Obviously a large percentage of replies to this thread are going to be trolls, so I'm going to do my best not get caught on the bait and I'm hoping you can avoid it too.
I know Essendon fans are sposed to hate Hawthorn, however, I never got that or the North thing. They were always clubs with smaller fan bases and not in the same premiership race. Though Clarkson is getting Hawthorn up there with Essendon, Carlton and Collingwood and some great marketing initiatives have seen their membership base challenge the big 4, and hopefully will still be up there when they drop off on field.
So as I haven't had the hate I've really enjoyed the rivalry between Geelong and Hawthorn over the last 7-8 years and that both teams have generated success playing attractive footy. I love that at the height of their successes they have both been like a real club with lots of players developed at their clubs for their style. They have also had successful VFL teams. Hawthorns success in 2014 still stands out to me as one of the greatest of all time when you take into account losing Buddy and then the injuries they suffered that year, including Clarkson missing out.
They have topped up as they go in the last few years plugging gaps, but none could really be considered stars. I'd only say that Burgoyne was a star recruit, and that was a number of years ago now. However, consistently finishing so high they have not had access to great draft picks and they have lost a young up and commer this year in Anderson. Lewis, Burgoyne, Hodge and Mitchell don't have long to go. There is a demise coming, and end to this amazing era. I don't think it'll be this year, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise if they did slip back a few pegs this year.
How do you see the demise panning out? Will they lose a GF or prelim one year, slip down to making the numbers up in the top eight and then stay middle of the road like Geelong and Sydney have? Will they crash and burn like Saints did post Ross or Brisbane and Essendon did a decade ago?
I'm not too sure, which is why I'm creating this thread. Hawthorn views in particular would be interesting. Despite my ignorance on the list and what way the Hawks will go about rebuilding I get the feeling that they won't drop off for a complete rebuild and Clarkson would prefer to keep developing players for his game plan. I also get the feeling that he'll start letting guys like Smith, for example, go after the drop off and trade them for overs as "Premiership players" for a few years, which allow the club to have three picks inside thirty for a few years.
I know Essendon fans are sposed to hate Hawthorn, however, I never got that or the North thing. They were always clubs with smaller fan bases and not in the same premiership race. Though Clarkson is getting Hawthorn up there with Essendon, Carlton and Collingwood and some great marketing initiatives have seen their membership base challenge the big 4, and hopefully will still be up there when they drop off on field.
So as I haven't had the hate I've really enjoyed the rivalry between Geelong and Hawthorn over the last 7-8 years and that both teams have generated success playing attractive footy. I love that at the height of their successes they have both been like a real club with lots of players developed at their clubs for their style. They have also had successful VFL teams. Hawthorns success in 2014 still stands out to me as one of the greatest of all time when you take into account losing Buddy and then the injuries they suffered that year, including Clarkson missing out.
They have topped up as they go in the last few years plugging gaps, but none could really be considered stars. I'd only say that Burgoyne was a star recruit, and that was a number of years ago now. However, consistently finishing so high they have not had access to great draft picks and they have lost a young up and commer this year in Anderson. Lewis, Burgoyne, Hodge and Mitchell don't have long to go. There is a demise coming, and end to this amazing era. I don't think it'll be this year, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise if they did slip back a few pegs this year.
How do you see the demise panning out? Will they lose a GF or prelim one year, slip down to making the numbers up in the top eight and then stay middle of the road like Geelong and Sydney have? Will they crash and burn like Saints did post Ross or Brisbane and Essendon did a decade ago?
I'm not too sure, which is why I'm creating this thread. Hawthorn views in particular would be interesting. Despite my ignorance on the list and what way the Hawks will go about rebuilding I get the feeling that they won't drop off for a complete rebuild and Clarkson would prefer to keep developing players for his game plan. I also get the feeling that he'll start letting guys like Smith, for example, go after the drop off and trade them for overs as "Premiership players" for a few years, which allow the club to have three picks inside thirty for a few years.
