Hawthorn Best Team of Last 15 Years

[menzel case]

from 1999-2014.

FB: J.GIBSON* J.HAY C.BROWN

HB: L.HODGE* (c) T.CROAD G.BIRCHALL*

C: J.LEWIS* S.MITCHELL* (vc) A.LEKKAS

HF: C.RIOLI* J.ROUGHEAD* D.CHICK

FF: M.WILLIAMS L.FRANKLIN L.BREUST*

RR: P.EVERITT B.SEWELL S.CRAWFORD

INT: J.SMITH J.RAWLINGS S.BURGOYNE* R.VANDENBERG

COACH: ALASTAIR CLARKSON*

does not include anything any player did prior to 1999 even if they retired after that time.

50-game minimum therefore lake misses out.

roughead as the back-up ruck in this team.

thoughts?

 

[eldorado]

Technically, that's 16 years...

 

[Roddy]

First thought: Lake before Hay. Had one good year. Lake is already a double premiership winner and Normie winner.

 

[menzel case]

First thought: Lake before Hay. Had one good year. Lake is already a double premiership winner and Normie winner.

sorry i forgot to add i was working on a 50-game minimum

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

There's a lot wrong with that team to my eyes.

Vandenberg would struggle to make the squad, despite his standing at our club, and the huge love I have for the guy.

The less said about Everitt the better.

Jon Hay wouldn't make the squad, and you could forget about Chick too.

I've added Guerra, Stratton, Bateman and Hale simply because I don't want Everitt anywhere near Hawthorn ever again.


FB: B.STRATTON* J.GIBSON* B.GUERRA

HB: L.HODGE* (c) T.CROAD G.BIRCHALL*

C: C.BATEMAN S.MITCHELL* (vc) S. BURGOYNE*

HF: C.RIOLI* J.ROUGHEAD* J.LEWIS*

FF: M.WILLIAMS L.FRANKLIN L.BREUST*

RR: D.HALE B.SEWELL S.CRAWFORD

INT: C.BROWN J.SMITH J.RAWLINGS A.LEKKAS

EMG: SHIELS, LAKE, CAMPBELL

COACH: ALASTAIR CLARKSON*

 

[La Vache]

B: Stratton - Croad - Guerra
Hb: Birchall - Gibson - Smith
C: I Smith - Mitchell - Bateman
HF: Rioli - Franklin - Gunston
F: Breust - Roughead - Williams
R: Everitt - Hodge - Crawford
I: Sewell, Burgoyne, Hale, Lewis

Without much thought that would be close

 

[Todman]

B: Stratton - Croad - Guerra
Hb: Birchall - Gibson - Smith
C: I Smith - Mitchell - Bateman
HF: Rioli - Franklin - Gunston
F: Breust - Roughead - Williams
R: Everitt - Hodge - Crawford
I: Sewell, Burgoyne, Hale, Lewis

In: Hill fifty one games , Shiels
Out: Bateman , Joel Smith.

 

[WWSD]

B: Brent Guerra, Brian Lake, Josh Gibson

HB: Joel Smith, Trent Croad, Grant Birchall

C: Bradley Hill, Sam Mitchell, Shane Crawford

HF: Jack Gunston, Lance Franklin, Mark Williams

F: Luke Breust, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli

R: David Hale, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell

INT: Jordan Lewis, Chance Bateman, Shaun Burgoyne, Paul Puopolo

 

[Big Hotdog]

In: Hill fifty one games , Shiels
Out: Bateman , Joel Smith.

Bateman was huge in 08 - Gut running animal.

 

[Hawkas1988]

I'll make my side without any game limits etc

FB: Guerra Lake Gibson
HB: Birchall Croad J. Smith
C: Bateman Mitchell Lewis
HF: Breust Roughead Burgoyne
FF: Rioli Franklin Williams
R: Hale Crawford Hodge
INT: Sewell Lekkas Stratton Dixon

Some reasoning for my picks:

The bolded are players that have to be in the side, if anyone is missing one of these then it's just not right.

Lake is in my side purely because he has been enormous in the 2 years at our club and a very big reason we have won 2 flags, without him I'm not sure how we would have gone. Big finals player too which is high on my list when picking the side.

J. Smith's spot will soon be taken by Stratton if Stratts keeps up his current trajectory and then Smith to the bench or out of the side if more players keep pushing.

Bateman was huge for us and I nearly made him a bolded player, I. Smith and Hill are coming with a bullet if they keep this up, they will take both wings in 5 years time in this team IMO. Bateman was such a good player from 06-10 though and would still take a spot on my bench probably once Hill & Smith take over (if they keep it up).

Williams was close to bold too and probably should be, similar to Bateman though, I can see Gunston taking that spot soon and him moving to the bench. Will take a bit to knock him out of the side fully.

Hale is debatable with Everitt but Hale has been one of the best finals players we have had and Everitt's departure with us hurts his chances IMO.

Stratton will stay in the side and move to BP or HB, underrated gun. Lekkas was a very good player for us and is in for the moment.

Dixon was purely because I wanted 2 bench mids/utilities and 1 backman and 1 forward. I chose Dixon over Gunston because Gunner has only played 3 seasons with us and Dixon had quite a underrated career with us and kicked many goals. In 2-3 years time Gunston takes his spot.

Next in line players who may push for spots over the next few years: Shiels, Gunston, I. Smith, Hill

 

[Adoyle]

Why is Mark Williams getting so much love?
Almost the best set shot I've ever seen but a complete absence of forward pressure and just general lack of intensity means he wouldn't get near my team.
Any of the current forwards should get a gig ahead of him as well as Dicko

 

[TazHawk15]

Why is Mark Williams getting so much love?
Almost the best set shot I've ever seen but a complete absence of forward pressure and just general lack of intensity means he wouldn't get near my team.
Any of the current forwards should get a gig ahead of him as well as Dicko

He is getting so much love because he went deep under cover at Essendank which helped us to snare S.Burgoyne.

 

[Kuuz]

He is getting so much over because he went deep under cover at Essendank which helped us to snare S.Burgoyne.

Exactly. Add to that, the fact that the trade exploded in the face of Essendon as well, with Williams going down to long-term injury (sadly for Willo ). Nonetheless, Williams held up our forward line for many years, where there wasn't much to be happy about, and had a very solid game in the GF in '08.

 

[James Colorado]

Why is Mark Williams getting so much love?
Almost the best set shot I've ever seen but a complete absence of forward pressure and just general lack of intensity means he wouldn't get near my team.
Any of the current forwards should get a gig ahead of him as well as Dicko

Refer to Q3 of the 08 GF when he teamed with Stewie Dew for an example of Willo's forward pressure

 

[TyHawk]

Sorry guys but can't leave Gunno out!! He has already been enormous in 3 years and helps the bleeding with the Judas leaving! 23 goals in 9 finals is the most goals by any forward in those three years.

 

[beta_condition]

Guerra Lake Stratton
Birchall Croad Gibson
J.Smith Mitchell Bateman
Riloi Franklin Gunston
Williams Roughead Breust
Campbell Crawford Hodge

Hale Sewell Lewis I.Smith

 

[WWSD]

Why is Mark Williams getting so much love?
Almost the best set shot I've ever seen but a complete absence of forward pressure and just general lack of intensity means he wouldn't get near my team.
Any of the current forwards should get a gig ahead of him as well as Dicko

He was our most dangerous forward against St Kilda in that 2008 Preliminary final when he had 17 disposals and kicked 5.4 and not to mention 3 goals in the Grand Final against Geelong when Franklin and Roughead were well held. He wasn't a huge possession getter for a small forward throughout his career, but he was arguably the most efficient small forward when he was at his best. He had an underrated 2008 finals series.

 

[Adoyle]

He 17 disposals and kicked 5.4 against St Kilda in that 2008 Preliminary final and 3 goals in the Grand Final against Geelong. He wasn't a huge possession getter for a small forward, but he was arguably the most efficient small forward when he was at his best. He had an underrated 2008 finals series.

I would argue he was an efficient converter when hit on the chest inside 50. Other than that he couldn't win his own ball once it hit ground, and provided almost no pressure on the opposition rebounders. That one piece of play in the third quarter of the GF was utterly inspirational but completely out of character and at least inflated his value so much we were able to trade him for a 1st round draft pick. For that we should be forever grateful.

 

[madhawksfan]

Guerra Gibson J Smith
Birchall Croad Hodge
Bateman Mitchell Crawford
Rioli Franklin Lewis
Bruest Roughie Gunston
Hale Burgoyne Sewell
Int: Stratton Williams I Smith Brown
Emg: Osborne Campbell Ladson

 

[threesixpio]

Exactly. Add to that, the fact that the trade exploded in the face of Essendon as well, with Williams going down to long-term injury (sadly for Willo ). Nonetheless, Williams held up our forward line for many years, where there wasn't much to be happy about, and had a very solid game in the GF in '08.

Great final series in 08!

(But Gunner for mine over him. Gunner's flexibility makes him the winner over MW).

 

[Steven Tyler]

Why is Mark Williams getting so much love?
Almost the best set shot I've ever seen but a complete absence of forward pressure and just general lack of intensity means he wouldn't get near my team.
Any of the current forwards should get a gig ahead of him as well as Dicko

Mark Williams was fantastic for Hawthorn, from our poor years in the 2000's culminating in a fantastic 2008 season

 

[Flukey!]

Mark Williams was fantastic for Hawthorn, from our poor years in the 2000's culminating in a fantastic 2008 season

Agreed.
He was pretty much it up forward for quite a while and he did well for us.

 

[dipper86]

B: Brent Guerra, Brian Lake, Josh Gibson

HB: Joel Smith, Trent Croad, Grant Birchall

C: Bradley Hill, Sam Mitchell, Shane Crawford

HF: Jack Gunston, Lance Franklin, Mark Williams

F: Luke Breust, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli

R: David Hale, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell

INT: Jordan Lewis, Chance Bateman, Shaun Burgoyne, Paul Puopolo

This....only change id make is Stratton in for Smith, both neck and neck though,

 

[DannyJ]

Burgoyne Hay Gibson
Birchall Croad J. Smith

Everitt Sewell Hodge
Crawford Mitchell Lewis

Rioli Franklin Chick
Breust Roughead Gunston

Into: Bateman, Williams, Stratton, I. Smith

 

[Hodgey 15]

Why is Mark Williams getting so much love?
Almost the best set shot I've ever seen but a complete absence of forward pressure and just general lack of intensity means he wouldn't get near my team.
Any of the current forwards should get a gig ahead of him as well as Dicko

I'd have Willo purely for the "shotgun".
Ah...the memories.