No Box Hill draft pick...

[SS JP]

One of the unwritten rules many thought about the Hawthorn football club in recent years is that a Box Hill boy would usually get picked up in either the national / rookie draft for a year (e.g. Gibson, Height, Georgiades) or longer (Mitchell, McGlynn, even Matt Ball second time around)

This is the first year in a while that I can recall where that hasn't happened. Obviously Markovic seemed to be the boy most likely, judging from the Bigfooty comments, but all-in-all, it's probably reflective of our feeder side's lack of success this year. And for Lukas, the fact that he already has his year on the rookie list last year.

While it's great to get Digby Morrell etc to protect the HFC-listed skinny kids, it's also really important to get the likes of Jackson Hall, Normington etc (i.e. the nearly-rans left over from the rookie drafts) on the Box Hill list next year. That is, if they are illelligible for U/18 footy.

Sam Mitchell won two B&Fs at the Eastern Ranges, was overlooked in both drafts and it took a year at Box Hill to really show what he could do. Barry Mitchell and co should really try to convince some key overage kids just overlooked to show up at City Oval next season and let's see if the Hawks can find our next Mitchell.

[SS JP]

Just to add to my own comments, probably the key difference now from what happened with Mitchell is that TAC U/18 clubs can now select, I believe, two overage players who need the extra developmental year. I don't believe this occured when Mitchell was graduating from U/18s. So some overage also-rans now can get another crack at U/18s.

Nevertheless, I believe these overage players are usually skinny KP / ruckmen types that need the extra year of filling out / figuring where their limbs end, so maybe Mitchell still would have been cast to the VFL wilderness for that year had the rule been in place in his time.

[philhawk]

One of the unwritten rules many thought about the Hawthorn football club in recent years is that a Box Hill boy would usually get picked up in either the national / rookie draft for a year (e.g. Gibson, Height, Georgiades) or longer (Mitchell, McGlynn, even Matt Ball second time around)

This is the first year in a while that I can recall where that hasn't happened. Obviously Markovic seemed to be the boy most likely, judging from the Bigfooty comments, but all-in-all, it's probably reflective of our feeder side's lack of success this year. And for Lukas, the fact that he already has his year on the rookie list last year.

While it's great to get Digby Morrell etc to protect the HFC-listed skinny kids, it's also really important to get the likes of Jackson Hall, Normington etc (i.e. the nearly-rans left over from the rookie drafts) on the Box Hill list next year. That is, if they are illelligible for U/18 footy.

Sam Mitchell won two B&Fs at the Eastern Ranges, was overlooked in both drafts and it took a year at Box Hill to really show what he could do. Barry Mitchell and co should really try to convince some key overage kids just overlooked to show up at City Oval next season and let's see if the Hawks can find our next Mitchell.

Well said, SS. I hope one of the likes of Batsanis, Normington or Hall spend the next year with Box Hill with the knowledge that, unlike other clubs with VFL affiliates, the chances of us rewarding players who show promise at Box Hill is very high.

[Delicate Des]

Have to agree with you SJ. The period under Christensen was not Box Hill Hawks finest hours, and I am left lamenting how the progress of a number of "potential stars" may have been set back. Being a forward was a horror sentence from the games I attended, the delivery being so poor and the forward set up so dysfunctional.
Like you I look forward to seeing if Barry Mitchell can bring the plan to make better players for the future. :mad:

[GNCLongJack]

For the amount of rookies who don't end up making it, I am very disappointed with the BH lads being overlooked, symptomatic of AC's hardnose my way or the highway. I think the bell-tolling of the premiership clock is ringing louder in his ear than anyone else's. There had better be merit there somewhere. With two efficient crumbing indigenous lads, plus Moss. Hope so! But, Hawthorn asked Markovic to hang around BH, for the anticipated 2nd gig. He would have to be miffed !

[Splodge15]

Just not enough there this year, suffering the repercussions of a few poor decisions over the course of the last couple of years. Nothing to be alarmed at, but we do need to get the cycle moving again. That said, I think it is more important to rebuild with blokes like Kenna nad Diggers that will instil a winning culture into our young kids and to keep the blokes like Shore and Breese.

[philhawk]

For the amount of rookies who don't end up making it, I am very disappointed with the BH lads being overlooked, symptomatic of AC's hardnose my way or the highway. I think the bell-tolling of the premiership clock is ringing louder in his ear than anyone else's. There had better be merit there somewhere. With two efficient crumbing indigenous lads, plus Moss. Hope so! But, Hawthorn asked Markovic to hang around BH, for the anticipated 2nd gig. He would have to be miffed !

I reckon that's unfair, GNC. All things considered, Box Hill did have a very poor year, with no players in particular (from what i've read and seen), really standing out so much as to suggest they could be a player in the AFL.

I think the fact we overlooked a BH player this year is a good thing. Players at Box Hill will now recognize that those who play well WILL get rewarded, but they can't expect to be rewarded if they don't contribute towards team wins.

[FriarTuck]

No one in Box Hill seemed to be ripping it up. None of the HFC listed players consistently stood out or demanded to be promoted. At the VFL level you need your AFL listed players dominating.

Bails, Willo, Clarke, Morton, Collins, Suckling, Moss, Thorp played buggar all footy. Even another 4 AFL trained players would have made a huge impact.

Smith, Breese, Shore were all solid journey men but would never be seriously considered as suitable to be elevated. Most of the other BHH guys were too small or poor kicks.

O'Sullivan(?) looked likely but needs a fair bit of development.

The upside was Tuck, Renouf, Kennedy, Mcentee, Dawson and Murphy were forced to play serious game time and have a leadership position. Dowler and Muston were played in spots for their own development which is what HFC needed.

BHH suffered but I reckon HFC did OK.

[Mitchell Madness]

I was hoping to see Eva picked, however, Box Hill struggled this year, which reflected in i believe none of the 5 who nominated being selected.Did he even nominae, i only know 5 did

[GNCLongJack]

I reckon that's unfair, GNC. All things considered, Box Hill did have a very poor year, with no players in particular (from what i've read and seen), really standing out so much as to suggest they could be a player in the AFL.

I think the fact we overlooked a BH player this year is a good thing. Players at Box Hill will now recognize that those who play well WILL get rewarded, but they can't expect to be rewarded if they don't contribute towards team wins.
Unfair Phil ? I go to BH matches. Difficult year, with minimal cohesion between th BH and the HFC players. Your "unfair" challenge, you can shove, with regard to your initiating some more bashing of Josh Thurgood in the rookie draft thread. About 10 responses, including your own refusal to let it go. In my book, Josh is very welcome at Box Hill. His manful courage would never be challenged, and his relatives, friends and he himself doesn't need anymore of that garbage. :cool:

[Chrissie90]

I didnt go to many Box hill games so I dont know, but LongJack, who do you think from box hill should have been rookie drafted?