Hawthorn 100 VFL AFL years. 4 historical best of teams

[peetoo]

I was contemplating four seperate composite teams, I dont warm to the idea of 2000-2024 getting in the TOC at the expense of existing members.

25-49 Welcome to the big league
50-74 Kennedys commandos
75-99 the best there ever was
00-24 the long road back

The latter three teams can be picked on premiership exploits mainly, but the first a little challenging.

Seriously though, anyone got intel on what may be planned?
——————
Hawthorn team of 1925-1949:

B: E. Utting, W. Culpitt, L. Murphy
HB: N. Pearson, J. Barker, S. Stewart
C: S. Spinks, J. Bohan, B. Williams
HF: A. Albiston, A. Prior, J. Green
F: J. Ryan, B. Hyde, M. Sellars
R: A. Mills, T. Pool, C. Austen
I: T. Fletcher, P. O'Donohue
——————
Kennedys Commandos 1950-74:
Kennedys Commandos 1950-74

B	R Poole	K Moore	D Parkin
	61-68	70-84	61-74
HB	J Kennedy sr	P Knights	I Bremner
	50-59	69-85	67-76
c	C Youren	B Edwards	D Meagher
	58-65	56-61	66-76
HF	G Arthur	J Peck	M Browne
	55-68	54-66	60-67
FF	B Keddie	Peter Hudson	I Law
	65-72	67-74	60-69
R	D Scott	P Crimmins	R Simmonds
	67-81	66-75	50-61
Bench	L Rice	A Martello	Coach: J Kennedy snr
	70-79	70-80	60-76

The best there ever was 75-99 Honestly you'd need 3x the salary cap to get this team in today:

B	A Collins	C Langford	G Ayres
	87-96	83-97	78-93
HB	J Kennedy J	C Mew	R Greene
	79-91	80-93	80-88
C	R Eade	T Wallace	R Dipier'd'co
	76-87	78-86	75-91
HF	D Pritchard	D Brereton	G Buckenara
	87-97	82-93	82-90
FF	J Morrisey	J Dunstall	J Platten
	84-93	85-98	86-77
R	P Salmon	M Tuck	L Matthews
	96-00	72-91	69-85
Int
			Coach: Allan Jeans
			91-90

Team picks itself all these are legends HOF TOC except 'the freak' Morrisey. Any number of other talents to squeeze in 3-4 interchange spots

 

[pattymalone00]

Surely one of the guernseys will be similar to this years legends guernsey…!?

 

[ACTion Hawks]

Win the Premiership???

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I just hope we do acknowledge it in 2024 and not 2025. I have seen a few clubs/codes do milestones like birthdays - much like the Raiders this year did 40th stuff based on 1982-2022, ignoring that it's their 41st season.

 

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

I just hope we do acknowledge it in 2024 and not 2025. I have seen a few clubs/codes do milestones like birthdays - much like the Raiders this year did 40th stuff based on 1982-2022, ignoring that it's their 41st season.

Ok then, win the premiership in 2024 and 2025 just to be safe.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Ok then, win the premiership in 2024 and 2025 just to be safe.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

I was contemplating four seperate composite teams, I dont warm to the idea of 2000-2024 getting in the TOC at the expense of existing members.

25-49 Welcome to the big league
50-74 Kennedys commandos
75-99 the best there ever was
00-24 the long road back

The latter three teams can be picked on premiership exploits mainly, but the first a little challenging.

Seriously though, anyone got intel on what may be planned?

I think the latter teams are very well discussed and known (though I may have a go later) but I thought it might be interesting, having done some research into Hawthorn's early years lately, to have a go at a team of the '25-49 period.

Some pretty unknown and overlooked champions of those early tough years. Encourage anyone to look up some of the names to better understand our foundations and our great history as a club (and if anyone else has any updates or suggestions for the early team, please let me know).

Anyway, my quick go at a Hawthorn team of 1925-1949:

B: E. Utting, W. Culpitt, L. Murphy
HB: N. Pearson, J. Barker, S. Stewart
C: S. Spinks, J. Bohan, B. Williams
HF: A. Albiston, A. Prior, J. Green
F: J. Ryan, B. Hyde, M. Sellars
R: A. Mills, T. Pool, C. Austen
I: T. Fletcher, P. O'Donohue

 

[peetoo]

I think the latter teams are very well discussed and known (though I may have a go later) but I thought it might be interesting, having done some research into Hawthorn's early years lately, to have a go at a team of the '25-49 period.

Some pretty unknown and overlooked champions of those early tough years. Encourage anyone to look up some of the names to better understand our foundations and our great history as a club (and if anyone else has any updates or suggestions for the early team, please let me know).

Anyway, my quick go at a Hawthorn team of 1925-1949:

B: E. Utting, W. Culpitt, L. Murphy
HB: N. Pearson, J. Barker, S. Stewart
C: S. Spinks, J. Bohan, B. Williams
HF: A. Albiston, A. Prior, J. Green
F: J. Ryan, B. Hyde, M. Sellars
R: A. Mills, T. Pool, C. Austen
I: T. Fletcher, P. O'Donohue

Probably you have much more research than I. I had made a start, all the ones I noted you have except perhaps 1948 bnb Kevin Curran who played 85 games according to the ‘hard way’

Maybe there’s a negative aspect problems in 1950. Kevin Curran (footballer, born 1920) - Wikipedia

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Probably you have much more research than I. I had made a start, all the ones I noted you have except perhaps 1948 bnb Kevin Curran who played 85 games according to the ‘hard way’

Maybe there’s a negative aspect problems in 1950. Kevin Curran (footballer, born 1920) - Wikipedia

Yes, Curran is a good shout who was on my short list but just missed selection. Incidentally, there were 6 best and fairest winners who missed my team: Curran, Finch, Sharpley, Loveless, Angwin and Blackman.

People will see how much we struggled as a club through that era and assume it would be slim pickings for this side but that is not really the case at all. My rationale for leaving Curran out is that he was predominantly a rover (my side has about 5 rovers already), he played a little in the 50's and his involvement in the controversy surrounding 2 of our greats in Austen and Albiston.

Not very good reasons mind you but there are plenty of line ball decisions and Curran was very unlucky.

On reflection, looking again at the B&F winners, Angwin deserves to be in and should be named on the wing ahead of Bob Williams.

 

[peetoo]

It seems Victorian representation is also a fairly good source from that era. I guess we can have objectivity if nor first hand witness. We wouldn’t have personal favourites from the era.
I came up with a ‘squad’ of about 40 using the hard way Wikipedia the hawthorn hall of fame hawthorn TOC vic representation goal kicking bnf games played etc

This makes a nice change from the usual off season stuff

 

[Guardian Hawk]

It seems Victorian representation is also a fairly good source from that era. I guess we can have objectivity if nor first hand witness. We wouldn’t have personal favourites from the era.
I came up with a ‘squad’ of about 40 using the hard way Wikipedia the hawthorn hall of fame hawthorn TOC vic representation goal kicking bnf games played etc

This makes a nice change from the usual off season stuff

Care to post your squad and team please? (I'm not intending to pick holes - I am no expert and its mostly guesswork - just interested to keep learning (and refining my own thinking) around this).

Good topic BTW.

 

[peetoo]

Care to post your squad and team please? (I'm not intending to pick holes - I am no expert and its mostly guesswork - just interested to keep learning (and refining my own thinking) around this).

Good topic BTW.

Sorry it’s still in handwritten form. I’m sure I’d come up with very similar to you. Maybe during the holidays

Appreciate your post though

 

[peetoo]

I just hope we do acknowledge it in 2024 and not 2025. I have seen a few clubs/codes do milestones like birthdays - much like the Raiders this year did 40th stuff based on 1982-2022, ignoring that it's their 41st season.

It could be stuff in the off season. 100 complete going into 101

 

[peetoo]

Hawthorn hall of farmers would be locks for 1925-49 team

Alec Albiston, rover, 1936-49 Alec Albiston

Albert (Bert) Hyde, FF/FB, 1925-35 Albert 'Bert' Hyde

Albert (Bert) Mills. ruck/fwd, 1930-42. Albert 'Bert' Mills

Ted Pool, rover, 1926-38. Ted Pool

Miles Alfred (Bob) Sellars, follower/fwd, 1925-34 Miles Alfred 'Bob' Sellars

Stan Spinks, centre, 1932-41 Stan Spinks

Col Austen, half back, 1940-49. Not Hof but TOC Col Austen

Bert mills also in TOC BP

 

[Walshawk]

I just hope we do acknowledge it in 2024 and not 2025. I have seen a few clubs/codes do milestones like birthdays - much like the Raiders this year did 40th stuff based on 1982-2022, ignoring that it's their 41st season.

Well if you want to do a team of the century, you need to do it after your 100th season, not during it. Depends if we celebrating 100 years (1925 - 2025) in the big league, or 100 seasons.

 

[peetoo]

Goal kickers over 100gl

*Alec Albiston 1936-49 170gm 373gl most goals 1939, 41, 42, 45

*Bert Hyde 1925-35 139gm 268gl most goals 1926-27-28-29-30

Albert Prior 1941-50 103gm 258gl most goals 1946-47-48-49

*Ted Poole 1926-38 200gm 230gl most goals 1933

J Green 1934-36 40gm 167gl most goals 1934-35

J Bohan 1938-46 131gm 145gl

J Ryan 1929-33 69gm 142gl

R Williams 1932-44 138gm 110gl
All of these in guardian h team

Other most goals

1925 L Woodford 20gl

1936 N Hilliard 26

1937 N Hilliard 31

1938 A Naismith 25

1943 W Culpitt 43

1944 W Culpitt 57
Culpitt in the listed team

*in HoF

 

[stemline]

Anyway, my quick go at a Hawthorn team of 1925-1949:

B: E. Utting, W. Culpitt, L. Murphy
HB: N. Pearson, J. Barker, S. Stewart
C: S. Spinks, J. Bohan, B. Williams
HF: A. Albiston, A. Prior, J. Green
F: J. Ryan, B. Hyde, M. Sellars
R: A. Mills, T. Pool, C. Austen
I: T. Fletcher, P. O'Donohue

Late to the thread but acknowledging Angwin in for Williams, I think you've done a brilliant job.

Can't argue with any of it.

 

[peetoo]

Gettin closer to the milestone. 2024 is the hundredth vfl afl season, indeed for Footscray an north Melbourne too

Having a bash at 1950-1974

1961 1971 teams will feature heavily, as will kanga kennedy

While 1925 to 1949 will be “glenferrie gold’ 1950-1974 will surely be kennedys commandos.

Who gets Don Scott and Leigh matthews who playe late 60s to 78 and 85 respectively

Maybe Don Scott is a commando and lethal in the post 75

NOTE most of this text is from hawthorn website

 

[peetoo]

Don Scott. Hawthorn legend. Ruck of kennedys commandos
From website

Don Scott

The official AFL website of the Hawthorn Football Club

www.hawthornfc.com.au

Born: December 20, 1947
Recruited: Box Hill FC
Debut Order: 574
Played: 1967 - 1981
First game: Round 5, 1967
Final game: Round 22, 1981
Guernsey: 23
Games: 302
Goals: 133
Captain: 1976 - 1980
Premierships: 1971, 1976, 1978
Night Premierships: 1969, 1977
Best & Fairest: 1973
2nd Best & Fairest: 1980
3rd Best & Fairest: 1977
Director: 1996 - 2004
Life Member: 1974
Team of the Century: 2001
Hall of Fame Inductee: 2003

VFL / AFL Records
State Captain: 1978
State Representative: 4
VFL/AFL Life Member: 1982
AFL Hall of Fame: 2001

Don Scott was recognised as one of the most fearless ruckmen of his era giving the Hawks tremendous service. He played with enormous courage, doing what was necessary to win with a remorseless, tough mode of attrition, an intimidating competitor.
Considered somewhat an individual, he displayed an added dimension when he rallied the troops to save the Hawks from a fatal merger with Melbourne FC in 1996

 

[peetoo]

John Kennedy snr. Coach of kennedys commandos. hawthorn legend

John Kennedy Snr

Born: December 29, 1928
Recruited: East Camberwell YCW FC
Played: 1950 – 1959
Debut Order: 401
First game: Round 1 1950
Last game: Round 18 1959
Games: 164
Goals: 29
Guernsey: 10
Captain: 1955 – 1959
Best & Fairest: 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954
3rd Best & Fairest: 1957, 1958, 1959
Coach: 1960-1963, 1967-1976 (299 games)
Premierships: 1961, 1971, 1976
Night Premierships: 1968, 1969
Vice-President: 1981-1982
Chairman of Match Committee: 1980–1982
Life Member: 1959
Team of the Century: 2001 (Coach)
Hall of Fame – Legend of the Club: 2003

VFL/AFL Honours
State Captain: 1957
State Representative: 4
State Coach: 1973
Jock McHale Medal: 1961, 1971, 1976
VFL/AFL Life Member: 1979
AFL Hall of Fame: 1996 (Coach)
AFL Commissioner: 1993-1997
John Kennedy Snr won the Club’s Best and Fairest Award four times in his first five years as a player such was the worth of both his play and leadership to the team. Kennedy’s philosophies and approach to training would see him develop into one of the game’s greatest coaches. The 1961 flag, the Club’s first, epitomized the Kennedy spirit. This was followed by premierships in 1971 and 1976. In later years, he became an elder spokesman for the game serving as Chairman of the AFL Commission.

​

 

[peetoo]

After naming Coach and Ruck of kennedys commandos 1950-75. Here the obvious full forward:
Peter Hudson

Born: February 19, 1946
Recruited: New Norfolk FC, Tasmania
1967-1974, 1977
Debut Order: 571
First game: Round 2, 1967
Last game: Preliminary Final, 1977
Games: 129
Goals: 727
Guernsey Number: 26 (1967-74), 1 (1977)
Premiership: 1971
Night Premierships: 1968, 1969, 1977
Best & Fairest: 1968, 1970
3rd Best & Fairest: 1969
Most Brownlow Votes: 1969, 1970, 1971
Leading Goal Kicker: 1967 (57), 1968 (125), 1969 (120), 1970 (146), 1971(150), 1977 (110)
Life Member: 1978
Chief Executive: 1995-96
Team of the Century: 2001 (Full Forward)
Hall of Fame Inductee: 2003
Legend of the Club: 2009

VFL / AFL Honours
2nd Brownlow Medal: 1971 (equal)
Coleman Medal: 1968, 1970, 1971, 1977
State Representative 8
AFL Hall of Fame Inductee: 1996
AFL Legend of the Game: 1999
All-Australian: 1966, 1969
VFL/AFL Life Member: 2002
Order of Australia, Services to Football: 1979

Many consider Hudson the best full-forward of all time. An average of 5.59 goals per games exceeds all others. He kicked 100 goals in four consecutive seasons before injury robbed him of absolute greatness. After struggling to get fit for five years, he returned for one season in 1977 to kick yet another ton.

Often criticized for his apparent lack of high marking skills (although he took many) and not liking the ‘rough stuff’, he had a great ability to read the game, using his body to perfection to nudge out an opponent out of the way at the crucial moment before grabbing the ball and goaling.

Hudson was idolized by the Hawks supporters for his incredible deeds with many supporters changing ends each quarter of the game to watch the master at work. He returned to Club Administration in 1995 for two years taking a leading role with Hawthorn’s move to play home games in Launceston.

 

[peetoo]

CHB easy pick too. Pushing the 1950-74 thing a bit too, but marginally more time spent in this era

Peter Knights

Born March 30, 1952,
Recruited Longwarry F C
Guernsey 24
Debut Order 596
Played 1969 – 1985
First Game Round 9 1969
Last Game Preliminary Final 1985
Games 264
Goals 201
Vice Captain 1981 – 1985
Premierships 1976, 1978, 1983
Night Premiership 1969
Reserves Premiership 1985 (the last official game for HFC)
Best & Fairest 1975, 1978
2nd Best & Fairest 1974
3rd Best & Fairest 1970, 1976, 1983
Leading Goal Kicker 1972
2nd Brownlow Medal 1976, 1978
State Representative 9
Simpson Medal 1971, 1978
Assistant Coach 1986
Coach 1994 – 1995
Life Member 1976

Team of the Century 2001
Hall of Fame Inductee 2003
AFL Hall of Fame 1996
Coterie Manager October 21, 2001

Peter Knights’ is widely regarded as one of the finest centre half-backs to have played the game being recognized for his contribution when he was named among the inaugural inductees into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996 and later the Hawthorn Team of the Century in 2001.

Recruited from Longwarry in Gippsland, Knights made his debut in Round 9, 1969. He became easily identifiable on the field with his trademark blonde hair, his ability to frequently take spectacular marks, his long clearing kicks into attack and his disciplined courage laced with flair.

After an outstanding year in 1971, winning the Simpson Medal for Best on Ground in the WA v Victoria match played in Perth, injury robbed him of a Premiership. Injury was to also cost him the Brownlow in 1976. Predominately a star centre halfback he could also give life to the forward line when sent there, heading the club goal kicking in 1972.

In 1975, Knights played in his first Grand Final. Although he was named the Hawks Best Player in that game and winning the Club’s Best & Fairest Award his efforts went in vain with the team losing to North Melbourne. The determined Hawks hit back hard in 1976 with Knights enjoying his first Premiership success, emotionally know as the “Cup for Crimmo”. This was followed by more Premiership success in 1978 with a third in 1983.

Forever the epitome of the committed clubman Knights last game was with the Reserves in 1985, the Grand Final. The Hawks defeated Carlton with Knights finishing his career in a semblance of style, kicking yet another bag of goals.

Appointed coach in 1994 for 2 years: in reflection a very difficult task with the club headed for its most turbulent times – the merge issues of 1996. Knights has since returned to his beloved Hawks as Coterie Manager at the Hawthorn Football Club and coaches the Victorian Country League in the Australian Country Football Carnival continuing on with his outstanding contribution to the game of Football.

 

[peetoo]

Full back time
Kelvin Moore

Born: August 15, 1950
Recruited: Frankston Peninsula FC
Played: 1970 - 1984
Debut Order: 608
First game: Round 21, 1970
Last game: Round 22, 1984
Games: 300
Goals: 21
Guernsey: 15
Premierships: 1971, 1976, 1978
Night Premierships: 1977
Best and Fairest: 1979
Director: 1996 - 2000
Chair Match Committee: 1997 - 1999
Assistant Coach: 2000 - 2002
Life Member: 1977
Team of the Century: 2001
Hall of Fame Inductee: 2005

VFL / AFL Honours
State Representative: 13

All-Australian: 1982
VFL/AFL Life Member: 1984
AFL Hall of Fame: 2005

Kelvin Moore was considered one of the best full-backs of his era and was a key member in the Hawks last line of defence for more than a decade. He became the third player to notch 300 games after Don Scott and Leigh Matthews.

He joined the Club as a key forward, but with Peter Hudson, Alan Martello and Bob Keddie filling the roles up front, Moore had to adapt to get a regular game. His height, anticipation and even temperament suggested that full back may suit his style, and so it proved.

Playing in an era of full forwards that included greats such as Doug Wade, (Geelong), Peter McKenna, (Collingwood), Alex Jesaulenko, (Carlton) and Michael Roach, (Richmond), Moore established himself as one of the game’s finest defenders of his era. Along with North Melbourne’s David Dench, he pioneered the role of the running full back, and his bouncing dashes from defense set up many Hawthorn attacks through the 1970s. He was also very strong in the air, taking many a relieving pack mark to turn the tide, then side-step his opponent and drop-punt to position, which became a familiar and much-loved sight for Hawk supporters.

He was a regular Victorian representative during the great days of interstate football, and an outstanding finals performer. His outstanding defensive game in the 1971 Grand Final may well have resulted in a Norm Smith Medal, had such an award existed at the time. He also played key roles in the 1976 and 1978 premiership victories.

Moore played at a high level for many years, highlighted by his Best and Fairest win in 1979, his tenth year at the Club, in a team that included the likes of Leigh Matthews, Don Scott, Michael Tuck, Peter Knights, Terry Wallace and Michael Moncrieff.

His final few seasons were impacted by injuries, but he managed to get to 300 games in 1984, his final season. After retiring from the VFL, he played for Frankston in the VFA, often as a half-forward and later served as a Chairman of Selectors for Frankston and then St Kilda.

He returned to the Hawks in 1996 to serve as a Club Director, Chairman of the Match Committee and as a member of the Coaching Staff lead by Peter Schwab, 2000 - 2002.

Moore was named at fullback in the Hawthorn Team of the Century in 2001 and was an inaugural member of the Hawthorn's Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2005, Moore was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

 

[peetoo]

CHF John Peck

Born: August 7, 1937
- Died February 2, 1993
Recruited: Canterbury Colts FC
Played: 1954-1966
First game: Round 1, 1954
Last game: Round 18, 1966
Guernsey: 23
Games: 213
Goals: 475
Captain: 1965 (Rounds 1 & 2)
Vice-Captain: 1960 - 1966
Premiership: 1961
2nd Best & Fairest: 1956, 1960, 1962, 1965
3rd Best & Fairest: 1963, 1964
Leading Goal Kicker: 1956 (31), 1958 (27), 1961(49), 1962 (38), 1963 (75), 1964 (64),
1965 (56), 1966 (32)
Life Member: 1962

VFL / AFL Honours
Coleman Medalist 1963, 1964, 1965
State Representative 7

Peck was big and strong and holds the distinction of being the youngest Hawk to make his debut when he played his first game at the age of 16. Hard and tough at the ball, he was a very good mark, a powerful kick and was very fast for his size.
Initially he made his name as a very mobile ruckman and, when required, proved himself to be very capable at either centre half forward or centre half back. However, when he was moved to full-forward he was an instant success, his strength and cunning brought about many goals.
A very popular cult figure, affectionately known as Speed or Elvis. He gained immortality with the Hawk supporters when he kicked the winning goal enabling the Hawks to beat Collingwood for the first time at Victoria Park in 1960.

 

[peetoo]

Recap:
FB. Kelvin Moore
CHB. Peter Knights
Ruck. Don Scott
CHF. John Peck
FF. Peter Hudson
Centre Brendan Edwards
Rover Peter Crimmins
Rover Graham Arthur

coach John Jennedy