100% correct - so if Hawthorn fans are expecting a similar 3-4 year timeline from 2005 -8 , then IMO they are going to be very disappointed with Sam Mitchell[ which would be very unfair to him] As already stated, Clarko had generational teenage forwards Franklin and Roughy in his pocket late 2004 , who would go on and kick 180 goals between them 3 - 4 years later en route to a flag. Call me cynical and a poor judge of footballl talent, but I just don't see this with the Jeka's , Kosi's and Mitch Lewis of this world. Time will tell, but I think patience and realism [ which possibly haven't been Hawthorn traits for the past few years ] need to be the order of the day for the incoming coach
We're mostly in agreement, where we differ is you have faith that the last build can be replicated, whereas I doubt lightning will stick twice. Also, as far as rebuilds go the Hawks are more like the 2001 than 2004. right now. I don't see anyone of the potential of Hodge and Mitchell on your list.Not quite correct. Clarkson inherited a side that finished second bottom with four wins, so we had a priority pick in 2004, but we still had to pick the right players. And history shows that we nailed both of those picks (Roughead at 2 and Franklin at 5), whereas the other two teams with priority selections that year (Tigers and Dogs) got one pick right (Deledio at 1, Griffen at 3) but missed with the other (Tambling at 4, Williams at 6), which goes some way towards explaining why we won a flag in 08 and they didn't.
Lewis was acquired because we took the bold decision (at Clarkson's urging) to trade away our only quality forward at the time (Nathan Thompson) for picks 10 and 26; we then did a deal with Collingwood to upgrade pick 10 to 7, and grabbed Lewis. So Jordan hardly fell into Clarkson's lap - it was a high-stakes trade that paid off in spades, noting that Thompson did play some good footy at North.
I think something that does make rebuilds a bit more challenging these days is that clubs are a bit more streetwise in terms of how they value draft picks. For instance, I can't imagine any club today giving up a first and second rounder for a good - but not great - key forward/back-up ruck like Thompson.
Still, what hasn't changed is the importance of getting your early picks right. If Hawthorn is able to use its 3 picks in the top 25 of this year's draft on three 150/200-game players, it will set itself up well for the next 6-10 years - given the likelihood we'll have another early pick next year, and the promise shown by our first-round picks from the previous two drafts, Day and Grainger-Barras.
I'm definitely in the glass half-full camp.