Most talented hawk of all time (not best or most decorated pure talent)

[TheFourPillars]

Sam Mitchell was the epitome of hard work. His polish and skill came from years of work on the track. He was always a ball magnet and had great vision and spatial awareness but his skills improved each year to the finished product we saw in the 3pete. It's the reason he was made captain as he set an example for professionalism. Sometimes demanding too much. He was a star.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Thanks for that highlights package.
Made my morning.

You’d have no idea whether he was a natural right or left footer.

Just rewatched highlights again myself and I've gotta say that's Sam's skill level was simply phenomenal, no player that's played the game has had a higher set of skills and talent than Sam Mitchell and his elusiveness was outrageous. To the point of almost being unattackable and did you notice in the highlights package how he 'repeatedly' brought other team-mates into the game by either by hand or foot, left or right side, which is the most underrated and undervalued skill in the game. Sam was a living nightmare for opposition players and coaches coz once he got the ball, more than any other opposition player he would invariably hurt you. Out and out champion player was Sam and it's so great to see through his early coaching that he's passing on all of his wealth of knowledge, expertise, experience and vast wisdom to the current playing group.

 

[Mississippi]

Just rewatched highlights again myself and I've gotta say that's Sam's skill level was simply phenomenal, no player that's played the game has had a higher set of skills and talent than Sam Mitchell and his elusiveness was outrageous. To the point of almost being unattackable and did you notice in the highlights package how he 'repeatedly' brought other team-mates into the game by either by hand or foot, left or right side, which is the most underrated and undervalued skill in the game. Sam was a living nightmare for opposition players and coaches coz once he got the ball, more than any other opposition player he would invariably hurt you. Out and out champion player was Sam and it's so great to see through his early coaching that he's passing on all of his wealth of knowledge, expertise, experience and vast wisdom to the current playing group.

Well said.
But the extraordinary thing was that Sam was a standout player in the TAC under 18 1999 and 2000 years.

BUT he was overlooked in the 2000 draft - repeat, 18 clubs didn't rate him !!

Only when he played for Box Hill the following year - when he got (from memory) 31 votes from 11 games - to be precise 10 BOGs from the 11 game he played - was he drafted by Hawthorn.

But get this.
He was only drafted at no. 36 in 2001. Every club, inc Hawthorn, rejected him before then.
Our earlier picks were Cambell Brown, Daniel Elstone and Rick Ladson.

Oh, and we picked up a fella called Hodge at no. 1.

 

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

He ran like an uncoordinated puppy, looked like a dork, had a huge bum, kicked mongrel punts. But jeez, he made his opponents look worse! And boy, could he kick goals! Five for the day was a disappointment.

I was too young to see Hudson but I do remember as a kid reading a book where Peter McKenna talks about him in reverential terms as if he was from another planet.

However if you look at the original Up There Cazaly video on YouTube, at about the 1.37 mark there’s a mark that exemplifies everything I imagine Hudson to have been. It’s not spectacular but it is uncanny, almost magical, how he effortlessly manoeuvres to have the ball in his hand with his opponent having little to no idea what had just happened.

 

[StillAtLarge]

Paul Hudson was a fair talent too. One of the best kicks of a footy I've seen (on both sides). People forget how good he was.

Edit: Has to be one of the best goals ever kicked at footy park, fitting he gets the handball from Hall

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Just rewatched highlights again myself and I've gotta say that's Sam's skill level was simply phenomenal, no player that's played the game has had a higher set of skills and talent than Sam Mitchell and his elusiveness was outrageous. To the point of almost being unattackable and did you notice in the highlights package how he 'repeatedly' brought other team-mates into the game by either by hand or foot, left or right side, which is the most underrated and undervalued skill in the game. Sam was a living nightmare for opposition players and coaches coz once he got the ball, more than any other opposition player he would invariably hurt you. Out and out champion player was Sam and it's so great to see through his early coaching that he's passing on all of his wealth of knowledge, expertise, experience and vast wisdom to the current playing group.

Sam had the most finely attuned "natural balance" I've ever seen. It was like he had total control over his entire body at all times even in the middle of the pack (very similar to what Pendleberry has).

He was also rough as nails, how many cheap shots did he cop throughout his career (admittedly he gave a few back as well ).

For me I have him second behind Dunstall as the top Hawks I have seen play.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Paul Salmon would warrant a mention in the conversation. One of the few players that truly known for being able to play 2 positions at the elite level. Sadly the elite full forward stuff came in his younger days at Essendon and we tend to forget (and rightly so) how good he was. We had never seen anything like him in his early days, he was unstoppable. Coming to Hawthorn he played well enough to be listed in our team of the century. We all know how well Lloyd played last year but go and add 10 marks a game and 30-50 goals a year as a ruckman and you are getting close. If you can find it, watch the 1993 Ablett Snr v Salmon clash where they each kicked a huge bag, one of the great all-time, non Hawks game, even though it is Geelong and Ess.

My personal choice would be Matthews. Did stuff that nobody else could do on a weekly basis. He was voted as the greatest player of the first 100 years for a pretty good reason.

Daicos Snr would probably be my choice for non-Hawk.

Salmon was an absolute force at his time at Hawthorn. If the Dons had played him as a full time ruck he would have gone down as the best ruckman of all time IMHO.

For a guy who was 6 foot 10 and 115kg his skills were sublime.

 

[MazHawk]

I only saw Mitchell, Buddy & Cyril play but my dad and both my uncles (all hardcore hawks) swear blind Knightsy was the supreme footballer.
Champion CHB and also just as much a champion CHF. Two hardest positions on the ground and he had them on toast.

 

[Mississippi]

I only saw Mitchell, Buddy & Cyril play but my dad and both my uncles (all hardcore hawks) swear blind Knightsy was the supreme footballer.
Champion CHB and also just as much a champion CHF. Two hardest positions on the ground and he had them on toast.

Very hard to identify and to rate the 5 greatest Hawks of all-time, but whichever way you do it, Peter Knights will always be in the top 5.

 

[Jane Doe]

I only saw Mitchell, Buddy & Cyril play but my dad and both my uncles (all hardcore hawks) swear blind Knightsy was the supreme footballer.
Champion CHB and also just as much a champion CHF. Two hardest positions on the ground and he had them on toast.

Remeber the day at princess park when they swung him forward and kicked 9 goals on a young full back of the century

 

[Randy Campbell]

The most talented Hawk of all time, has not even been born yet.

 

[Brant]

Very hard to identify and to rate the 5 greatest Hawks of all-time, but whichever way you do it, Peter Knights will always be in the top 5.

I have 11 players in my Top 5!

 

[arupist]

As much as I have always thought Peter Hudson was the best player, as far as talent goes, IMHO, Jarman is streets ahead of anyone else.

I would also like to offer up Tony Hall in the discussions. But there are so many we could discuss - briefly - for different reasons.

I always find these types of questions rather interesting. People have different opinions and that makes for great discussions.

For example, I loved Peter Knights (happens to be my BILs cousin), but I would struggle to put him in my top 10.
#hawthornproblems

 

[Glorin]

Well said.
But the extraordinary thing was that Sam was a standout player in the TAC under 18 1999 and 2000 years.

BUT he was overlooked in the 2000 draft - repeat, 18 clubs didn't rate him !!

Only when he played for Box Hill the following year - when he got (from memory) 31 votes from 11 games - to be precise 10 BOGs from the 11 game he played - was he drafted by Hawthorn.

But get this.
He was only drafted at no. 36 in 2001. Every club, inc Hawthorn, rejected him before then.
Our earlier picks were Cambell Brown, Daniel Elstone and Rick Ladson.

Oh, and we picked up a fella called Hodge at no. 1.

Sam was overweight and not ready for AFL football at 18 and his 1st year at Box Hill. Talented clearly, but not willing to do what it took to get to next level which was demonstrated by a 6 week hamstring injury at start of season and a reluctance to do the work to get back faster.
It was some influence of David Parkin who was Hawthorn director of Coaching at the time which set him on the path.
He started training with Hawthorn towards the end of the season and it was known no one would pick him and we could have waited till pick 100.
Have high respect for someone who can change and make the most out of their ability.
This is where I differ from most as I think Sam got everything out of himself in the end. Jarman never did and could have been the best ever.

 

[Glorin]

Well said.
But the extraordinary thing was that Sam was a standout player in the TAC under 18 1999 and 2000 years.

BUT he was overlooked in the 2000 draft - repeat, 18 clubs didn't rate him !!

Only when he played for Box Hill the following year - when he got (from memory) 31 votes from 11 games - to be precise 10 BOGs from the 11 game he played - was he drafted by Hawthorn.

But get this.
He was only drafted at no. 36 in 2001. Every club, inc Hawthorn, rejected him before then.
Our earlier picks were Cambell Brown, Daniel Elstone and Rick Ladson.

Oh, and we picked up a fella called Hodge at no. 1.

Sam won the Liston in 2002, when he was already at Hawthorn.
Only played 11 games as he played seniors aswell.

 

[Mississippi]

Sam won the Liston in 2002, when he was already at Hawthorn.
Only played 11 games as he played seniors aswell.

My apologies - you’re right.

 

[grumbleguts]

Well said.
But the extraordinary thing was that Sam was a standout player in the TAC under 18 1999 and 2000 years.

BUT he was overlooked in the 2000 draft - repeat, 18 clubs didn't rate him !!

Only when he played for Box Hill the following year - when he got (from memory) 31 votes from 11 games - to be precise 10 BOGs from the 11 game he played - was he drafted by Hawthorn.

But get this.
He was only drafted at no. 36 in 2001. Every club, inc Hawthorn, rejected him before then.
Our earlier picks were Cambell Brown, Daniel Elstone and Rick Ladson.

Oh, and we picked up a fella called Hodge at no. 1.

Amazing to think Gold Coast and GWS came into existence for two days just to not rate Sam Mitchell. Must have been terrible.

 

[BuddysBuddy23]

Big Bud has to be right at the pointy end of discussion. Someone of his size shouldn’t have been able to move and do the things he did around the ground and with the ball on the deck the way he did. Was a great field kick and could slot them through from anywhere within 65m. Wasn’t the best overhead/or pack mark but done magical things for a bloke his size with the ball in his area. Will be the last fwd we see kick 1000 goals in a career/100 goals in a season

 

[Yardie]

Amazing to think Gold Coast and GWS came into existence for two days just to not rate Sam Mitchell. Must have been terrible.

I can believe that story for Gold Coast.....

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I tell you who probably hasn’t got enough love in this thread is el capitano James Sicily.

The fact that he is probably the second best intercept mark I have ever seen (behind Lake) whilst also being the second best kick I have ever seen (behind Jarman) is a hell of a package in terms of natural talent.

Super consistent as well.

 

[MatteeG]

I would also like to offer up Tony Hall in the discussions.
#hawthornproblems

As a Glenelg lad here he was an amazing talent. His marking was exceptional and kicking underrated.

Had a few nasty injuries over the journey which probably curtailed him reaching his absolute peak in the AFL.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

As a Glenelg lad here he was an amazing talent. His marking was exceptional and kicking underrated.

Had a few nasty injuries over the journey which probably curtailed him reaching his absolute peak in the AFL.

Amazing set of hands on him.

Was great when we had him in the forward pocket alongside Dunstall.

 

[Dipper Here]

Where's the option for Lawrence Bingham???

 

[HolyRioli]

I think we all know the real answer is Adrian Cox

Adrian Cox

Age

45

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.1

2star

T

1.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

6.4

2star

K

5.4

2star

HB

1.0

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.8

4star

!

The streets will never forget

They also won't forget his screamer in the 2001 PF being denied. I'm still furious about it

A shame he only played a few seasons

 

[cyrilsez]

To early to go with Will Day???

Yeah nah still Cyril.

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