2 (2007:0)
• Total Friday night games 3 (2007:1)

[RustyHawk]

Hawthorn’s 2008 fixture
10:35 AM Fri 26 October, 2007 | Back

By Jennifer Witham

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

News
HAWTHORN might be off to Tasmania for another four games next season, but its Melbourne followers will be treated to an extra two matches at the MCG and one less interstate trip in total.

The Hawks will play 10 matches at the MCG in 2008, and four at Telstra Dome (one less than this year), while they'll hit the road just four times, excluding their Tasmania commitments.

Supporters will also be given back-to-back Friday night blockbusters, with the Hawks set to face Geelong and Collingwood in rounds 17 and 18 on the big stage. They have been given three Friday night games in total, as well as two twilight timeslots (round one v Melbourne and round six v Richmond, both at the MCG).

The side will play at Aurora Stadium in rounds four (v Adelaide), eight (v Port Adelaide), 10 (v the Western Bulldogs), and 19 (v the Brisbane Lions), while the Hawks also travel to Perth (round two v Fremantle and round 21 v West Coast), Brisbane (round five v the Lions), and Adelaide (round 12 v the Crows).

They play Melbourne, the Kangaroos, Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Richmond, Collingwood and West Coast twice, and, curiously, will play Carlton for the first and only time in round 22.

In total, the Hawks will play six matches on Saturday afternoon, two on Sunday afternoon with an additional three to start early, six on Saturday night, two on Sunday twilight and three on Friday night.

Hawthorn’s fixture for 2008

(Community practice Friday 11.01.08 - Dandenong
Community practice - Friday 25.01.08 - Pakenham
Tasmania 05.02.08 - 08.02.08 including Intra Club practice match 08.02.08
NAB Cup round 1 - Tassie - 17.02.08
NAB Cup round 2 - TD - 23.02.08
If we win - 01.03.08
Grand Final NAB CUp 08.03.08)


Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Home/Away
Local Time

1
Sunday,
Mar 23
Melbourne
MCG
Home
4:40 pm

2
Saturday,
Mar 29
Fremantle
Subiaco
Away
5:40 pm

3
Saturday,
Apr 05
Kangaroos
Telstra Dome
Away
2:10 pm

4
Sunday,
Apr 13
Adelaide
Aurora Stadium
Home
1:10 pm

5
Saturday,
Apr 19
Brisbane Lions
Gabba
Away
7:10 pm

6
Sunday,
Apr 27
Richmond
MCG
Home
4:40 pm

7
Saturday,
May 03
Collingwood
MCG
Home
2:10 pm

8
Saturday,
May 17
Port Adelaide
Aurora Stadium
Home
2:10 pm

9
Sunday,
May 25
Melbourne
MCG
Away
2:10 pm

10
Saturday,
May 31
Western Bulldogs
Aurora Stadium
Home
2:10 pm

11
Saturday,
Jun 07
Essendon
Telstra Dome
Away
7:10 pm

12
Saturday,
Jun 14
Adelaide
AAMI Stadium
Away
7:10 pm

13
Saturday,
Jun 21
Kangaroos
MCG
Home
2:10 pm

14
Friday,
Jun 27
West Coast
MCG
Home
7:40 pm

15
Sunday,
Jul 13
Sydney
MCG
Home
1:10 pm

16
Saturday,
Jul 19
St. Kilda
Telstra Dome
Away
7:10 pm

17
Friday,
Jul 25
Geelong
MCG
Home
7:40 pm

18
Friday,
Aug 01
Collingwood
MCG
Away
7:40 pm

19
Saturday,
Aug 09
Brisbane Lions
Aurora Stadium
Home
2:10 pm

20
Sunday,
Aug 17
Richmond
MCG
Away
1:10 pm

21
Sunday,
Aug 24
West Coast
Subiaco
Away
2:40 pm

22
Saturday,
Aug 30
Carlton
Telstra Dome
Away

[RustyHawk]

Hawks finalise their list for the 2008 season.

Hawks finalise playing list
12:11 PM Wed 31 October, 2007 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News
The Hawthorn Football Club today finalised its playing list ahead of the AFL’s National, Pre-season and Rookie drafts.

Second year rookie Luke McEntee has been promoted to the primary list for 2008 while Matt Suckling has been offered a second year rookie contract.

Other 2007 rookies Brett Collins and Sam Gibson have been delisted but have been offered the opportunity to train with the Club over the summer in a bid to be re-drafted in the December Rookie Draft.

Other changes to the Hawthorn list include the delistings of Matt Little and Josh Thurgood and the retirements of Richie Vandenberg, Ben Dixon and Joel Smith.

Hawthorn has three selections in the November AFL National Draft
(picks 12, 29, 45)
and
four selections in the Rookie Draft (picks 11, 27, 43, 59).

Because we have only 1 veteran our total off 44 will be as follows.

38 senior listed players (currently 35 senior listed players)
1 veteran listed player (currently 1 veteran listed player = Crawford)
5 rookies* (currently 1 now 2nd year rookie = Suckling)

* 1 of these rookies can be nominated to play senior football due to having only 1 veteran on the list.

[RustyHawk]

Unsigned players training with the Hawks during pre season 2008.

Hawthorn - James Allen (Box Hill Hawks); Luke Barker (Box Hills Hawks); Nathan Batsanis (Port Adelaide rookie); Brett Collins (Hawthorn rookie); Adam Iacobucci (Northern Bullants); Tom Langford (Port Melbourne); Lukas Markovic (Box Hill Hawks); Ben Sharp (West Coast Eagles rookie); Callum Urch (Kangaroos)

[RustyHawk]

Hawks back in harness
11:52 AM Mon 12 November, 2007 | Back

By Catherine Murphy,

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

News
HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson says a new-found belief created by his side’s win over Adelaide in their elimination final this year leaves the team in good stead going into pre-season.

The entire squad assembled at Waverley Park for the first time on Monday to start what is set to be a gruelling few months.

“To actually bounce back and win that game of footy, albeit on the final siren, was really pleasing for our group and instilled a belief in them that they can overcome some difficult situations in games of football and particularly in finals,” Clarkson said.

But despite the dramatic win which saw “Buddy” Franklin clinch the result with a last gasp goal, Clarkson said the team’s exit from the finals a week later at the hands of the Kangaroos showed the playing list still had a lot to learn.

“Our players, while terrific one week, weren’t mentally prepared for the enormous challenge the following week against the Kangaroos, who were smarting over their loss to the Cats the week before and they showed how it’s to be done, just relentless footy,” he said.

“So there are some really good lessons to be learned from the whole season but particularly from the two finals we were fortunate enough to play.”

Former captain Richie Vandenberg and Joel Smith were notable absentees but one of 2007’s retirees was present and still in Hawks colours. Former forward Ben Dixon has been appointed as a part-time skills coach with the club.

“He’s been a very big part of our football club and he’s accepted a role part-time with our coaching and also doing ambassadorial work with our sponsorship with Tasmania and he’ll help out with the marketing department too,” Clarkson said.

“It’s a multi-dimensional role, so we’re happy he can stay involved with our club.”

Clarkson said the young playing group would have to work hard to fill the void left by recent retirements.

“The big challenge is for some guys to step into their shoes and fill the breech.

“They were not only tremendous on-field competitors, but they were tremendous off the field too. You don’t stay at a footy club for 10 years unless you’re enormously respected by the guys. But that presents an opportunity for other young fellows to step into their shoes.”

Clarkson said his young squad must now build on the success of 2007.

“I think us and Carlton sit as youngest and second youngest list in the competition, so we’ve got an average age of 22. We’d expect that they’ll consolidate their progress. And we’re really looking to try and follow up from last year and make the finals again.”

At 33 years of age, Shane Crawford is very much the elder statesman of the team. And Clarkson said the former skipper was relishing his mentoring role.

“It actually keeps him really young, Crawf. The youth of the group has given him a real spark and energy and he’s really looking forward to contributing. I suppose if anything it makes him feel like he’s even more important to our footy club, with the guidance and leadership he can give to the younger fellows.”

The first big challenge that the team will face is on November 30 when they will travel to Papua New Guinea to trek the Kokoda trail.

“About half of our list haven’t done the Kokoda track and it’s formed a really big part of the culture of our club," Clarkson said.

“It’s going to be a terrific experience for our guys. It’s not just about footy either. It’s obviously about their togetherness and bonding, and we really want to instill in our guys the importance of our history as a nation and the sacrifices that many others made so that we could do what we love doing, which is coaching and playing football.”

[RustyHawk]

Pre-season snapshot: Hawthorn
11:50 AM Mon 29 October, 2007 | Back

By Catherine Murphy

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

News
Arrivals
Coaches: Chris Fagan – Head of Coaching and Development

Departures
Delistings: Josh Thurgood, Matt Little (both senior list). Rookie announcements will be made by the end of October.
Retirees: Richie Vandenberg, Ben Dixon, Joel Smith.

What I did on my holiday:
There was no end of season trip and instead some players holidayed in smaller groups while interstate players spent time at home. Some of the preferred holiday destinations were Las Vegas, Thailand and Byron Bay.

Pre-season training starts:
November 5th – 1-3 year players
November 12th – 3+ year players

Pre-season plans:
Training camp to Kokoda at the end of November. (about 15-19 senior group players including Simon Taylor, Stuart Dew, Whitecross & Rioli) Whilst those players where in PNG the rest went to Coffs harbour and trained at the Rugby Unions High Performance Training Center.
What the fitness guy says:
Hawks' Head Fitness Coach Andrew Russell says the squad is gearing up for a tough pre-season.

"We're in a phase where we can push our bodies (the players) pretty hard. We've got a few older guys but the majority of our players are 19 to 23, so we can work pretty hard. We're not in a phase where we've a lot of older bodies that we have to protect and drop the work loads down, so we expect a large majority of our players to do 80 to 90 per cent of the pre-season."

For the team's most senior player, Brownlow medalist Shane Crawford, the training regime is a little different.

"He would do a lot of intense training, we just drop his volumes down. He's got so many training years in his body that you have to. It's like with the younger guys, when they're starting their career it's high intensity, low volume but then go into high intensity, high volume and then they finish high intensity low volume so they start and finish their careers quite similar and then in the middle we push them very, very hard."

According to Russell both junior and senior members of the playing list are at risk of physical fatigue during the grueling pre-season.

"Initially it's the younger players who struggle with the intensity because it's such a change in stress on their body. Their bodies have never been there before and psychologically they've never been there before. The older players know their bodies and understand what they're capable of so they're generally easier to manage, it's just if they continue to do 100 percent of the training volume they can come unstuck so you have to give them confidence that they're still going to be fit enough to play their games even if you drop their volumes slightly."

What the footy manager says:
The Hawks' welcome back two players who sat it out for the majority of the season 07, as Mark Williams and Tim Clarke return from injury. Football Operations Manager Mark Evans says their return is a welcome addition to the squad for pre-season.

"Mark (Williams) has been going really well, we'd expect that he will be able to complete a full pre-season. Tim (Clarke) is also ready to go after having most of the year on the sidelines with an Achilles complaint. He had an operation earlier in the season and intended to come back about two thirds of the way through the season but we decided that he wasn't going to get there so we backed him off and allowed him to prepare himself for the pre-season."

"The good thing now is that we probably have a bit greater depth so it should be harder to get a spot on the team next year which is the pressure we need."

Evans says this pre-season, the emphasis will very much be on development.

"We'll be continuing to develop our younger players and our tall players. They need to get stronger and more mature in their bodies but for some of the younger running players, it's just another year where they can add to their aerobic base and add to their speed endurance."

[RustyHawk]

2008 NAB AFL Draft 24th November 2007

Pick 12: Cyril Rioli

Pick 29: Brendon Whitecross

Pick 45: Stuart Dew

And that finalises our senior list for 2008 season.

Hawks do not have any Pre season draft picks.

CYRIL RIOLI (from Matt Burgan)

Northern Territory Thunder, NT, Small forward/midfielder, July 14 1989, 177cm, 78.9kg

Just where will Rioli be selected? He has been linked to Essendon (No.6), Adelaide (No.10) and strongly with Hawthorn (No.12), but there is also a school of thought he may slide a fraction, despite his prodigious talent. It is understood Rioli would be a monty for the Kangaroos (No.15) and at worst would not slip past Port Adelaide (No.16). If the Roos miss out on Rioli, others to watch out for are Patrick Veszpremi, Robbie Tarrant, Tayte Pears and Levi Greenwood. One recruiter described Rioli as an "absolute special".

Bio: Nephew of AFL greats Maurice Rioli and Michael Long, Rioli is a left-footer noted for his polished skills and excellent balance. He attended the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp at the AIS in Canberra and ranked third overall in the repeat 30m sprints and recorded an impressive 2.96 for the 20m sprint. From Scotch College.

BRENDAN WHITECROSS (Burgan thought BW would go 25 in the draft)

Zillmere, QLD, Medium midfielder, January 25 1990, 183.3cm, 79.3kg

The Lions are extremely keen on Whitecross and will gladly snap him up. He appears a certain top 30 selection and perhaps the only variables in the equation are Sydney (No.11) – he could be a smoky there – and the Western Bulldogs (No.19). Port Adelaide, Geelong and Hawthorn will also be monitoring his whereabouts in the draft. He is regarded by most recruiters as Queensland's best prospect this year. Patrick Veszpremi (if available), Levi Greenwood and Chris Mayne are others in the mix.

Bio: Wins plenty of the ball whether playing in the midfield, forward or defence. Was outstanding at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp where he was third overall in the beep test (14.10), fifth overall in the 20m sprint (2.91), and eighth overall for both agility (8.36) and the repeat 30m sprint (24.25 secs).

45 – HAWTHORN – STUART DEW

Port Adelaide, SA, Medium forward/midfielder, August 18 1979, 183cm, 90kg

Hawthorn's final pick looms as one of the most intriguing. Dew looks like getting the nod after throwing his hat back into the ring, having originally retired after the 2006 season. Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is desperate to add Dew to the club. Although interest has also been sparked from Adelaide and Carlton, Hawthorn seems his most likely destination. If the Hawks stick with youth, then the likes of Sam Reid, James Polkinghorne, Myke Cook and David Zaharakis could come into play.

Bio: A raking left-foot forward/midfielder, Dew was an inaugural member of Port Adelaide in 1997. A Rising Star nominee in 1998, he later played in the club's first AFL premiership in 2004. He played 180 matches and kicked 245 goals for Port Adelaide from 1997-06.

[RustyHawk]

All three draftees can play in 2008: Pelchen

2:00 PM Sat 24 November, 2007 | Back

By Ben Casanelia

for hawthornfc.com.au

News
HAWTHORN general manager of player personnel and strategy Chris Pelchen is confident all three of the Hawks’ draft picks can play senior football in 2008.

With only three picks the Hawks selected livewire small forward Cyril Rioli, Queensland midfielder Brendan Whitecross and surprised many by selecting former Port Adelaide premiership player Stuart Dew with pick 45.

Dew, who retired from football at the end of 2006, has been training with the Hawks in recent weeks and Pelchen admits he has the job ahead.

Having struggled with weight during his playing days, Dew ballooned out to more than 100kg this year and will spend the summer attempting to slim down to his former playing weight.

“He does have a lot of work to go but he does have five months before the season starts proper,” Pelchen said.

“He’s already shed significant amount of weight but the task is ahead there is no doubt about that.

“He’ll have been out of football for 18 months so he might have to start at VFL level.”

While Rioli and Whitecross attempt to add weight to prototypical 18-year-old bodies, Pelchen said all three shared one quality.

“If you look at both Cyril Rioli and Brendan Whitecross, you’d actually rate their kicking skills at the high level as well,” Pelchen said.

“We have a direct focus of getting good kicks to our club and Stuart no doubt would be one of the best kicks in the competition.”

“It’s certainly been part of our focus this year and it was part of the reason for taking Stuart, but the other two boys have plenty of skill.”

While a fit and firing Dew would be a walk up start for the Hawks next season, Pelchen is quietly confident Hawk fans will see Rioli and Whitecross at senior level.

“I think he (Rioli) will probably play league footy next year. There’s no doubt his fitness base needs a lot of work but because of his ability and understanding of the game he is capable of playing league footy without putting any extra pressure on him. He’ll be a small crumbing forward,” Pelchen said.

“Brendan will have the body physically to cope with senior footy next year because he played the whole year in Queensland playing senior footy. He’s a strong boy who was in the best three at the draft camp for endurance and top five for speed.”

[RustyHawk]

Tuesday 11 December 2007

Every pick in the 2007 NAB AFL Rookie Draft:

Pick # Name AFL Club Club
Round 1
1 C Collard Richmond Fremantle
2 A Joseph Carlton Tassie Mariners
3 T Zomer Melbourne Eastern Rangers
4 J Mulligan Western Bulldogs Southport
5 R Magin Essendon Zillmere
6 B Connelly Fremantle Gippsland Power
7 P Smith Brisbane Lions Calder Cannons
8 G Chivers St Kilda Oakleigh Chargers
9 J Moss Adelaide Central Districts
10 M O'Dwyer Sydney Sydney
11 H Sandilands Hawthorn Oakleigh Chargers
12 L Stevenson West Coast Eagles Claremont
13 L Casey-Leigh Collingwood Sandringham Dragons
14 N Grima Kangaroos Central Districts
15 N Salter Port Adelaide Woodville West Torrens
16 B Moles Geelong Tasmania
Round 2
17 J Silvester Richmond Coburg
18 L Hill Carlton Oakleigh Chargers
19 A Wonaeamirri Melbourne St Marys
20 H White Western Bulldogs North Adelaide
21 J Atkinson Essendon Bendigo
22 L Pratt Fremantle Swan Districts
23 P Garner Brisbane Lions Brisbane Lions
24 L Miles St Kilda Swan Districts
25 J Petrenko Adelaide Woodville West Torrens
26 B Murphy Sydney County Carlow - Ireland
27 T Walsh Hawthorn Port Adelaide Magpies
28 A Arrowsmith West Coast Eagles Calder Cannons
29 K Dyas Collingwood County Armagh - Ireland
30 C Garlett Kangaroos Perth
31 D Boyle Port Adelaide Murray Bushrangers
32 J Laidler Geelong Calder Cannons
Round 3
33 T Cartledge Richmond Essendon
34 D Ellard Carlton Swan Districts
35 J Spencer Melbourne Redwood/Toowoomba
36 J Shaw Western Bulldogs Sandrinham Dragons
37 C Mourish Fremantle Fremantle
38 P Hanley Brisbane Lions County Mayo - Ireland
39 A McQualter St Kilda St Kilda
40 E Curnow Adelaide Geelong Falcons
41 J Orreal Sydney Non Reg
42 A Grima Hawthorn Tassie Mariners
43 W Sullivan West Coast Eagles Western Jets
44 A Obst Kangaroos Adelaide
45 R Willits Port Adelaide Port Adelaide
46 C Kangars Geelong Geelong Falcons
Round 4
47 C Howat Richmond Richmond
48 M Shields Carlton County Cork - Ireland
49 S Valenti Melbourne Sandringham
50 R Dunn Fremantle Fremantle
51 K Haretuku St Kilda UNSW Eastern Suburbs (NSW Schol.)
52 B Martin Adelaide Sturt
53 M Beckmans Sydney* Turvey Park
54 C Stokes Hawthorn Darwin
55 C Wilson West Coast Eagles South Fremantle
56 M Wundke Kangaroos North Adelaide
57 S Mumford Geelong Geelong (VFL)
Round 5
58 A Bruce Sydney* Eastlake
59 B Wilkes West Coast Eagles West Coast Eagles
60 J Wilsen Kangaroos St George (NSW Schol.)
Round 6

61 D Terlich Sydney* Murray Bushrangers
62 R Davis West Coast Eagles North Shore (NSW Schol.)

Note: * Restricted Selection – AFL Rule 21.3.3



Every pick in the 2007 NAB AFL Pre-season Draft:


Pick # Name AFL Club Club
Round 1

1 D Gourdis Richmond Subiaco
2 D Pfeiffer Carlton Adelaide
3 S Martin Melbourne Sandringham
4 S Welsh Western Bulldogs Adelaide
5 J Williams Essendon Morningside
6 J Head Fremantle South Fremantle
7 P McGinnity West Coast Eagles Claremont
Round 2

8
T Bellchambers Essendon Tassie Mariners

[RustyHawk]

Hawks in tropical jungle
10 December 2007 Herald Sun
Tim Boyle

A THOUSAND nameless graves lie silent in the breeze above Port Moresby, almost as unrecognised in death as they were, standing tall, in the horror of war.



Five day trek: Hawthorn players head to Stanley Rangers in Papua New Guinea. Picture: Hawthorn Football Club




Resting now, together, some 3000 brave Australians, as they were in the face of death 65 years ago. It's a heartbreaking memorial to the soldiers who gave their lives for others, gave everything they knew for us.

Their gravestones, some with names and tributes, many with nothing more than "Soldier of the war 1939-1945. Known unto God" etched into their base, stretch hundreds of metres across the field.

Stopping at one grave, it reads; "Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend."

Gestures such as these and the four pillars at Isurava - mateship, courage, endurance and sacrifice - remained little more than words, until used to describe the sacrifices of these men, and now, just 10 days since arriving in Papua New Guinea, those words are carved not only into the stones of Kokoda, but into the heart and mind of all who have read them.

For the 15 Hawthorn players who made the journey, the physical accomplishment of completing the track leaves us with a heightened sense of what our countrymen endured.

In groups, we carried 20kg sandbags on our shoulders for hours on end, we stumbled and sprawled but finally delivered stretchers from one village to the next, giving ourselves a greater insight into the feats of our brave soldiers.

They toiled tirelessly, through malaria, dysentery, horrendous terrain and the relentless rain of both the tropics and Japanese mortar fire.

We stretched ourselves to exhaustion on day four, carrying a log of 400-odd kilograms through Naoro, over the nine false peaks of the Maguli Range and to the summit, four hours later. Reeling from our effort and hugging each other in the sheer relief of having dropped the tree, it was beyond comprehension to have reached the peak only to have turned and faced an army outnumbering ours six to one, shelling us with mortar fire we couldn't return. That's exactly what they did.

A sportsperson's sacrifice, mateship, endurance and courage may be heralded by thousands. They may be rewarded with shining trophies and ticker-tape parades, the kind of acknowledgment that might provide motivation, a justification perhaps, for their sacrifice. Yet our diggers' sacrifice, the greatest a person can give, has been all but lost to our generation - until recently.

As players, staff and friends of the Hawthorn Football Club who completed the track, it was our honour to walk in the shadows of those heroes, the real heroes, and to pass their legend on to others.

[RustyHawk]

Hawks go for blend of height and pace
11:32 AM Tue 11 December, 2007 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News
Rookie Draft Selection 11: Hugh Sandilands
Height: 190.1cmWeight: 85.9kg
Recruited From: OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
Position: Tall defender
Bio: Left footed defender who has an excellent leap, is strong overhead and has courage. Vic Metro representative this year. From Caulfield Grammar.

Rookie Draft Selection 27: Timothy Walsh
DOB: 3/10/1989
Height: 197.7cmWeight: 91.6kg
Recruited From: PORT ADELAIDE
Position: Ruckman/tall forward
Bio: Ruckman who has also been used as a tall forward to good effect in 2007. Good overhead in a contested and uncontested situation. Reads the play well.

Rookie Draft Selection 42: Alex Grima
DOB: 20/09/1989
Height: 184.6cm
Weight: 77.7kg
Recruited From: TASSIE MARINERS
Position: Medium defender
Bio: Versatile type who can play a run-with role and is good one-on-one. Strong overhead, reads the game well and is a penetrating kick. Played both Tasmanian U18 and VFL football this year. From Northern Bombers FC

Rookie Draft Selection 54: Cameron Stokes
DOB: 02/07/1989
Height: 173cm
Weight: 72kg
Recruited from: DARWIN
Position: Small forward/midfielder
Bio: Captain of the Northern Territory Thunder at 2007 NAB AFL U18 Championships. Small midfielder/forward who shows tremendous attack on the ball.

[RustyHawk]

HSBC announce sponsorship extension
7:48 AM Fri 14 December, 2007 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News
Hawthorn Football Club principal partner, HSBC, has announced an extension to their current sponsorship agreement with the Club, signing on for the 2009 season.

HSBC CEO, Stuart Davis, confirmed the news via a video link at the Hawks’ AGM, held at the Hawthorn Town Hall on Thursday evening.

The extension will take the partnership to six years, with Davis delighted to confirm the news to Hawthorn members.

“In September last year HSBC entered a new sponsorship agreement with Hawthorn, extending our partnership with the mighty Hawks for another two years,” Davis told members.

“At the time, we thought it was a smart move.

“Then this year, as we watched the team move from eleventh place to fifth – we knew it was a smart move.

“That’s six seasons we’ll have spent together. It’s been both a rewarding and an exciting partnership - and it continues to be.”

Hawthorn President, the Hon. Jeff Kennett AC, told members HSBC’s recommitment to the Hawks was indicative of the commitment shown to the Club by one of the world’s leading banks, which has supported Hawthorn through some tough years.

“HSBC has stood by the Club through some lean years and as a new promise returns to Waverley Park, we are grateful for their continued support,” said the Hawthorn president.

“Like our members, strong corporate partners are an important part of our Club. HSBC has shown their commitment to the Hawks and our Club’s fighting spirit clearly continues to make a strong impression on their business.”


Media contact
All media queries or requests for additional comment please call Clinton Bown 0409 222 559 or Sarah Kalaja 0413 432 216.

[RustyHawk]

five 2 fifty - a five year plan
8:12 AM Fri 14 December, 2007 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News
Hawthorn Football Club Board, management and staff have committed to an ambitious five year plan to continue to transform the Club both on and off the field.

The successful execution of this business plan will enable the Hawks to secure their 10th and successive premierships and to become the first Victorian based AFL club to secure a membership base of over 50,000 members.

[RustyHawk]

five 2 fifty 2008 - 2012
Hawthorn Football Club Board, management and staff have committed to an ambitious five year plan to continue to transform the Club both on and off the field. The successful execution of this business plan will enable the Hawks to secure their 10th and successive premierships and to become the first Victorian based AFL club to secure a membership base of over 50,000 members.

In its endeavour to provide the Hawthorn football department and senior coach the resources required to succeed at the very top level, the Club’s administration has committed itself to deliver a sustainable annual profit of no less than $2m, build a net cash asset base of no less than $20m and be the most professionally operated AFL club.

The plan titled five 2 fifty will see the Club capitalise on many bold decisions, including:
• Our move to Waverley
• Our long-term partnership with the Tasmanian Government
• A home ground advantage at Aurora Stadium
• Access to a Tasmanian community of 480,000 people
• An increase in the business activities of the Club

Over the next five years, the Club has committed to strategies that will win 2 premierships and achieve 50,000 members. Five 2 fifty.

In preparing the Club for the success that is five 2 fifty, it required a fundamental change in the way football had been approached at Hawthorn through the past decade. It took tough decisions. It required a total overhaul of the playing list, and a commitment by the Club to stay the course as Alastair Clarkson and his coaching team moulded a promising yet relatively untried group of young men into a team capable of winning premierships. It has taken the sacrifice of short term success, where experience and education were valued over premiership points.

While Clarkson has been preparing his troops on the field, the Hawthorn administrative team, under the direction of the Board, have been making sound economic management decisions off the field. This coupled with the important yet emotional move from Hawthorn’s traditional home at Glenferrie Oval to the state-of-the-art training facility at Waverley Park, has helped deliver a new dawn to the Hawks.

five 2 fifty recognises those things fundamental to success in modern football. It is a business plan which aims to secure success for future generations of Hawthorn supporters, while delivering the Club premiership success for ‘today’s’ members.


The plan… five 2 fifty

To achieve these goals, the Hawthorn Football Club recognises that the first step is to become the most professional Club in the league. The Board places significant emphasis on a whole of club approach which starts with our people – on and off the field, our service to members, and our processes and technology.

The Board is committed to building our financial security through recording annual profits and increasing our assets.

Specifically the Hawthorn Football Club will focus on the following key strategies:


Administration – be the most professionally run AFL club

• The Club will employ staff who are among the best available, people who are committed to delivering our business plan.
• The Club will offer training to all staff to add to their professionalism.
• The Club will provide a range of incentives, to encourage and reward performance.
• The Club will develop a clear career path for all staff.
• The Club will at all times be concerned with the welfare of all staff.


Financial Strength – deliver sustainable annual profits of no less than $2m, build net cash asset base of no less than $20m

• The Club will continue to develop and foster a close working relationship with the AFL Commission and Executive.
• Increased on-field success will drive match day revenue streams.
• The Club will generate increased revenue through increased merchandise sales through new offerings, trigger events at retail outlets, web communications and improved access to an e-commerce relationship to the Club for members.
• Drive Sponsorship revenue through capitalisation of on-field success.
• The Club will grow traditional football revenue at a minimum of 10% per annum.
• Grow existing asset base and drive new business acquisition agenda.
• Establish the Hawthorn Foundation.

Delivering financial stability and growth off the field will allow the Club to gain its advantage on the field through increased resourcing of the football department in its quest to deliver success.

The football department will focus on the following key strategies as it endeavours to return premiership glory to the Hawthorn Football Club.


Football Department – win 2 Premierships

• The Club will invest in our on-field leaders and their successors.
• The Club will invest in innovative cutting edge practices.
• The Club will continue to execute and recruit the Premiership Model strategy.
• The Club will recruit and retain the best coaching and support staff.
• The Club is committed to the ongoing investment in facilities and equipment at its state-of-the-art training facility at Waverley Park.
• The Club will at all times be concerned with the welfare of players, coaches and support staff while at the Club, but with special emphasis on ensuring when an individual leaves the Club they are well prepared for life beyond the Hawthorn Football Club.


With continued on-field success and development in new markets, including Tasmania and the eastern wedge, the Club aims to be the first Victorian AFL club to boast a membership base of 50,000 members.

The Club will focus on the following key strategies in delivering this ambitious target:


Membership – establish a base of no less than 50,000 members

• Execute targeted recruitment programs based on professional and extensive research.
• Improve Membership package value proposition to each member.
• Reduce annual churn rate of memberships to less than 10%.
• Improve connectivity to each member through person-to-person, post and enhanced email communication.
• Grow member and supporter database, improve both quality and quantity of data.
• Develop hawthornfc.com.au as the first port of call for all Hawks information and position it as a daily ‘must see” destination.

[RustyHawk]

AGM: guernsey numbers announced
7:38 AM Fri 14 December, 2007 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News
Hawthorn’s new recruits have been allocated their guernsey numbers for season 2008.

The Club officially announced its playing list to members at Thursday night’s Annual General Meeting at the Hawthorn Town Hall.

Cyril Rioli, the Club’s first pick in the National Draft, will wear number 33 while other recruits Brendan Whitecross and Stuart Dew will wear the numbers 37 and 31 respectively.

New numbers have also been allocated to some of the Club’s second and third year players. Clinton Young moves from number 45 to number 11, emerging centre-half-forward Mitch Thorp takes over the famous number 19 jumper vacated by the retired Ben Dixon and Ben McGlynn has been handed Richie Vandenberg’s jumper 21. After making his debut in number 38 Travis Tuck moves into number 22 andsSecond year player Garry Moss will now wear number 28, with former rookie Luke McEntee wearing number 38.

Hawthorn president, Jeff Kennett, also officially announced the Club’s record breaking operating profit of $3.603m to members.

The Club also presented life membership to Richie Vandenberg, Trent Croad, Joel Smith and Con Kanis, who is a significant behind-the-scenes contributor to the Club.

Board members, Jason Dunstall and Geoff Harris, were re-elected to the Board unopposed.


2008 Player Jumper Numbers

1 Max Bailey
2 Jarryd Roughead
3 Jordan Lewis
4 Rick Ladson
5 Sam Mitchell
6 Mark Williams
7 Michael Osborne
8 Danny Jacobs
9 Shane Crawford
10 Chance Bateman
11 Clinton Young
12 Brad Sewell
13 Simon Taylor
14 Grant Birchall
15 Luke Hodge
16 Beau Dowler
17 Beau Muston
18 Brent Guerra
19 Mitch Thorp
20 Tim Boyle
21 Ben McGlynn
22 Travis Tuck
23 Lance Franklin
24 Trent Croad
25 Tim Clarke
26 Zac Dawson
27 Stephen Gilham
28 Garry Moss
29 Tom Murphy
30 Campbell Brown
31 Stuart Dew
32 Xavier Ellis
33 Cyril Rioli
34 Brent Renouf
35 Jarryd Morton
36 Josh Kennedy
37 Brendan Whitecross
38 Luke McEntee
39 Robert Campbell
40 Hugh Sandilands*
41 Tim Walsh*
42 Matthew Suckling*
43 Alex Grima*
45 Cameron Stokes*

* Rookie list

[RustyHawk]

DWS to partner Hawks coaches
7:39 AM Fri 14 December, 2007 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News
Leading ASX listed Australian IT services company, DWS Advanced Business Solutions Ltd, has signed a three year deal with the Hawks as the Club’s coaches sponsor.

Founded in 1991, DWS provides a broad range of premium IT services including; application development, project management, business analysis, systems integration, IT strategy and architecture, and systems security.

The partnership was welcomed by Hawthorn Football Club President, the Hon. Jeff Kennett AC, who believes that DWS is a good fit for the Hawks’ senior coach and his team.

“DWS, an industry leader in its own right, is a proud, reliable and professional organisation which invests heavily in its own people, much like the investment Alastair and the Club has made in our young team,” said the Hawthorn President.

“It is an exciting new partnership for the Club, which has already yielded fruit, with DWS consultants providing valuable input into the Club’s future IT strategy.”

Manager Director of DWS Advanced Business Solutions, Danny Wallis, was delighted to pen the deal, which will see the company’s logo in the coach’s box and on the coaching teams match day apparel.

“It’s great to be part of footy and great to be supporting Alastair and his team as they continue to lead the Hawks into an exciting new era for the Club,” said Danny.

“He has some of the most talented young players in the AFL, much like our company in IT and we are proud to be associated with a football club that displays similar ideals to our own – a belief in its people.”


To find out more about DWS Advanced Business Solutions visit their website at http://www.dws.com.au/

Media contact
All media queries or requests for additional comment please call Clinton Bown 0409 222 559 or Sarah Kalaja 0413 432 216.

[RustyHawk]

Who is the youngest of them all?
Carley Jellett | December 23, 2007 The Age


YOUNG is the new black in the AFL, and in the past months, several clubs were heard spruiking that they boasted the youngest list. On draft day alone, three clubs staked their claim as the most youthful, but the official AFL statistics obtained by The Sunday Age this week can end the argument — with an average age of 22 years and 146 days, Carlton will be the youngest club in 2008.

But is the label of youngest a good thing?

In Carlton's case, young also means inexperienced. The Blues have no player over 30 — Jason Saddington, who just turned 28, is the eldest — and no player who has reached 200 games, making them the least experienced side in the competition.

The AFL's stats — finalised this month following all delistings and the national, pre-season and rookie drafts — show that the difference between sides are often a matter of days, and can be surprising.

For instance, the second youngest side is West Coast, whose players, on average, are just 21 days older than Carlton, yet whose premiership window is perceived as being very much open.

Hawthorn's player personnel and strategy manager Chris Pelchen said age was not the most important factor in building a premiership team.

The Hawks, who were the youngest team in 2006 and 2007, are the third youngest team in 2008, but Pelchen says list development and management is the key to success.

"There is an ideal profile based on what premiership sides have been over the last 10 to 15 years," Pelchen said yesterday.

"And the premiership model that we've built as a club is reflective not just in age but in terms of experience, in terms of structure, height, weight and playing positions.

"There is no doubt that games experience, even more so than age, is relevant to success. And ideally, you do need that spread of games experience."

Pelchen warned that the AFL's statistics were calculated based on a club's entire list, including rookies, as opposed to the playing list. He said that meant the average age of teams was reduced "by about one year".

The average age for the Hawks' "ideal profile" is around 24.5 years, according to Pelchen, who said the Hawks were "probably about one year, just in excess of one year, off what we believe would be an ideal profile of a premiership side".

But that is not to say that the Hawks will be grand finalists in 2009. "I think it would be too simplistic to say, 'Just add one year to the Hawthorn average age and I think they're ready for a premiership'. I think that is just a little bit idealistic," Pelchen said.

Following Pelchen's ideal profile, the club that is closest in terms of average age is Adelaide at 23 years and 124 days.

The Kangaroos, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Melbourne are all about to hit the ideal age, but at 24 years and 149 days, the oldest club, Fremantle, is about one year past it.

But Freo supporters need not fret. Pelchen said there were always exceptions to the rule.

[RustyHawk]

Hawks in Tassie including Intra Club practice match.

The Hawks are in Tassie in '08
10:11 AM Fri 21 December, 2007 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News
Join in the fun this February as the Hawks bring Community Camps to Tassie and kick-start 2008.

Players will make visits to local communities around the apple isle - holding youth forums, coaching clinics and fundraising activities for local initiatives.

Community Camps will be held from Tuesday 5 February - Friday 8 February 2008. Come meet the Hawks at:


Hobart
King Island
Burnie
Devonport
Queenstown
St Helens


Clinics will be held during the day and the players will attend fundraising dinners in the evening

Wednesday 6 February 2008
Launceston

Youth and coaching forums will be held in the evening

Thursday 7 February 2008
Training session (Aurora Stadium)
Superclinic (Aurora Stadium)

Memberships and merchandise available at the ground

Friday 8 February 2008
Intra-Club practice match (Aurora Stadium)

[RustyHawk]

Hawks regional training this Friday
7:48 AM Tue 8 January, 2008 | Back


for hawthornfc.com.au

News

Bring the family to watch the Hawks train in preparation for the 2008 season.

All are welcome - you don’t have to be a Hawks member to attend.

Players will conduct a free clinic and sign autographs and you can meet the
Club mascot Hawka. There will also be a free barbecue, face painting, and
‘Go For Your Life’ activities. Food can be purchased on the day from the oval
canteen and at the barbecue.

Make sure you bring a hat and sunscreen!

* An extreme weather policy applies.






Hawthorn in Dandenong

Shepley Oval (Pultney St, Dandenong, Melways Ref 90 F10)

8.30am – 10.30am Hawthorn FC training
10.30am – 11.10am Children’s clinic with Hawthorn players 11.10am --
11.30am Autograph signing session


Hawthorn in Pakenham (note the article does not actually identify the date but it is 25.01.08)

Pakenham Junior Football Club Toomuc Recreation Reserve

8.30am – 10.30am Hawthorn FC training
10.30am – 11.10am Children’s clinic with Hawthorn players 11.10am -- 11.30am Autograph signing session

Toomuc Recreation Reserve (Princess Hwy, Melways Ref 215 K5).


For more information call Hawthorn FC on 03 9535 3000 or email

[RustyHawk]

Hawks seek atonement
4:00 PM Fri 25 January, 2008 | Back

By Jennifer Witham

for hawthornfc.com.au

News
Pre-season Press Conference: Mitchell
Fri, Jan 25, 08 HAWTHORN will enter the 2008 season with a determination to atone for an ultimately disappointing finals campaign that ended at the semi-final mark last September.
New skipper Sam Mitchell said the Hawks were still haunted by the 33-point loss to the Kangaroos that crushed their flag hopes, and were united in their resolve to make the capitulation a distant memory this coming year.

"It's something we touch on," Mitchell said on Friday.

"I guess sometimes you forget what the real footy is like, because you just do so much training. We watched a bit of footage the other day and it's almost like you forget what footy jumpers look like because you haven't worn them for so long.

"Whenever we think of last year, and when people talk to us and say we're going to have a good year, all I think about and all we try and think about is the Kangaroos game in the finals when we were very, very ordinary.

"We got knocked out when we thought we were going along okay, and we probably got a little bit ahead of ourselves, and we never want to make that mistake again."

The process of avoiding such a mistake has begun for the club already, with Mitchell dismissing any suggestion the Hawks will view 2008 a missed opportunity if they don’t finish in the top four.

"Since Clarko has been at the club, and it's also part of our leadership group views, we don't want to set a roof to where we can go," he said.

"We don't want to say top four, we don't want to say top eight, or say win here or win there. You don't know what's going to happen throughout the season.

"There's probably 16 AFL clubs that want to finish up the top of the AFL ladder, and we don't know how we're going to go compared to them until we come up and play them.

"All we can do is prepare the best we can. At the moment, we think we're well placed to give it a good crack if things fall our way.

"You've got to have a bit of luck in the game, and hopefully that's on our side this year."

The Hawks will commence their assault on the NAB Cup when they meet the Swans on Sunday 17 February at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

[RustyHawk]

NAB Cup Round 1 - Hawthorn vs Sydney played in Tassie.

No Jarryd Roughead, Trent Croad, Campbell Brown, Stuart Dew, Max Bailey, Rick Ladson, Brent Guerra, Danny Jacobs, Beau Dowler, Mitch Thorp, Benny McGlynn.


Hawks escape with two-point win
6:30 PM Sun 17 February, 2008 | Back


Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network

News
Clarkson impressed by younger brigade
Sun, Feb 17, 08 HAWTHORN escaped with an expected NAB Cup opening win after being made to work hard by an inexperienced Swans outfit at Aurora Stadium.

Just 12 goals were kicked despite cool and sunny conditions in Launceston, and Hawthorn’s three supergoals proved the difference between the two sides.

The Hawks managed just four behinds in the final term, but hung on to win by two points, 3.2.13 (52) to 0.7.8 (50).

The Swans rested half their senior list, including skippers Craig Bolton, Brett Kirk and Leo Barry, but their young squad played characteristically tight football. They hit back after falling behind in each of the first three quarters, and were within a point in the dying stages of the final term.

But Paul Roos’ side may have received a damaging blow, with improving half-back Nick Malceski suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Malceski went to ground after appearing to twist his knee in the third quarter, and went straight to the rooms.

The news was much better for the Hawks, who were heavily favoured for this game and started with players of the calibre of Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge in the side.

Mark Williams led well on his return after missing most of last year with a knee injury, and might have been rewarded if not for a few errant passes.

Youngsters shone in a forward line missing Trent Croad and Jarryd Roughead.

Jarryd Morton kept the side’s nose in front with the opening nine-pointer and a goal in the third term. Cyril Rioli, 18, showed glimpses of quality, but let himself down with poor handling under pressure.

Grant Birchall and teenager Xavier Ellis caught the eye around the ground, with Thomas Murphy also doing a good job on Ryan O’Keefe.

Young midfielders Beau Muston and Travis Tuck also saw plenty of the ball.

Fourteen minutes had elapsed before Morton kicked through from outside 50 to put Hawthorn on the board in the first term.

Forced to the flanks, the Hawks struggled to hit their forward targets, managing just three further behinds before quarter time.

Garry Moss extended the lead with another supergoal in the second quarter after winning a free kick down the ground. A Shane Crawford goal put Hawthorn 10 points clear, but the Swans struck with the last two goals of the term to take a two-point lead into the long break.

The third term followed a similar pattern, with the Hawks leaping to the front thanks to Birchall’s supergoal, but the Swans answering, in part thanks to a terrible air-swing by Zac Dawson that let in rookie Matthew Beckmans.

Just five points ahead at the final change, the Hawks were pushed to within a point, but held on at the death despite not kicking a goal in the last quarter.

The Hawks will play Carlton in their NAB Cup quarter-final next Saturday at Telstra Dome.

Hawthorn 1.0.3 2.1.4 3.2.9 3.2.13 (52)
Sydney Swans 0.1.2 0.4.6 0.6.7 0.7.8 (50)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Nine-point goals:.Birchall, Morton, Moss. Goals: Crawford, Morton
Sydney Swans: Nine-point goals: Nil. Goals: Beckmans, Bolton, Bird, Davis, Mathews, Moore, O’Dwyer

BEST
Hawthorn: Birchall, Murphy, Muston, Ellis, Hodge, Murphy, Taylor
Sydney Swans: Mattner, Buchanan, Roberts-Thomson, McVeigh, Bird, Jack

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil.
Sydney Swans: Malceski (knee)

Reports: Jack (Sydney Swans) reported by field umpire Meredith for rough conduct against Hodge (Hawthorn) in the second quarter.

Umpires: S Meredith S McBurney S Stewart


Crowd: 14,778 at Aurora Stadium, Launceston

[RustyHawk]

NAB Cup Quarter Final - Hawthorn v Carlton.

Saturday 23.02.08 - Telstra Dome.

Hot Hawks smash Blues with early onslaught
RSSFont downFont largerPrintAuthor: Jennifer Witham
10:30 PM Sat 23 February, 2008

The Hawks enjoyed an easy win over Carlton at Telstra Dome on Saturday

Hawthorn has progressed through to the NAB CUP semi-finals after dispatching of a slow-starting Carlton side by 34 points at Telstra Dome on Saturday night.

A dominating first half set up the 4.9.13 (103) to 4.3.15 (69) win, with the Blues mounting an assault in the third term before conditions became slippery in the fourth when rain was let in by the open Telstra Dome roof.

It was a reversal of fortunes from last year's pre-season competition, with the Blues triumphant in that head-to-head encounter at the quarter-final stage.

The Hawks will now play the winner of Sunday's Adelaide-Fremantle clash next Saturday night, with the match to be held at either AAMI Stadium or Subiaco.

While Carlton halved Hawthorn's biggest lead of 69 points in a more-evenly contested second half, the Hawks were never really in doubt owing to their clean possession and dominance at the centre-clearances.

Tim Clarke (23 touches) and Mark Williams (seven possessions, one behind) survived their second matches following long lay-offs, but Lance 'Buddy' Franklin played only the first half and watched the second in his tracksuit from the bench.

Tough defender Campbell Brown – in his first hit-out for the year – spent time on Heath Scotland and as a loose man in defence while racking up 14 disposals.

Hawthorn got away to an absolute blinder and had amassed a 54-point lead by quarter-time. While the Blues over-possessed and were slow with the ball, the Hawks were precise with their delivery into the forward line and relentless with tackles.

Cyril Rioli shone early on, after being picked up by Shaun Grigg, and booted an impressive goal after slamming veteran Heath Scotland into the turf and winning a free kick.

Jordan Lewis led the possession count at quarter-time following an engaging battle with Nick Stevens, while Clarke – in just his second game since round two last year – was also picking up plenty of touches.

To make matters worse for the Blues, the Hawks opened the second quarter with quick goals to Tim Boyle and Clarke – the former later deemed a supergoal and the latter assembled from Rioli's fancy footwork.

The margin got out as far as 69 points before the Blues started to get their act together, and despite the constant pressure applied by the Hawks, the away side managed to claw back two supergoals from Simon Wiggins and Grigg.

The Hawks took a 49-point lead into halftime, which was soon rectified to 52 after a video review of Boyle's supergoal. Interestingly, the Blues were yet to register a regular goal, having scored only two nine-pointers and seven behinds.

Lewis was a hero-turned-villain in the opening stages of the third, with the 21-year-old booting a supergoal following a free kick from Stevens, but then handing new Blue Richard Hadley a six-pointer after giving away a 50m penalty.

Franklin took to the bench in the second half, which enabled his direct opponent Jarrad Waite to drift forward. It was a move that paid dividends, with the Blues quickly stealing back another goal through the versatile player.

The Blues' intensity was much improved after the long break. Brendan Fevola got away from Zac Dawson to nail his first, and then Cameron Cloke was awarded a 50m penalty from Simon Taylor that brought him within striking distance – and strike he did with a supergoal.

With the margin suddenly an achievable 35 points, the Hawks weren't quite sure what hit them having led by almost double that previously.

The side was further unsettled in the early stages of the last when Brown charged into No.1 draft pick Matthew Kreuzer and awarded yet another 50m penalty. The young ruckman missed the shot, but not before a brief push-and-shove broke out.

The crowd of 20,940 lifted, given the minor fracas and almost-achievable difference, before an unexpected spate of showers soaked the usually-dry venue.

The final term was low-scoring and somewhat spiteful, with Hawk Josh Kennedy finding himself in the umpire's book for a collision with Marc Murphy.

Hawthorn 2.6.3 3.7.8 4.7.10 4.9.13 (103)
Carlton 0.0.3 2.0.7 3.3.9 4.3.15 (69)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Supergoals: Birchall, Franklin, Boyle, Lewis. Goals: Hodge 2, Lewis, Campbell, Rioli, Clarke, Boyle, Murphy, Brown.
Carlton: Supergoals: Wiggins, Grigg, Cloke, Stevens. Goals: Hadley, Fevola, Waite

BEST:
Hawthorn: Clarke, Hodge, Lewis, Young, Mitchell, Rioli, Osborne
Carlton: Stevens, Murphy, Scotland, Carrazzo, Gibbs, Simpson, Waite

INJURIES:
Hawthorn: Clarke (corked elbow)
Carlton: Hampson (bruised testicle), Jackson (corked thigh)

Reports: Kennedy (Hawthorn) reported by umpire Wenn for charging Murphy (Carlton) in the fourth term
Brown (Hawthorn) reported by umpire McBurney for charging Kreuzer (Carlton) in the fourth quarter
Kennedy (Hawthorn) reported by umpire Wenn for making forceful contact to Murphy (Carlton) in the fourth quarter
Franklin (Hawthorn) reported by umpire Wenn for wrestling Simpson (Carlton) in the second quarter
Simpson (Carlton) reported by umpire Wenn for wrestling Franklin (Hawthorn) in the second quarter

Umpires: Wenn, McBurney, Statham, Bowen

Official crowd: 20,940 at Telstra Dome

Source: for hawthornfc.com.au

Senior players who did not play: Max Bailey, Jarryd Roughead, Rick Ladson, Danny Jacobs, Shane Crawford, Brad Sewell, Beau Dowler, Brent Guerra, Mitch Thorp, Ben McGlynn, Trent Croad, Stuart Dew, Brendon Whitecross, Luke McEntee, rookies Sandilands, Walsh, Suckling and Grima.

[RustyHawk]

News
Hawks fall to Adelaide in semi-final
Author: By Geoff Dodd
9:48 PM Sat 01 March, 2008


Sun, Mar 02, 08
A BRAVE Hawthorn has fallen just short of a NAB Cup Grand Final spot, suffering a 23-point loss on Saturday night to a full-strength Adelaide Crows outfit at AAMI Stadium in Adelaide.

The Crows won 2.13.11 (107) to 1.11.9 (84), but not before Lance Franklin put a scare through the home side with three last quarter goals which drew the Hawks to within a point late in the final term.

A sensational snap by Adelaide giant Kurt Tippett, followed by two late Jason Porplyzia goals, sealed the game for the Crows.

Adelaide will now host St Kilda in next Saturday night’s NAB Cup Grand Final.

Brett Burton bagged three goals for the Crows, while Franklin led the Hawks with four.

Hawks vice-captain Luke Hodge starred for the visitors with 27 possessions and an amazing 11 inside-50s. He was ably assisted by captain Sam Mitchell (30) and Brad Sewell (24), while long-kicking Brent Guerra amassed 27 touches off half-back.

Scott Thompson was best afield for the Crows with 29 touches, while Nathan Bock starred at centre half-back, where is rapidly becoming one of the best players in the league.

The Crows jumped the Hawks in the first quarter, running out to a 26-point lead after just 11 minutes.

The Hawks had plenty of possession, but most of it was under pressure, while Thompson, with 10 possessions, ran riot for the Crows.

Almost the lone highlight for the Hawks was a class goal to Cyril Rioli, who continues to impress in his first season in the brown and gold.

Leg injuries to Tim Boyle (who returned to the field) and Beau Muston further soured the start.

The second term opened in better style for the visitors, with a supergoal to Guerra and another quality snap from Rioli narrowing the margin to just 10 points.

The Crows steadied, with the lead increasing to 24 points, but just when it looked like Adelaide was in control the Hawks stunned the home crowd by adding the last four goals of the quarter in a 10-minute burst to level the scores at half time.

The resurgence was built on some better ball movement from the Hawks, with Hodge, Sewell and Mitchell finding plenty of it – they amassed 50 possessions between them in the half – and plenty of their teammates up forward (with 10 inside-50s).

Rookie Cam Stokes looked particularly lively, with 10 first half possessions and a nice goal to reward his work, while Stewart Dew showed enough to show he might just be a valuable pick-up for the Hawks.

The third quarter saw the Crows slowly re-establish control, holding the Hawks scoreless while adding three goals themselves.

Burton provided the highlights of the quarter, a smart roved goal followed soon after by a spectacular mark over Zac Dawson and a second goal.

The last quarter then turned into a roller-coaster ride, with Franklin threatening to reprise his miracle performance against Adelaide in last year’s Elimination Final, before the Crows found their own heroes.

The Hawks went into the game missing Mark Williams, Chance Bateman, Shane Crawford, Ben McGlynn and Campbell Brown from their best 22. Also missing: Max Bailey, Danny Jacobs, Beau Dowler, Mitch Thorp, Gary Moss, Brent Renouf, Josh Kennedy.

Hawthorn now plays Collingwood in Shepparton next week.

Adelaide 1.4.3 1.7.5 1.10.8 2.13.11 (107)
Hawthorn 0.2.3 1.7.5 1.7.8 1.11.9 (84)

Supergoals: Adelaide: B Symes C Knights.Hawthorn: B Guerra

Goals: Adelaide: B Burton 3 S Thompson 2 J Porplyzia 2 B Symes T Edwards A McLeod J Sellar K McGregor K Tippett. Hawthorn: L Franklin 4 C Rioli 2 T Boyle C Stokes L Hodge M Osborne J Roughead.

Best: Adelaide: S Thompson B Burton N Van Berlo J Porplyzia T Edwards N Bock. Hawthorn: B Sewell L Hodge L Franklin S Mitchell C Rioli


Umpires: D Margetts, C Donlon, S Ryan

Source: for hawthornfc.com.au

[RustyHawk]

Muston injury confirmed
6:32 PM Mon 03 March, 2008


Scans today confirmed a tear to Beau Muston's anterior cruciate graft in his left knee.

Muston left the field during the first quarter of Saturday’s pre-season semi-final against the Adelaide Crows at AAMI Stadium.

The promising midfielder had previously undergone reconstructive surgery in 2005 in his final year of the TAC Cup before being picked up by Hawthorn with their second round pick, number 22 overall, in the 2005 National Draft.

Although Muston was training following the initial knee reconstruction further medical examination showed signs that the graft and screws had loosened slightly and it was decided that the graft should be replaced through additional surgery.

The young Hawk now faces another period of rehabilitation and the Club will continue to support Muston in his quest to make a full recovery.
Source: for hawthornfc.com.au

[RustyHawk]

Membership total as at: 27.02.08 27,675

[RustyHawk]

Report on the final practice match before the start of the 2008 season.

Pies outmuscle Hawks
PM Fri 07 March, 2008

COLLINGWOOD has finalised their preparations for the AFL season with an encouraging 18-point victory over Hawthorn in the NAB Challenge at Shepparton's Deakin Reserve on Friday night.

After a dismal first three matches in the pre-season, the Magpies fielded their strongest possible side for a much improved performance, winning 16.12 (108) to 13.12 (90).

Only newly-appointed captain Scott Burns, ruckman John Fraser and Ben Johnson were missing from the line-up.

Rising star Scott Pendlebury was impressive across the ground for the Magpies in his role as stand in skipper, showing his class with two goals.

The Hawks wouldn't be too unhappy with their performance, the only concern being a rolled ankle for defender Campbell Brown.

The All-Australian was crunched in a marking contest only minutes into the match and went straight off the field.

Team officials were confident he would be right for round two, once his suspension is over.

It was a scrappy affair early, with both sides struggling to string passages of play together.

Hodge and Bateman stood out for the Hawks early, with Hodge working hard at the clearances while Bateman and Tim Clarke provided a lot of drive through hard running.

For the Magpies, Dane Swan and brothers Rhyce and Heath Shaw were in good touch, while Travis Cloke ran hot and cold in front of the big sticks.

Dale Thomas showed glimpses of his freakish best, while Ben Reid also performed well in the forward 50.

After a sloppy first two quarters, the match really opened up in the second half, with Collingwood, in particular, being far more direct.

The Magpies were slow to move the ball in the first half, allowing the Hawks to get numbers back and opening up the play for the imposing Hawthorn forward line.

Anthony Rocca struggled early, but came back well with three second-half majors, while Alan Didak was dangerous up forward, snaring three opportunist goals.

Collingwood clicked up a gear in the last quarter, minimising mistakes whilst capitalising on their opponent's.

The Magpies will be at close to full-strength for their round one clash against Fremantle, while the Hawks will go in as favourites in their game against Melbourne.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse was relieved to finally taste victory in the pre-season.

"While some people may say it's a practice match and who cares, after three losses we took a lot of confidence out of today's win," he said.

"Chris (Egan) was very good, since he's got his knee done his work rate lifted and he's committed to getting himself right.

"He played very well tonight.

"We expect (Scott) Burns and Josh Fraser along with Simon Prestigiacomo to be pushing for suggestion for round one."

Despite the loss, Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson was happy enough with their final run of the pre-season.

"Both sides had a really good hit-out," he said.

"We were pretty pleased we got through the game reasonably unscathed, Campbell Brown just rolled his ankle in the first minute of the game and we left him off as a precaution.

"Apart from that we've come through unscathed and that's the most important part.

"We've got a lot of work to do as a footy club, by no means are we playing our best footy, but we'll pick that up over the course of the start of the season."


COLLINGWOOD 2.3 6.6 10.10 16.12 (108)
HAWTHORN 3.3 6.7 9.9 13.12 (90)

GOALS
Collingwood: A Didak 3 A Rocca 3 T Cloke 2 B Reid 2 S Pendlebury
2 L Davis B Holland D Thomas C Egan

Hawthorn: L Franklin 3 C Rioli 2 J Roughead R Ladson L Hodge B Dowler M Thorp B McGlynn T Clarke S Dew

BEST
Collingwood: D Swan S Pendlebury, R Shaw, T Cloke, D Thomas, H Shaw

Hawthorn: C Bateman, G Birchall, L Hodge, T Clarke, B Guerra, R Ladson

Umpires: S Meredith R Chamberlain C Donlon M James.

Crowd: 9,500 (approx) at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton.

Injuries: Collingwood: Nil. Hawthorn: C Brown (ankle).

Reports: Nil.
Source: AAP

[RustyHawk]

Official announcement from HFC website

Danny Jacobs announces retirement
Author:
3:45 PM Wed 12 March, 2008

HAWTHORN defender Danny Jacobs today announced his retirement after 126 games at the top level.


Jacobs has ended his 10 year AFL career due to a hip injury. He was progressing following surgery at the end of the 2007 season; however the recent setback has limited his preparation for the 2008 season and eventually leading to his decision to retire.


It’s been a tough two years for Jacobs who has had to endure eight operations in the past 36 months.


After telling the playing group of his decision this afternoon, Jacobs said he was disappointed not to have been able to play more matches for Hawthorn.


“The Club has been awesome and has supported me through everything and I couldn’t have asked for anything better, its just a little disappointing that I didn’t get to play more footy.


“It wasn’t through a lack of trying, I put myself out there it just didn’t go my way,” Jacobs said.


Jacobs, 27, arrived at the Hawks at the end of 2003 after being traded from Essendon, where he spent five years and played 81 games. Jacobs spent most of his time playing as a defender, where his courage, strong marking and ability to read the play were features of his game, but said he would like to be remembered as someone who gave it their all.


“I’d like to be known as a player who tried his best,” Jacobs said.


“I’ve had injuries since my third year of AFL and there are some people who give up and just say I can’t do it. The one thing that I’ve prided myself on is that I’ve tried everything, I’ve pushed my body to the limits, but in the end the hip got the better of me,” Jacobs said.


Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson congratulated Jacobs on his career.


“Danny has been such a big part of the footy club for the best part of the last five years,” Clarkson said.


“Unfortunately his body has let him down and it’s been tough for him to get out there and make a regular contribution to our side, but when he was fit and ready to go he was a very important part of our team.


“He has prepared himself tremendously well for life after footy and we wish him well as he tackles the next chapter of his life.”


Jacobs paid tribute to the Hawthorn Football Club and the loyal support he has received from the Hawthorn family.


The support I have received during my time at Hawthorn has been fantastic, whether its been at family day, training or when I’ve been on crutches that type of support really gets you up.


“I can’t thank the supporters and Club enough, they have been excellent.”


In retirement Jacobs has passed on his number 8 jumper for the 2008 season to third year player Xavier Ellis.


Jacobs said, “Xavier and I have been pretty close since he has come to the Club and I think he will get more games in the jumper than I did.


“I hope he has a great career and it gives me an extra interest to watch someone with the jumper I used to wear.”


To watch Danny Jacobs talk about his retirement decision log on to HawksTV - http://bigpondvideo.com/afl/44423


Danny Jacobs
Recruited from: Prahran U18/Essendon
Drafted: No.36 in 1998 AFL National Draft
AFL debut: Round 14, 1999
HFC debut: Round 1, 2004
Games: 126 (Essendon 81)
Goals: 29 (Essendon 23)

Source: for hawthornfc.com.au
__________________

[RustyHawk]

Membership: Hawthorn has 30,029 members as at around 19.03.08 which is up from 19,000 at this time last year!

[RustyHawk]

Sam Mitchell plays it again in new Hawthorn deal
Bruce Matthews | March 19, 2008 12:00am

WITH its captain aboard for the next three seasons, a bunch of key players with uninterrupted pre-seasons and the club approaching a record membership tally, it's little wonder Hawthorn is a happy team. The summer of content had another boost yesterday when new skipper Sam Mitchell signed until the end of 2010.

Mitchell renegotiated the last year of his contract and agreed to a further two seasons.

"It's a good time to get it out of the way with the season fast approaching and to have a bit of security for the next few years," the relentless onballer said.

"That will take me to 27, 28 and, hopefully, there will be a few more after that. I'll keep playing until they tell me they don't want me any more."

Mitchell's quest to pilot the Hawks to a 10th premiership has an encouraging start after more senior players completed the four-month pre-season preparations.

"As a complete playing group, we're in a much better position than we were last year," the skipper said.

"We haven't come under much salary cap pressure yet. We have a group of players all around the same age and when that happens, you have a very committed group.

"I'm pretty confident the group we have is going to be the bulk of the group that's going to take us to our next premiership. So you'd be crazy to be leaving now.

"We've got high expectations on the way we think we can play and, if we play our best footy, we're capable of beating any side on a given day."

Mitchell's re-signing followed key forward Lance Franklin's decision to stay for the next three seasons.

While Mitchell said form was hard to gauge from pre-season matches, the enforced absence of Luke Hodge, Shane Crawford, Campbell Brown and Jordan Lewis in the early rounds presented opportunities for others.

"We've got a few players who have played 40-60 games who are going to have to take the next step this year," he said.

Hawthorn expects its 30,000th member to sign today as it chases a record 35,000. The club had 19,000 at the same time last year.

[RustyHawk]

Round 1 teams Hawthorn vs Melbourne, Sunday 23.03.08 - 4.40pm at the MCG.

HAWTHORN
B: Guerra, Gilham, Birchall
HB: Ladson, Croad, Murphy
C: Dew, Mitchell, Young
HF: Rioli, Boyle, Bateman
F: Clarke, Roughead, Franklin
FOLL: Taylor, Sewell, Tuck
I/C: Campbell, Ellis, Osborne, Stokes

EMG: Williams [late withdrawal], Kennedy, Morton

NEW: Cyril Rioli, Selection No.12, 2007 NAB AFL Draft from St Marys (NT); Josh Kennedy, Selection No.40 (Father/Son), 2006 NAB AFL Draft from Sandringham U18s; Jarryd Morton, Selection No.33 2006 AFL Draft from Claremont; Cameron Stokes, Rookie selection 2007 NAB AFL Draft from Darwin (NT)

* Also new: Stuart Dew ex Port Adelaide.

Suspended Hawthorn players: Luke Hodge (VC), Jordan Lewis, Shane Crawford and Campbell Brown.

Unavailable due to injury: Max Bailey (knee). Muston (knee)

Jarryd Morton's brother Cale has been selected for Melbourne.



MELBOURNE
B: Wheatley, Carroll, Garland
HB: Petterd, Bell, McDonald
C: Green, McLean, Buckley
HF: Bruce, Miller, Yze
F: Newton, Neitz, Robertson
FOLL: White, Davey, Jones
I/C: Johnson, Moloney, Morton, Weetra
EMG: Jamar, Bode, Frawley
NEW: Cale Morton, Selection No.4, 2007 AFL Draft from Claremont; Isaac Weetra, Selection No.62, 2006 AFL Draft from Port Adelaide

Field umpires: Farmer, Kennedy, M.Nicholls

[RustyHawk]

Round 1 AFL Results

Mon 24 Mar - Round 1
Kangaroos 9.13 Essendon 19.8
Sun 23 Mar - Round 1
Western Bulldogs 19.12 Adelaide 18.15
Hawthorn 23.16 Melbourne 6.14

Sat 22 Mar - Round 1
Collingwood 16.15 Fremantle 13.7
St Kilda 6.15 Sydney 6.13
West Coast 14.8 Brisbane 11.10

Thu 20 Mar - Round 1
Carlton 11.13 Richmond 17.7
Port Adelaide 14.12 Geelong 15.15

Ladder
For the first time the in long time the Hawks sit atop the AFL ladder with a massive 307% margin after beating Melbourne by 104 points

AFL Ladder
Pos Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Percentage Points
1 Hawthorn 1 1 0 0 154 50 307 4
2 Essendon 1 1 0 0 122 67 182 4
3 Richmond 1 1 0 0 109 79 137 4
4 Collingwood 1 1 0 0 111 85 130 4
5 West Coast 1 1 0 0 92 76 121 4
6 Geelong 1 1 0 0 105 96 109 4
7 St Kilda 1 1 0 0 51 49 104 4
8 Western Bulldogs 1 1 0 0 126 123 102 4
9 Adelaide 1 0 0 1 123 126 97 0
10 Sydney 1 0 0 1 49 51 96 0
11 Port Adelaide 1 0 0 1 96 105 91 0
12 Brisbane 1 0 0 1 76 92 82 0
13 Fremantle 1 0 0 1 85 111 76 0
14 Carlton 1 0 0 1 79 109 72 0
15 Kangaroos 1 0 0 1 67 122 54 0
16 Melbourne 1 0 0 1 50 154 32 0

[RustyHawk]

Match Report: Round 1 Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG. Sunday 23.03.08 4.40pm

Dean Bailey has endured a nightmare coaching debut as his Melbourne side surrendered to a Hawthorn team missing five of its best players at the MCG on Sunday.

The Demons produced one of the most spiritless, embarrassing performances witnessed by an AFL club in the opening match of the season for years as Hawthorn cruised to a 23.16 (154) to 6.14 (50) victory.

For a club already suffering with the lowest membership of any Victorian-based club and badly needing an on-field boost, the result was a disaster.

The Demons might have been missing Jared Rivers, Colin Sylvia, Clint Bartram, Matthew Bate and Ben Holland but those absentees paled compared to the Hawks being without suspended quartet Shane Crawford, Luke Hodge, Campbell Brown and Jordan Lewis and star forward Mark Williams, who was a late withdrawal due to a knee injury.

Yet the Demons could manage just one goal to half-time and two to three-quarter-time in one of their worst ever first round performances.

Not even the loss of full-back Trent Croad after just five minutes with a broken wrist - an injury which could sideline him for up to six weeks - could stop the Hawks, who simply feasted on an opposition that was below AFL standard.

The Hawks led by 25 points after just 18 minutes and by 41 points at half-time, even though they had managed just four more inside 50's than Melbourne at that stage and only four more marks and 24 more possessions.

But such was Melbourne's inability to even do the basics - such as find team-mates by hand or foot - that the Hawks were able to capitalise on numerous Demons' turnovers.

Melbourne's key player such as forwards David Neitz and Aaron Davey had no impact on the game nor did Jeff White, Adem Yze, Aaron Davey and Cameron Bruce as it was left to youngsters Nathan Jones and Simon Buckley to battle against the odds.

The Hawks had been tipped as one of the favourites to win the flag pre-season but it was hard to tell if this lop-sided result was more due to the quality of Alastair Clarkson's team or the pathetic performance of Bailey's team.

But there were positives galore for the Hawks with star forward Lance Franklin helping himself to six goals while late replacement Michael Osborne booted three.

And their midfield - despite missing Hodge and Crawford - was unstoppable with Chance Bateman playing one of his best games for the club while skipper Sam Mitchell won the ball at will and Grant Birchall and Brent Guerra set up countless attacks out of defence.

The Hawks' three new boys - former Port star Stuart Dew and first gamers Cyril Rioli and Cameron Stokes - all had debuts to remember with all three getting amongst the goals as they booted five second half goals between them.

HAWTHORN: 5.5, 7.10, 15.12, 23.16 (154)
MELBOURNE: 1.1, 1.5, 2.10, 6.14 (50)

GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 6, Roughead 3, Osborne 3, Boyle 2, Dew 2, Stokes 2, Campbell 2, Young, Taylor, Rioli
Melbourne: Robertson 3, Green 2, Newton
BEST: Hawthorn: Bateman, Franklin, Mitchell, Birchall, Osborne, Young, Dew, Sewell, Taylor, Campbell
Melbourne: Green, Jones, Buckley
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Croad (wrist)
Melbourne: Nil
UMPIRES: Farmer, Kennedy, M Nicholls
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Hawthorn: Williams (knee) replaced in selected side by Osborne
CROWD: 40,141 at MCG

[RustyHawk]

Hawthorn fans can breathe a sigh of relief after scans confirmed on Thursday that star defender Trent Croad will not require surgery to the wrist he injured in Sunday evening's match against Melbourne.
Trent Croad likely to be out for 6 weeks.

Although Croad's damaged wrist ligaments will be left to heal on their own without surgical intervention, the 2005 All-Australian centre-half-back will still be sidelined for between 4-6 weeks.

The 28-year-old sustained the injury after falling heavily when he tackled Demons skipper David Neitz just four minutes into the Round 1 contest.

Croad has become an integral part of the Hawks' backline and has transformed himself from a maligned utility into one of the most reliable backmen in the AFL.

Since debuting in 1998, he has played 203 senior matches - 38 of which occurred while playing for Fremantle in 2002 and 2003 - for a return of 189 goals.

[RustyHawk]

Round 2 Teams

Trent Croad out injured and Tim Clarke omitted

Hodge & Brown both back from suspension.

FREMANTLE v HAWTHORN
Saturday, 5:40pm WST, Subiaco

FREMANTLE
B: McPharlin, Grover, Mundy
HB: Dodd, Michael Johnson, Hayden
C: Palmer, Headland, Peake
HF: Ibbotson, Tarrant, Farmer
F: Mark Johnson, Pavlich, Schammer
FOLL: Sandilands, J.Carr, Bell
I/C: Crowley, Gilmore, Mayne, M.Carr
EMG: Hinkley, Murphy, Campbell
IN: Ibbotson, Palmer, Mayne
OUT: Solomon (suspended), Black (concussion), McManus
NEW: Rhys Palmer, Selection No.7, 2007 AFL National Draft; Chris Mayne, Selection No.40, 2007 AFL National Draft

HAWTHORN
B: Guerra, Gilham, Birchall
HB: Ladson, Brown, Murphy
C: Dew, Mitchell, Bateman
HF: Rioli, Boyle, Young
F: Osborne, Roughead, Franklin
FOLL: Taylor, Sewell, Hodge
I/C: Campbell, Ellis, Stokes, Tuck
EMG: Kennedy, Morton, Thorp
IN: Hodge, Brown
OUT: Croad (wrist), Clarke

Field umpires: McBurney, Margetts, M.Nicholls

[RustyHawk]

Quick Hawks defy Dockers

LANCE "Buddy" Franklin saved his best until last to sink Fremantle and lead Hawthorn to a polished victory at Subiaco Oval last night. Seven minutes into the final term the Hawks forward danced around two Dockers defenders and rammed home his fourth goal to snuff out an aggressive Dockers fightback.

Freo coach Mark Harvey and his Dockers have lost the first two games of 2008 and will face furnace-like scrutiny this week before Saturday's derby against West Coast.

Franklin was not as dominant as he can be, but he and Jarryd Roughead bagged four goals each in an efficient Hawks forward division.

Fremantle made a desperate last-quarter lunge at the Hawks after a brave third-term comeback. They booted the last four goals of the match to finish with a respectable final scoreline.

The immediate playing future of Dockers forward Chris Tarrant will fall under review after the one-time boom recruit again failed to produce vital goals or contribute.

Hawthorn's drive through midfield was generated from insatiable on-ballers Sam Mitchell, Clinton Young, Travis Tuck and Michael Osborne.
Mitchell was almost unstoppable.

The Hawks skipper was clearly best-afield with his mass of possessions and clean disposal.

Beefy Stuart Dew was effective with his explosive long bombs before damaging his left hamstring.

Grant Birchall was just as influential with his accurate kicking, bursting through the midfield and delivering deep into scoring zones.

Again Fremantle could not take consistent advantage of giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands winning hit-outs.

The Hawks made more use of the ball gained at stoppages, primarily because of their more effective forwards.

It was the Hawks productive running from half-back and long, direct kicks to their tall forward division of Roughead, Tim Boyle and Franklin which was most damaging.

Only the classy Luke Hodge, returning from suspension, missed the possessions frenzy with restricted influence. He appeared well short of match conditioning and had a quiet outing.

The potentially damaging run and creative ball use of Chance Bateman was also limited in a close-checking shutout from Ryan Crowley.

Crowley bagged Freo's first goal running forward of his opponent, but had limited possessions as he focused on restricting the Hawks onballer.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson praised his side for repelling Fremantle's comeback.

"Fremantle really ran hard in the third quarter and we had some tired and injured blokes. To withstand that challenge and go on and win the game was very pleasing," Clarkson said

"It is always a very hard ask to come to Perth, particularly off a six day break. In the first half we ran the ball particularly well, but we were dead on our feet there for a while in the third.

"We just had key guys stand up for us in the last quarter, our leaders."

Dockers coach Harvey said chasing the game for most of the night had eventually taken its toll.

"We seem to have periods of the game when we let the opposition score too early, and therefore we were always playing catch up," Harvey said

"What we did after half-time was pleasing, but the scoreboard probably flattered us a little bit."

[RustyHawk]

Round 2 Results
Fri: 28/03 @ 08:40pm BL13.18 (96) COL13.16 (94)

Sat: 29/03 @ 02:10pm MEL9.12 (66) WBD24.17 (161)

Sat: 29/03 @ 03:10pm ADE21.7 (133) WCE8.9 (57)

Sat: 29/03 @ 07:40pm FRE14.13 (97) HAW16.16 (112)

Sat: 29/03 @ 07:10pm STK19.11 (125) CAR12.13 (85)

Sun: 30/03 @ 01:10pm SYD22.14 (146) PA11.12 (78)

Sun: 30/03 @ 02:10pm GEE22.18 (150) ESS6.15 (51)

Sun: 30/03 @ 04:40pm RIC13.8 (86) KAN20.7 (127

[RustyHawk]

Hawks make it two from two with Subi win

8:45 PM Sat 29 March, 2008


Sun, Mar 30, 08
HAWTHORN survived a scare from an erratic Fremantle at Subiaco Oval to win by 15 points on Saturday night, 16.16 (112) to 14.13(97), and continue their perfect start to the season.

The Hawks led by nearly six goals just after half time, but a dogged Freo made the gap just three points in the run into the final break. Four Hawk goals in the first nine minutes of the final term sealed the deal and the tough win goes nicely with their 104-point demolition of Melbourne last week.

But it wasn't all good news for the visitors, with Rick Ladson (shoulder), Clinton Young and Stuart Dew (left hamstring) coming out of the game with injuries.

The Hawks were missing former skipper Shane Crawford and Tent Croad, nearly 500 games of experience, but welcomed back Luke Hodge and Campbell Brown, and still have a list of terrific players waiting in the wings.

Buddy Franklin and Jarryd Roughhead were terrific up front, with four goals each, Clinton Young constantly found space through the first three terms, while Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Travis Tuck and second-gamer Cyril Rioli were good around the ball.

For Fremantle, skipper Matthew Pavlich was outstanding, while Peter Bell, Josh Carr and debutante Rhys Palmer all worked hard. Des Headland finished with 31 disposals.

There's no doubt that Fremantle got off to the better start, with two goals in the first 10 minutes, but then the Hawks got going, when Jarrad Roughhead marked couple of metres out and converted.

Tim Boyle then added another with a great snap from the left forward pocket after a great tackle from Cameron Stokes jarred the ball free.

Jeff Farmer then goaled for Fremantle after a good transition moved the ball well down the outer wing, the Hawks caught on the rebound. But Franklin replied a couple of minutes later with a mark dead in front and only 20 metres out, and at the first break the visitors led by two points.

Hawthorn started the second where they left off, with Cyril Rioli turning Roger Hayden inside out to kick one from the square, then Roughhead took another grab and converted before Rioli laid a great tackle on the far bigger Luke McPharlin and goaled.

Franklin was then on the end of a great kick in from Brad Sewell and then fantastic hands from Mitchell saw the big number 23 boot it through from the square.

Fremantle then replied – breaking a string of five majors from the visitors – when Sam Mitchell gave away a 50m penalty and giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands kicked from the top of the goal-square.

Boyle got it back after running around the mark and converting from a tough angle, and Hawthorn went to half time with a lead of 27 points, the biggest of the game.

Another good start for the Hawks saw Franklin soccer it off the ground from the goal square after it came in from Rioli, before Fremantle notched a couple of their own.

Michael Osborne then snapped it over his shoulder after Roughhead caused the spill from the pack.

Four more goals got the margin back inside a goal after a series of Hawthorn errors, but a late goal to Roughhead, also kicked off the ground in the goalsquare, made it a 10-point gap at the last break.

Once again the Hawks scored inside the first minute, with Stokes goaling off the outside of the right after spills from a pack, before Roughead, Franklin and Robert Campbell got the margin back out to the safety of six goals.

Pavlich kept Freo in with a shout, kicking his third, Travis Tuck restored the lead, but Carr's second kept the Hawks honest as the clock ran down.

Stuart Dew then continued Hawthorn's injury woes when he looked to badly damage a hamstring while going for a long kick.

First-gamers Mayne and Rhys Palmer kicked goals late in the game as a consolation for the determined Dockers.

HAWTHORN 3.4 8.7 11.11 16.16 (112)
FREMANTLE 3.0 4.4 10.7 14. 13 (97)


Goals
Hawthorn: L Franklin 4, J Roughead 4, T Boyle 2, C Rioli 2, M Osborne 1, C Stokes 1, R Campbell 1, T Tuck 1
Fremantle: M Pavlich 3, L McPharlin 2, J Carr 2, C Mayne 2 , R Crowley 1, J Farmer 1, A Sandilands 1, P Bell 1, R Palmer 1


Best
Hawthorn: Young, Mitchell, Sewell, Tuck, Hodge, Roughead, Franklin, Osborne
Fremantle: Pavlich, Bell, J Carr, Palmer, Dodd, Headland

Injuries
Hawthorn: Clinton Young, Stuart Dew (hamstring), Rick Ladson (shoulder)
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: McBurney, Margetts, Nicholls

Official crowd: 38,022 at Subiaco Oval

Source: for hawthornfc.com.au

[RustyHawk]

AFL Ladder
Pos Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Percentage Points
1 Hawthorn 2 2 0 0 266 147 180 8
2 Geelong 2 2 0 0 255 147 173 8
3 Western Bulldogs 2 2 0 0 287 189 151 8
4 St Kilda 2 2 0 0 176 134 131 8
5 Sydney 2 1 0 1 195 129 151 4
6 Adelaide 2 1 0 1 256 183 139 4
7 Collingwood 2 1 0 1 205 181 113 4
8 Richmond 2 1 0 1 195 206 94 4
9 Kangaroos 2 1 0 1 194 208 93 4
10 Brisbane 2 1 0 1 172 186 92 4
11 Essendon 2 1 0 1 173 217 79 4
12 West Coast 2 1 0 1 149 209 71 4
13 Fremantle 2 0 0 2 182 223 81 0
14 Carlton 2 0 0 2 164 234 70 0
15 Port Adelaide 2 0 0 2 174 251 69 0
16 Melbourne 2 0 0 2 116 315 36 0

[RustyHawk]

Hawthorn Round 2 - more reports

HAWKS HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS

THEY were "gone", the Hawks, just before three-quarter time at Subiaco Oval Saturday night. It was hot, they were dog-tired and Fremantle was coming like a tsunami.

The Dockers had cut the margin to four points after trailing by 33 shortly after halftime and, with all the momentum and nearly 40,000 people roaring them on, looked to be an irresistible force.

What transpired from there was the most conclusive proof yet of Hawthorn's maturity.

A steadying goal just before the last change pushed the margin to 10 points. The Hawks regrouped at the huddle, then blew the Dockers away.

They kicked 5.5 for the quarter to Freo's 4.6, but the Freo goals all came after the result was beyond doubt.

The Hawks registered 120 disposals in the last quarter, up from 73 in the third.

It was even better considering the loss of the hard-running Clinton Young for the last term and then Stuart Dew with a major hamstring.

Brad Sewell racked up 13 possessions, Brent Guerra 11 and a host had six or more.

You've got to love the way Sewell, Campbell Brown, Grant Birchall, Michael Osborne, Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge and co. knuckle down when the game's in the balance.

In the end, it was the forwards who won the game, but they got excellent supply.

Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin both booted four, and their tandem operation is going to cause a lot of headaches for every other club.

The perfect example came in the last quarter, when Franklin drew three opponents to a marking contest.

The ball spilled free, Roughead mopped up and the game was over.

Franklin didn't have a great night, but he did hang in and kicked a superb goal in the final term.

It was a super win. Whatever Freo's inadequacies - and they are many - it is a hard team to stop with the momentum and crowd in its favour.

In the corresponding fixture last year, the Dockers overpowered Hawthorn late to win by 16 points.

What must have been almost as pleasing as the premiership points for Alastair Clarkson was the form of his newcomers, Travis Tuck, Cyril Rioli and Cameron Stokes.

They contributed four goals, 50 possessions and 15 tackles.

Tuck, 20, looked a ready-made player. He might have a bit more finesse than elder brother Shane (Richmond).

The Hawks are sitting on 2-0 and already look to be one of the few legitimate challengers to Geelong.

As for the Dockers, Mark Harvey's problem with the class of 2008 is exactly what it was for his predecessor Chris Connolly: there's only one Matthew Pavlich.

Pav kicked 3.2, but is needed as much in the midfield as in front of goal, and not even he can be in two places at once.

[RustyHawk]

Hawks break all-time membership record

http://hawthornfc.com.au/tabid/4742/...x?newsid=57198


Quote:
The Hawthorn Football Club has broken its all-time membership record and sights are firmly set on smashing the club’s 2008 target of 35,000 members.

As of Tuesday 1 April the club has 33,540 members, topping the previous 2002 record of 33,319. With growing membership in Tasmania (the Hawks second home) Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett congratulated those members who have committed to the Club in 2008 with the promise of an exciting season ahead.

“Records are there to be broken and I thank all those members who have joined to date,” said Kennett.

“It’s most pleasing to have more than 10% of our current membership being Tasmanian based. Our target of 35,000 is in reach but we will not lose sight of our main goal in 2008, that 10th Premiership,” continued Kennett.

The Club continues to aggressively pursue its five-year business plan – five2fifty (2008-2012) – unveiled by the Hawthorn Board at the 2007 Annual General Meeting. The business plan is focused on enabling the Hawks to secure its 10th and successive premierships and to become the first Victorian AFL club to secure a membership base of over 50,000 members.

Hawthorn Captain Sam Mitchell led the record breaking celebrations, taking the entire Hawthorn squad to the administrative level of the Hawks’ training and administrative facility at Waverley Park to congratulate the membership department.

“It is great so many Hawks supporters continue to get behind the Club. There is no better time to become a member,” said Mitchell.

“The playing group have all worked hard over the summer to prepare for the season and today it was good to be able to recognise the hard work put in by our administrative staff off the field in breaking our all-time membership record. It was a real team effort.”

The Club is confident of breaking through its target of 35000 members in coming weeks, with over 4,500 members from 2007 still yet to renew.

For more information on Hawthorn Football Club business plan five2fifty

[RustyHawk]

Round 3 Teams

NORTH MELBOURNE v HAWTHORN
Saturday, 2:10pm AEST, MCG

NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Petrie, Firrito, Harding
HB: Pratt, Gibson, Brown
C: Harvey, Simpson, Grant
HF: Campbell, Thompson, Rawlings
F: Jones, Edwards, McMahon
FOLL: McIntosh, Wells, Harris
I/C: Swallow, Thomas, Power, Hale
EMG: Watt, Ross, Smith
IN: McMahon
OUT: Watt

HAWTHORN
B: Guerra, Gilham, Murphy
HB: Ladson, Brown, Birchall
C: Young, Mitchell, Tuck
HF: Bateman, Boyle, Osborne
F: Rioli, Roughead, Franklin
FOLL: Taylor, Sewell, Hodge
I/C: Campbell, Ellis, Stokes, Lewis
EMG: Clarke, Morton, Williams
IN: Lewis
OUT: Dew (hamstring)

Field umpires: Head, Ellis, Keating

[RustyHawk]

Hawks storm past North Melbourne

AAP

April 05, 2008 05:36pm

HAWTHORN forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead kicked nine goals between them in a 16-point comeback win over North Melbourne at Telstra Dome.

Hawthorn was 15.12 (102) to 13.8 (86).

The Hawks entered the final term trailing by 17 points, but outscored the Kangaroos 6.3 to 1.0 in the last quarter to storm to victory and remain unbeaten.

Franklin kicked five goals and Roughead four, with the star pair booting two each in the last term to steer their side home.

It was a gallant victory for the Hawks against the side that knocked them out of last year's finals series, as they finished with only 20 available players.

Defender Tom Murphy copped a knee to the head in a marking contest in the third term and did not return, while Tim Boyle was forced off after being hurt by Franklin in a marking contest early in the final quarter.

Zippy half-forward Cameron Stokes also looked below par, after injuring his right leg in a tackle in the third quarter, although he returned to the ground in the final term.

The Kangaroos dominated early, with Brent Har