Hawks don't accept mediocrity. The thought of casually fading into the wilderness doesn't suit us, so we're going balls out on a rebuild.
We've done it before. Nobody would dare trade out their two best kpp (Thompson and hay in consecutive years). Everyone predicted the worst. Result? Jordan Lewis and Max Bailey. (Bailey shot down by 3 knee recos but still a premiership ruckman)
We did before as well in 2001. Croad and McPharlin out - Mitchell and hodge in.
So here we are again in 2016. Hawks make a big call and instead of pushing out players that everyone thinks we are crazy for we are now pushing out draft picks and senior players that everyone thinks we are crazy for.
The difference is that we have gone from loading up on early picks (which overall really didn't work for us, especially if you look at all our early 2005 picks) but conveniently worked in the examples above. Now we've loaded up on young quality midfielders.
While everyone else takes a moderate approach, snagging a star if they can get one, Hawks go and get 2 in a single offseason (not taking Vickery by the way) and flag intentions to do it again next year.
Sydney did this. Loaded up on Tippett and Franklin. They don't have to worry so much about draft because those get Heeny and mills from the academy.
Geelong went down a different path. Sure they got danger but they loaded up on role players to transition: Clark, Stanley, Henderson, zac smith, Sam blease, Scott selwood and menegola. 7 players from other teams within 2 offseasons. Can't say it's been a resounding success but they made a prelim in the face of a bunch of their old players leaving.
The good clubs, the ones that make the top 4 do extreme things.
Those that follow common wisdom and jump on someone else's wave will never get ahead. Might pop up for a season or two, but it's the extreme approaches that result in sustained success.
We've done it before. Nobody would dare trade out their two best kpp (Thompson and hay in consecutive years). Everyone predicted the worst. Result? Jordan Lewis and Max Bailey. (Bailey shot down by 3 knee recos but still a premiership ruckman)
We did before as well in 2001. Croad and McPharlin out - Mitchell and hodge in.
So here we are again in 2016. Hawks make a big call and instead of pushing out players that everyone thinks we are crazy for we are now pushing out draft picks and senior players that everyone thinks we are crazy for.
The difference is that we have gone from loading up on early picks (which overall really didn't work for us, especially if you look at all our early 2005 picks) but conveniently worked in the examples above. Now we've loaded up on young quality midfielders.
While everyone else takes a moderate approach, snagging a star if they can get one, Hawks go and get 2 in a single offseason (not taking Vickery by the way) and flag intentions to do it again next year.
Sydney did this. Loaded up on Tippett and Franklin. They don't have to worry so much about draft because those get Heeny and mills from the academy.
Geelong went down a different path. Sure they got danger but they loaded up on role players to transition: Clark, Stanley, Henderson, zac smith, Sam blease, Scott selwood and menegola. 7 players from other teams within 2 offseasons. Can't say it's been a resounding success but they made a prelim in the face of a bunch of their old players leaving.
The good clubs, the ones that make the top 4 do extreme things.
Those that follow common wisdom and jump on someone else's wave will never get ahead. Might pop up for a season or two, but it's the extreme approaches that result in sustained success.
