Most admirable ex-hawthorn player/coach?

[fugitive]

Considering there's a plethora of ex-Hawthorn players both from the 80's and early 90's who are now AFL coaches plus plenty others who are hanging around in media positions etc.

Who do you think is genuinely admirable & have the greatest respect for based on their playing careers & current preformances/personality both on & off the field?

 

[mattyc2422]

Leigh Matthews by so far.
It's not even close.

 

[DaveW]

I'd rank the Hawthorn players who became coaches as follows:

1. Leigh Matthews
2. David Parkin
3. Alan Joyce
4. Rodney Eade
5. Gary Ayres
6. Terry Wallace
7. Peter Schwab
8. Ken Judge
9. Peter Knights
10. Ben Allen
11. Gary Buckenara

 

[topdon]

How can you respect a bloke who was the first and only player in VFL/AFL history to be charged with assault on the footy field?

 

[sandeano]

Does Allan Jeans count?

 

[fugitive]

Originally posted by DaveW
1. Leigh Matthews
2. David Parkin
3. Alan Joyce
4. Rodney Eade
5. Gary Ayres
6. Terry Wallace
7. Peter Schwab
8. Ken Judge
9. Peter Knights
10. Ben Allen
11. Gary Buckenara

What about Dermott & Jason Dunstall?

 

[Shinboners]

John Kennedy Snr.

 

[CharlieG]

Look at Matthews' achievements over the past 30 something years, topdon, and you'll see why. 10 seconds of silliness shouldn't overshadow the work of a lifetime. Bickley deserves the same clemency.

Leigh Matthews is level with Ron Barassi as one of the two greatest football people alive today. Add **** Reynolds and Ted Whitten, and these four men are truly miles ahead of anyone else who has ever been involved in the game. If there was an honour higher than legend, these four would be the only ones deserving of it.

 

[sandeano]

Originally posted by CharlieG


Leigh Matthews is level with Ron Barassi as one of the two greatest football people alive today. Add **** Reynolds and Ted Whitten, and these four men are truly miles ahead of anyone else who has ever been involved in the game. If there was an honour higher than legend, these four would be the only ones deserving of it.

You are forgetting a man named Jack Dyer.

 

[Burgotype]

I would have to say Dipper, think he was a great player and he is still helping the game by promoting it at grass roots level

 

[The Hitman]

Originally posted by Shinboners
John Kennedy Snr.

He's the one for me. He started it all at Glenferrie.

Closely followed by Lethal.

The Hitman

 

[topdon]

Originally posted by CharlieG
Look at Matthews' achievements over the past 30 something years, topdon, and you'll see why. 10 seconds of silliness shouldn't overshadow the work of a lifetime. Bickley deserves the same clemency.

I don't deny his achievements both as a player and coach. But this thread is about admiration and respect. You cannot admire nor respect a bloke after such an action. Call him the greatest player of all time by all means ... but he is certainly NOT one of the great people of VFL/AFL football ... and in my eyes doesn't deserve respect.

 

[CharlieG]

Sandeano... thought about Dyer... he's probably in the second group with Skilton and Nicholls for me.... but not up with the other four. They are who I think of when I think greatness.

 

[Bomber Spirit]

Originally posted by sandeano
Does Allan Jeans count?

He never played for Hawthorn.

 

[wagstaff]

Originally posted by DaveW
I'd rank the Hawthorn players who became coaches as follows:

1. Leigh Matthews
2. David Parkin
3. Alan Joyce
4. Rodney Eade
5. Gary Ayres
6. Terry Wallace
7. Peter Schwab
8. Ken Judge
9. Peter Knights
10. Ben Allen
11. Gary Buckenara

Pretty accurate list. Only argument would be that I would probably put Knights above Judge. Judge had four years at Hawthorn for one finals appearance, while Knights had two years for one finals appearance.

Also compare their performances at the other club they coached. Considering the dismal playing list he had to work with, Knights did a pretty fair job at the Bears. Winning their first two games away from home in 1987 was a pretty fair effort, and they were a half decent side in 1988; they won 7 games and lost 4 others by less then 10 points.

It would be extremely hard to put any positive spin on Judge's two years at West Coast, especially when you consider how much Worsfold was able to improve them the year after Judge got sacked. They were deplorable for most of 2001.

 

[superstar]

Don Scott.

We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him.

 

[Hawkas]

In my opinion, David Parkin.

He was a very good player and excellent tactician as a coach. He is also the one person who is always prepared to put his hand up and attend Hawthorn in-house functions encompassing a multitude of groups. He is also prepared to travel to locations to support grass roots footy.

Sad to see him leave the Club in an official capacity.

 

[hourn]

Originally posted by CharlieG
Look at Matthews' achievements over the past 30 something years, topdon, and you'll see why. 10 seconds of silliness shouldn't overshadow the work of a lifetime. Bickley deserves the same clemency.

Leigh Matthews is level with Ron Barassi as one of the two greatest football people alive today. Add **** Reynolds and Ted Whitten, and these four men are truly miles ahead of anyone else who has ever been involved in the game. If there was an honour higher than legend, these four would be the only ones deserving of it.

Yep i pretty much agree with you there as well. maybe add Cazaly to that as he was the icon in the early stages.

 

[Hawkforce]

Originally posted by topdon
How can you respect a bloke who was the first and only player in VFL/AFL history to be charged with assault on the footy field?

Stick with the confused smilie Topdon - it suits you when you post like this.

 

[Becker]

The man who started it all ... John Kennedy Snr. An amazing man.

 

[Pessimistic]

Paul Salmon.

Surely an inspiration to all.

 

[Cyclops]

1) Kennedy-real leader, changed Hawthorn from a Protestant social club into a real football club. Revived that Shinboner spirit in the 80's and is basically an honest hard working bloke. Didn't much like his politics when he was involved with the Dept of Education, but in football there are few figures as admired and respected.

2) Parkin. Gun coach with the record to prove it. Bonus points for the bulging vein.

3) Matthews. Utterly fearless, possibly a psycho. Champion player and very good coach.

I like Dermott and Dipper but they are circus clowns now.

On the related question of best ex-Hawk coach, I reckon:

1. David Parkin. Gun.
2. John Kennedy. Gun, drought breaker.
3. Terry Wallace. I know the dogs are sore at him but he can coach.
4. Leigh Matthews. Can coach apparently.
5. Rodney Eade. Fine tactician.
6. Gary Ayres. Finally did something this year*.
7. Peter Schwab. One up one down, jury is out.
8. Ken Judge. Jury is back, Guilty.
9. Peter Knights. Hmmm.
10. Ben Allen. Well it was the Dockers so it might not be his fault.
11. Gary Buckenara. Sorry Gary.






* I'm using a shiny lure here, but only a light gauge line as I don't expect to hook anything to powerful.

 

[The Hitman]

Originally posted by topdon
I don't deny his achievements both as a player and coach. But this thread is about admiration and respect. You cannot admire nor respect a bloke after such an action. Call him the greatest player of all time by all means ... but he is certainly NOT one of the great people of VFL/AFL football ... and in my eyes doesn't deserve respect.

So we can't admire or respect Sheedy? He was a known hardman and thug back in the heady days of Richmond.

But hey, there are legends, and then there are legends. Matthews is a true legend. Simply the greatest.

The Hitman

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Just on the Leigh Matthews-Neville Bruns incident. The conviction was successfully appealed and the record was struck from the books. In other words, Matthews was found not guilty as the appeal successfully argued that 'what happens on the footy field, stays on the footy field'. I'm not justifying Lethal's actions but I have seen worse incidents and there was a touch of scapegoatism (????) regarding the Matthews charge.

My most admired ex Hawthorn player are 1) Chris Mew. Awesome player who never was attracted to the BS which surrounds football. He would rock up, play the game, go home, go fishing. I wish more players had that attitude 2) Don Scott for saving my club. He showed there was such a thing as club pride and loyalty in the day and age of the almight dollar and 3) Leigh Matthews-incredible player, great coach. 4) John Kennedy Snr- laid the foundations for Hawthorn to arise from laughing stock to power side. On an aside, the fruit of his loins was a pretty handy player.

 

[loyal]

David Parkin was and still is a legendary person who was able to coach a great Hawthorn team.

However, I think that Allan Jeans was the best coach that Hawthorn have had.

The best interstate coach who used to play at Hawthorn is definately Leigh Matthews.