Toast Thanks for everything, Paul Puopolo - will retire at season's end

[ScottMaginness]

Been one of my favourite players since he arrived and still best 22 in my book.
All the best Poppy !

 

[QuietB]

Aside from all the pressure acts there was a good 2-3 years when he was the only guy that looked likely to take a hanger inside 50 when a high ball came in! One of my all time fave Hawks- watching those little legs pump as he mowed down defenders was peak Hawthorn 2012-2015.
All the best Pops

This will be my enduring memory of Poppy - a high ball comes into the Hawks forward line and the first player I look for is the smallest bloke on the ground who is Hawthorn's best chance at a contested mark

Ripping player and stopped say hello to my son once - ripping bloke too.

 

[SSSSSS]

Rioli, Breust and Puopolo is without a doubt in my mind, one of the greatest trio of small forwards ever assembled.

 

[Bedi]

The original Energiser bunny, Poppy's def my kinda player! Just love the desperation and tenacious blue-collar approach – constant chasing, tackling and knock ons – like a little terrier, and often rewarded with a highlights reel of brilliant goals (many very timely!) and high flying contests. A really good role model, not just for footballers, but everyone wanting to get the most out of themselves. Very happy he retires a one-club player and the 3 medals dangling around his neck. Reckon he'll have a bit of fun with it next week and could see him kick a few and remind us just how good he was. Well done Poppy and hats off to a top notch career!

 

[ScottMaginness]

Reckon he'll have a bit of fun with it next week and could see him kick a few and remind us just how good he was.

I'm hoping he and Stratts are given license to lairise around a bit rather than having to worry about sticking to team structures.

 

[Nick the Pig]

Even yesterday it was Poppy competing in the air against two bigger opponents that led to Wingard's out the back goal. Always selfless. Would be a wonderful teammate to play alongside knowing the effort he brought to every contest.

Thanks for all the great memories. P.S.our family even named our cat Poppy!

 

[Come back Cyril]

The prototypical pressure forward before it was fashionable - a competitive beast who never gave up.

I would dearly love to have at least one 2013 Poppy in our current team.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Congrats on a great career Pops, was always great watching the little man take a big mark! All the best in retirement.

 

[Mojo]

His demise confuses me a bit - he seemingly hasn't lost much pace. His inability to hit the scoreboard last season was the red flag, but I don't really know why he wasn't able to do it.

 

[Aramis]

He played an absolute blinder that night!

Which year and round?

 

[SSSSSS]

His demise confuses me a bit - he seemingly hasn't lost much pace. His inability to hit the scoreboard last season was the red flag, but I don't really know why he wasn't able to do it.

His legs are gone.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Which year and round?

Round 5 2016

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Absolute selfless warrior.

He could take hangers, beat a man on the lead and pull goals from his exterior. He could have been a consistent 30+ goal kicker for any other team, but instead he played a selfless and unheralded team role for years.

He's someone that every team needs and offered something that he doesn't get due credit for. He was the final piece in one of the greatest forward lines the league has seen.

If you were to sum up his career in a few words it would simply be put as - he just wanted it more.

 

[Hawk Dork]

One of the true greats
Loved watching him
A great small forward a not too shabby CHF too

 

[Simon Crawshay]

A lot of posters have already remarked on Poppy's work ethic and defensive pressure which is absolutely true but I think to concentrate on these aspects of his game does him a little bit of disservice in regards to his attacking flair.

My favorite memories of Poppy are those towering screamers and the goals he would kick of the ground after he got his player goal side (those little legs would pump like crazy and no one was ever going to catch him!)

He was also a beautiful set shot for goal from inside 50m, probably the best in our team alongside Gunston and Bruest.

He was definitely an integral part of the three peat an deserved every one of those premiership medals.

Also always came across as such a genuine bloke in interviews, I bet all of his teammates absolutely loved the fella.

Best of wishes in the future Paul!

 

[Brishawk]

Made a living doing this sort of thing

Tireless Puopolo mows down Selwood

Brilliant chase and tackle by the Hawk pocket rocket

www.afl.com.au

Fantastic example of pushing yourself to do the hard work to put on that pressure and help your team winning. He and Rioli changed the way small forwards play the game. Legend! Best of luck poppy!

 

[Turly]

why couldn't you have just started your post from Valuable....?
it changes the whole context of your post.

This. The first thing I thought.

And in the Stratton thread:

“Been painful to watch the last 2 years”

Just show some class ffs and appreciate what these legends have done for our club.

 

[Flukey!]

This. The first thing I thought.

And in the Stratton thread:

“Been painful to watch the last 2 years”

Just show some class ffs and appreciate what these legends have done for our club.

Exactly. Perhaps the last comments about premiership hero's of our club.
Is it too much to ask to be respectful?

 

[kazzooka]

His demise confuses me a bit - he seemingly hasn't lost much pace. His inability to hit the scoreboard last season was the red flag, but I don't really know why he wasn't able to do it.

I think it's his agility in changing direction and leap that he's lost. Can't get up for hangers anymore and can get side stepped easier.

 

[kazzooka]

A lot of posters have already remarked on Poppy's work ethic and defensive pressure which is absolutely true but I think to concentrate on these aspects of his game does him a little bit of disservice in regards to his attacking flair.

My favorite memories of Poppy are those towering screamers and the goals he would kick of the ground after he got his player goal side (those little legs would pump like crazy and no one was ever going to catch him!)

He was also a beautiful set shot for goal from inside 50m, probably the best in our team alongside Gunston and Bruest.

He was definitely an integral part of the three peat an deserved every one of those premiership medals.

Also always came across as such a genuine bloke in interviews, I bet all of his teammates absolutely loved the fella.

Best of wishes in the future Paul!

One of the biggest myths in football is that puopolo has limited talent, gets picked on his effort and pressure alone and has extracted every bit of talent from hard work alone.

The guy has a highlight real as good as anyone. Speckys, bags of goals, clutch set shots, snaps from the boundary line, soccer goals, tackles, spoils, brilliant knock ons, perfectly weighted set up kicks.

He was very athletically and skilfully gifted AND he worked his arse off defensively.

 

[HairyO]

Made a living doing this sort of thing

Tireless Puopolo mows down Selwood

Brilliant chase and tackle by the Hawk pocket rocket

www.afl.com.au

Fantastic example of pushing yourself to do the hard work to put on that pressure and help your team winning. He and Rioli changed the way small forwards play the game. Legend! Best of luck poppy!

Would be called Play On these days.

Fantastic career. In his prime he was a machine.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

One of the biggest myths in football is that puopolo has limited talent, gets picked on his effort and pressure alone and has extracted every bit of talent from hard work alone.

The guy has a highlight real as good as anyone. Speckys, bags of goals, clutch set shots, snaps from the boundary line, soccer goals, tackles, spoils, brilliant knock ons, perfectly weighted set up kicks.

He was very athletically and skilfully gifted AND he worked his arse off defensively.

Definitely. Dude could flat out play footy.

Having two very offensively talented Small Forwards in Cyril and Poppy who were also so strong on the defensive end played a big part in the 3 peat.

 

[detox]

One of the biggest myths in football is that puopolo has limited talent, gets picked on his effort and pressure alone and has extracted every bit of talent from hard work alone.

The guy has a highlight real as good as anyone. Speckys, bags of goals, clutch set shots, snaps from the boundary line, soccer goals, tackles, spoils, brilliant knock ons, perfectly weighted set up kicks.

He was very athletically and skilfully gifted AND he worked his arse off defensively.

Whenever Poppy found himself in a big moment, he stepped up every time

Didnt get as many opportunities / shots at goal as it wasnt his #1 role but you are spot on, was a very reliable finisher.

Definately one of my favourites

 

[MightyHawks86]

Hurt teams both ways - defensive pressure combined with offensive flair. Perhaps we didn't see the latter as often as some of our other forward stars, but by christ he could show a highlight or two. All the best Poppy. Champion player in a champion team.

 

[Max Powers]

One of favourite Hawks.

Loved watching Poppy play week in and out, absolute little beast of a player.

All the best for life after footy.