Hawks

[Kmart Rouge]

whorethorn have done well in creating a proud culture of losing.

funny thing is that they will keep getting 1st round picks but they will go nowhere

no-one in their club knows how to win

 

[Warwick]

They will be getting top picks yet again so they will have by far the best and most top 10-20 range picks, easily eclipsing the saints. Basically Clarkson's plan since he took over the coaching job.

Disagree with this. They will have the most top picks but are they the best? Seriously, when are they going to start showing something. They have all these high draft picks - but that doesn't guarantee a bright future. Sooner or later you have to start winning games to see if you are on the right track. It must be demoralising to continually get beaten as a young bloke.

Other club's youngsters have shown very positive signs or that they can rise to the occasion when they need to get their team over the line - Port, Brisbane, Richmond, Adelaide, Western Bulldogs etc etc.

I think Hawthorn should think about whether adding another 5-6 17 year olds to the list at the end of the year is the way to go. They are better off trading for some experienced and proven players. Yes, they may have the youngest average list, but that means squat.

 

[Cuzz09]

Shows how "SH*T" West Coast really are playing

Hawthorn dominated the eagles and should have won!

 

[Scruba]

Shows how "SH*T" West Coast really are playing

Hawthorn dominated the eagles and should have won!

are you really a west coast supporter?

 

[Hawkk]

Disagree with this. They will have the most top picks but are they the best? Seriously, when are they going to start showing something. They have all these high draft picks - but that doesn't guarantee a bright future. Sooner or later you have to start winning games to see if you are on the right track. It must be demoralising to continually get beaten as a young bloke.

Other club's youngsters have shown very positive signs or that they can rise to the occasion when they need to get their team over the line - Port, Brisbane, Richmond, Adelaide, Western Bulldogs etc etc.

I think Hawthorn should think about whether adding another 5-6 17 year olds to the list at the end of the year is the way to go. They are better off trading for some experienced and proven players. Yes, they may have the youngest average list, but that means squat.

Let's get some perspective, our 4 top 2006 draft picks are either on the sidelines, at school or on the playing for the Whitehorse.

This is by no means the final package.

 

[Murray]

Let's get some perspective, our 4 top 2006 draft picks are either on the sidelines, at school or on the playing for the Whitehorse.

This is by no means the final package.

So why is that a good thing?

 

[Frankston Rover]

whorethorn have done well in creating a proud culture of losing.

funny thing is that they will keep getting 1st round picks but they will go nowhere

no-one in their club knows how to win

Mate, you are talking absolute crap.

This type of thing really annoys me as we have not been bad for as long as people think.

2001 Prelim final we lost by a kick to Essendon. We could have played off for a flag only 5 years ago.

2004 we were touted by many to be a premiership side and we had a shocking year. We finished down the ladder, we had an ageing list that had been topped up and many players were on large back-ended contracts.

Bad list management, poor contract negotiations, injuries and form loss cost us dearly. That was our own doing and we had to cop it sweet.

We then decided to start again. We got rid of players like Graham, McCabe, Hay, Holland etc. - good players but they were never going to win us a flag.

We picked up Luke Hodge as a No.1 pick not through finishing last but by trading for him.

So in reality we have been rebuilding for only 2 years - 2005 and '06.

We have traded for picks to try and get the best talent available as we are aiming for 2008-2010 to be our years. We have blooded alot of young players, we have got a young enthusiastic coach, we have arguably the best facilities in the league and this year was always going to be a struggle.

We will get better but time and games are needed. We have a spine with next to no experience (Roughead is playing game 33 tonight) but with another preseason, more weights and maturity - these kids will develop into a good side.

We have not won a wooden spoon in over 30 years.

All in all, I believe we are on the right track. Side like Sydney, Kangaroos, Port, Brisbane, Carlton and Essendon are all either rebuilding or will be in the next few years. Their supporters need to realise that a good side doesn't just happen. Brisbane won a spoon in '96(?) and less than 5 years later they were on their way to 3 flags in a row.

That's how footy works now days.

So before you all put the boots in, look at the facts and realise that Hawthorn - for all their bad games - are not the basket case some of you make out.

 

[Pharaoh]

Well said, Frankston Rover.

 

[Hawkk]

Exactly.

Let's forget the fact that the age tipped us to finish last....

BTW, it's actually over 40 years since we 'won' a spoon.

1965 to be exact.

 

[Warwick]

All in all, I believe we are on the right track. Side like Sydney, Kangaroos, Port, Brisbane, Carlton and Essendon are all either rebuilding or will be in the next few years. Their supporters need to realise that a good side doesn't just happen. Brisbane won a spoon in '96(?) and less than 5 years later they were on their way to 3 flags in a row.

1998 to be exact. And we finished 3rd the following year, and had our first flag 3 years later. The difference was we had a mix of experience (Ashcroft, Lynch, McRae, Leppitsch, Voss and Hart) and youth (Black, Power, Aker, even Lappin etc), so it can be done. I have no doubts Hawthorn will rise very shortly but they wont if they continue to trade away all their experience and continue to recruit schoolboys.

In our wooden spoon year we still won 5 or 6 matches and were competitive. I don't like how people think that Hawthorn will suddenly be unbeatable in a couple of years - the hard work must be done now.