Jack Green
All Australian
- Feb 14, 2018
- 692
- 580
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
- Banned
- #7,776
Derelict not to try. Absolutely. Why wouldn't you.That’s my take. Hawks lost three champion movers if not full time mids after 2016. Trading in better than average (who still have a few years to finish their reputation) as few years younger but not raw balanced up the list which was still quite balanced for better than average players at each end.
I now see a list which is quite well balanced age and position wise but lacking enough game changers like you say. If things go well from here the recent draftees can have the luxury of honing their craft in the reserves, or make the seniors if they warrant it. Setting up competition for spots too.
Why wouldn’t hawthorn expect to over achieve in finals? 1991 2001 and 2008 are probably some of the weakest finals sides ever from hawthorn but they hit 2 flags and a prelim. Also played but rarely won finals 1992 1993 1994 1996 2000
plenty of teams would take 2 flags 18 years apart in an 18 team comp, asterisks and all
Cyril not leaving, Mitchell and Sicily not missing a season each, one or two good free agents and who knows. We now know it wasn’t to be but wouldn’t it havebeen derelict not to try?
we could have done without the vickery, Patton and Scully issues there’s probably been as many others taking up list spots who were less high profile, indeed there were a few just before and after the threepeat.
[ Well I'm not attempting to be an oracle but I see Scotland said most astute footy judges in 2016 said they wouldn't and they didn't. Don't consider myself an astute footy judge but I was in that camp]
Richmond who managed 5 top 30 picks in 2021 chose 5 teenagers. Very similar position to Hawks 5 years ago, but what a completely different strategy. I think , unlike the Hawks, [ and I'm not a huge wrap for the Tigers either just quietly- bit over them too ]it will prove the correct one. We will wait and see.