Hawthorn's 18 hardest...

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

So who would make your hardest team?

My initial thoughts are:

FF: Poppy - Franklin - Roughead
HF: Brereton - Franko - Rioli
Ce: Dipper - Mitchell - Vanders
HB: Birchall - Mew - Hodge
FB: Guerra - Langers - Ayres

Ru: Scott
RR: Condon
Ro: Matthews

Thoughts???

 

[Dank You Steven]

Dunno about a team of "hardest" - can be defined by many things. For me the top 5 hardest in no particular order are:

Brereton
Hodge
Ayres
Dipper
Matthews

 

[Gralin]

Platten, Mitchell and Dunstall all took the hits and kept going week in and week out

 

[FisherHawk]

Campbell Brown would get a spot.

 

[Steven Tyler]

“Delicate” Des Dickson

 

[A Cut Above]

Nominate myself after Burgoyne put through that last goal in the 2013 prelim

 

[beta_condition]

Mitchell clearly the hardest player during my time of watching, gave it out and copped more than his fair share and welcomed every hit with a smile. This is why he annoyed so many players, regardless of what they did he would get right back up and tear their team part.

 

[Mitchell54]

Couple that hasn’t been mentioned

Stewie Dew

Jordan Lewis

 

[Mitchell54]

Mitchell clearly the hardest player during my time of watching, gave it out and copped more than his fair share and welcomed every hit with a smile. This is why he annoyed so many players, regardless of what they did he would get right back up and tear their team part.

Can remember a moment when two opposition players were charging at him from opposite sides and Mitchell did a little sidestep shimmy and the opposition players almost took each other out.

 

[grumbleguts]

Berty Dipierdomenico in the 1986 grand final, blood pissing down his face and he has the ball. He signals to the bench "Can I get a towel to wipe this so I can see?" Not a single thought about going off, just need the blood out of my eye, so I can see who I'm setting up for a goal.

 

[Wizzmania]

Dipper on the wing or Hartung?

 

[Davo23]

Dipper on the wing or Hartung?

Well, Dipper still has a full head of hair.

So, Dipper.

 

[Thaihawk]

Once again we are comparing different eras, and it's hard to categorize players you never saw play. Here are some I remember.
1. Roy Simmonds was the first real tough nut I can remember at Hawthorn.
2. Ian Mort played half forward for our '61 premiership side, and, even to this day, his attack on the football was as hard, ruthless and relentless as any I have seen.
3. Delicate Des Dickson. Lou Richards, known for his "squirrel grip," and his "kiss of death," was also adapt at labeling players with everlasting nick names - Lethal probably being the most famous - sarcastically gave Des, the delicate title early in his career, but he had earned it, and never let Lou down.
3. Hard to split Dipper and "The Kid" Brereton, but to be honest there have been too many to name, let alone remember. I apologise for those I have not mentioned.

I believe we have a couple of youngsters who could fit the bill in the coming years in Hardwick and Sicely, and maybe a couple of big blokes in Pit and Nash ready soon.

While on the subject, I would like to mention a rarely spoken about hard coach, who in my opinion played a big part in the growth of The Hawthorn Football Club. Jack Hale preceded John Kennedy, and he was a tough nut. Many supporters didn't like Jack because of his methods; he wasn't a peoples person, but he was a tough coach, and he was the one who taught the Hawks to hate losing, which is still a trait among players, coaches, staff, and supporters today, and we will have more success as long as losing is not an option - Thanks for that Jack.

 

[Brant]

So who would make your hardest team?

My initial thoughts are:

FF: Poppy - Franklin - Roughead
HF: Brereton - Franko - Rioli
Ce: Dipper - Mitchell - Vanders
HB: Birchall - Mew - Hodge
FB: Guerra - Langers - Ayres

Ru: Scott
RR: Condon
Ro: Matthews

Thoughts???

That’s a lot of Franklin!

 

[Thaihawk]

So who would make your hardest team?

My initial thoughts are:

FF: Poppy - Franklin - Roughead
HF: Brereton - Franko - Rioli
Ce: Dipper - Mitchell - Vanders
HB: Birchall - Mew - Hodge
FB: Guerra - Langers - Ayres

Ru: Scott
RR: Condon
Ro: Matthews

Thoughts???

For toughness, you would have to have John Peck, instead of Buddy at full forward.

 

[Dave Id]

Once again we are comparing different eras, and it's hard to categorize players you never saw play. Here are some I remember.
1. Roy Simmonds was the first real tough nut I can remember at Hawthorn.
2. Ian Mort played half forward for our '61 premiership side, and, even to this day, his attack on the football was as hard, ruthless and relentless as any I have seen.
3. Delicate Des Dickson. Lou Richards, known for his "squirrel grip," and his "kiss of death," was also adapt at labeling players with everlasting nick names - Lethal probably being the most famous - sarcastically gave Des, the delicate title early in his career, but he had earned it, and never let Lou down.
3. Hard to split Dipper and "The Kid" Brereton, but to be honest there have been too many to name, let alone remember. I apologise for those I have not mentioned.

I believe we have a couple of youngsters who could fit the bill in the coming years in Hardwick and Sicely, and maybe a couple of big blokes in Pit and Nash ready soon.

While on the subject, I would like to mention a rarely spoken about hard coach, who in my opinion played a big part in the growth of The Hawthorn Football Club. Jack Hale preceded John Kennedy, and he was a tough nut. Many supporters didn't like Jack because of his methods; he wasn't a peoples person, but he was a tough coach, and he was the one who taught the Hawks to hate losing, which is still a trait among players, coaches, staff, and supporters today, and we will have more success as long as losing is not an option - Thanks for that Jack.

Sted Hay.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Mitchell clearly the hardest player during my time of watching, gave it out and copped more than his fair share and welcomed every hit with a smile. This is why he annoyed so many players, regardless of what they did he would get right back up and tear their team part.

Mitchell's 2013 grand final was pure discipline. Obviously went into the game having decided not to respond to Crowley's tactics. Didn't bite back at any point. Didn't play a great game obviously, but the mental resolve to not even show a hit of retaliation when we all know he would have returned serve pretty emphatically if given free reign.

Pretty happy he didn't connect with Ablett in the 2008 grand final by the way. Would have left the game with a very different reputation. In the end all they could pin on him was 'corkies' and Walker coming off second best when lining him up for a bump.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Imagine Hodge and Ayres in the same side.

Norm smith voters would struggle.

 

[Thaihawk]

Sted Hay.

Certainly right up there, and so was Cam McPherson, but they were totally different types.

 

[Dave Id]

"Cam Cam" was tough. All that team were.
"Darky" Nalder was no slouch.

 

[Thaihawk]

"Cam Cam" was tough. All that team were.
"Darky" Nalder was no slouch.

Kennedy wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Dave Id]

Another tough Hawk.
Never forget his gait.

 

[Happy_Hawker]

Any toughest Hawks players list needs Jordan Lewis. Knocked out in a sickening collision going back with the flight looking at the ball... and came back on the ground!

 

[Pessimistic]

That’s a lot of Franklin!

Not particularly hard either

 

[badboybobba]

I came in here expecting the Hartung jokes, I was pleasantly surprised to see it took to at least the 11th post to sink the boot in. The kid doesn’t even play for us anymore and you’re still hung up on him.
Move on and try and stay classy fellow Hawkers.
By the way Andy Collins is severely underrated for his toughness. Attacked the ball like a man possessed.