Parkin: Hawks are Mummy's boys
Written by: Mark Stevens
Herald Sun
19/5/2003
DAVID Parkin has urged Hawthorn to get back to trench warfare and quickly address an over-supply of light-bodied kids.
The former Hawks football director said yesterday it was obvious that six to seven players hadn't had the physical capacity to go with the hard-nosed Bombers on Friday.
"They should be home with their mothers in a real sense," Parkin said.
Parkin said he was immediately struck by the physical mismatch of Hawk Michael Osborne against Bomber beast Dean Solomon on a wing.
Steven Greene, Rick Ladson, Tim Clarke, Nick Ries and Chance Bateman were other lean, young Hawks in action at the MCG on Friday.
Parkin said all the junior Hawks had the potential to be fine players, but questioned whether so many should have been in the heat of such a crucial battle.
"If you're struggling and you want to get a contest, you've got to get them into the trenches a bit," Parkin said. "If you go out with six or seven of the 22 who don't have the physical capacity, it's difficult.
"Every one of those can play and really has a bright future, but they're not going to be able to play a game which demands a really physical game plan."
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