"Not allowed to wear long sleeves" at Hawthorn - Why?

[Damon_3388]

Watching the players warm up prior to this afternoon's Collingwood vs. North Melbourne clash, Channel Seven's commentators noted that Magpies wingman Paul Seedsman is donning a long-sleeved guernsey today in the cold, wet and windy conditions at the MCG. One commentator noted that you're "not allowed to wear long sleeves" at Hawthorn, to which Hawthorn Captain Luke Hodge, adding special comments today's broadcast, confirmed as correct. Hodge went on to say that forward Mark Williams was the last player at Hawthorn to wear a long-sleeved guernsey, and after he left the club, coach Alastair Clarkson "put a stop to it".

You'd think if a player feels more comfortable wearing a long-sleeved guernsey in particular conditions, that you'd simply allow them to, because assumedly players that are more comfortable will be more likely to perform at their best. I can't really see the negative in allowing it.

What I want to know is, why then would Hawthorn (do other clubs do it, too?) disallow it? Just seems an odd, curious team rule.

 

[SwampCreature]

Because Alistair Clarkson is just awful

 

[CountryRace]

To not appear soft

 

[Damon_3388]

To not appear soft

You cannot be serious...

People actually think this way?

 

[DrEvil_]

Because it looks gay and perpetuates the gay Hawks stereotype.

 

[CountryRace]

You cannot be serious...

People actually think this way?

Can't think of any other reason

Can you

 

[Cudi_420]

What reason would you wear long sleeves other than to stay warmer? There's no other reason why.

 

[Damon_3388]

Can't think of any other reason

Can you

That reason didn't even cross my mind TBH.

As I said in the OP, I can't see the negative, and I genuinely didn't know why a coach or club would disallow it, hence the thread.

What reason would you wear long sleeves other than to stay warmer? There's no other reason why.

And if this make a player more comfortable during the game, why forbid them from doing it? Bizarre.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

I don't have an answer, but from a viewers point of view I love seeing the old long sleeve guernseys on a wet day at the G.

 

[CountryRace]

What reason would you wear long sleeves other than to stay warmer? There's no other reason why.

Why would you want to be warm?

Cause you are soft,

 

[Hawkers]

I'm surprised to hear this. Nothing wrong with the long sleeves

I preferred to play in the long sleeves

 

[Furn2]

If your arms are cold you're not working hard enough.

 

[Cmarsh]

This guy wouldn't get a game then

 

[Damon_3388]

Why would you want to be warm?

Because it makes you more comfortable, and you're more likely to perform at your best when you're physically comfortable.

Cause you are soft,

Are players that warm up before the match "soft" too? Should be able to just step out there cold, right, if you're a true "hard man"?

Again, bizarre mindset. Never even crossed my mind to link it to "softness" or "hardness", because that's something that's determined in a football sense by actions, not appearance.

 

[Cudi_420]

Why would you want to be warm?

Cause you are soft,

Well, yeah

But I think it might be a psychological thing. Like, if you're worried about being warmer on the field, well, it's a trivial concern in the thick of it.

It's kind of like some NBA teams banning headbands. That was more of a fashion statement though more than anything, but in Hawthorn's case it could be similar, in that the team looks the same, presents the same way.

Sounds trivial but you never know.

 

[Hawkers]

This guy wouldn't get a game then

Love Tucky.

Playing soccer I was always told by the referee to tuck myself in. Why??? It's stupid.

As long as I'm wearing the guernsey it's no problem

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Because Clarko says so, and that's good enough for me.

 

[brendan84]

Too much padding when throwing an elbow.

 

[Damon_3388]

Well, yeah

But I think it might be a psychological thing. Like, if you're worried about being warmer on the field, well, it's a trivial concern in the thick of it.

It's kind of like some NBA teams banning headbands. That was more of a fashion statement though more than anything, but in Hawthorn's case it could be similar, in that the team looks the same, presents the same way.

Sounds trivial but you never know.

By the same token, I feel like thinking this sort of thing matters and affects how your team is perceived and performs as a unit is just as much of a "psychological thing", placing more importance on it than necessary. To ban it, you're letting it play on your mind as a coach or group just as much as the individual player who does it for comfort or aesthetics.

 

[Righteo]

Illogical. Bizarre.

Not that you can really question Al's methods though.

 

[joy division]

Something more to grab in a tackle?

 

[The King!]

They won 2 flags since mark williams got the boot


Sleeves off everyone!!


Probably easier to elbow your opponent without the sleeves

 

[The Clamp]

Clarkson is one strange egg.

 

[CountryRace]

Clarkson is one strange egg.

Doesn't matter

It works

 

[Mop]

Reminds me of Arsenal in England, they have had a tradition for the last 20 years or so where the players have to wear the same sleeve type as the captain, who gets to choose. The idea behind it was not to look soft.

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