Did anyone catch a replay I think about ten minutes into the last quarter after a Hawthorn goal where Garland hunched to the ground with his hands on his head.

About two seconds later Harry ran over to him and fervently picked him up from the ground. Garland didn't remonstrate but he just looked mentally and physical gone. I think Lynden Dunn then came over and gave garland a pat on the head.

Is this where the mentality is at with this club? I don't blame Garland with the crap he has put up with over the past 8 years but I thought it was quite telling about the mindset of our players and it is obviously quite foreign to the environment Harry has been in.

Seems like they were supporting each other Stig - That's a positive.

Seems like they were supporting each other Stig - That's a positive.

No doubt, but the manner in which he picked him it seemed to me that Harry was saying that this behaviour for a senior player just does not look good, which is why I think Dunn came in straight after with a pat to the head.

Look, it wasn't Jezza giving Percy Jones a dressing down but it was definitely Harry saying that we have to keep our heads up.

Edited May 17, 201510 yr by The Stigga

Maybe Garland is going thru a tough time on an off-field matter...remember he had a pretty strong emotional reaction to the win against Richmond. Good to see his team mates rally around him.

H doesn't seem the type to give a teammate a serve at that stage of the game. We shouldn't be too quick to judge. If Garland is going thru a tough time, I applaud him for playing the way he does. He was one of our better players yesterday. Cut him some slack, folks.

Garland has been serviceable over the years, however he is mentally spent and all these types on our list are not helping the future of this club.

i expect garland to walk as a free agent at the end of the year.

i guess we will get a second round compo pick for yet another wantaway defender.

Seemed like a don't you dare give up type thing

Probably just the realization he has to toil though yet another season with no shot at finals

Have to feel for him

Thought I saw him bawling his eyes out after the Richmond win??

Been tough work being a member of the back 6 for the past few years, he probably thought like the rest of us that the days of 100 point smashings were over.

I do believe his contract is up at seasons end. At 26 or 27 years of age at seasons end I can see him getting plenty of offers elsewhere. he has a good 5 years of footy left. I do worry players like Garland will leave to go to greener pastures, we simply cannot keep losing key players to other clubs when we are this crapola.

Thought I saw him bawling his eyes out after the Richmond win??

So does that mean SWYL doesn't like Garland at all because he was crying?

I thought it was one of the few positives from the day. It was an absolute howler from Garland but Lumumba and Dunn were both quick to offer their support. Good to see.

Garland finally started to clunk them and take them on yesterday.

The turnover was not all execution either.

Our gut running to provide an option was VFL standard.

So does that mean SWYL doesn't like Garland at all because he was crying?

Probably not

Wasn't that after Garland stuffed up a short pas and kicked it straight to a Hawk who goaled? I'd be a bit upset with myself if I did that too.

Probably just a very visible example of why Roos wanted Lamumba at the club.

Have only heard very positive comments about his leadership and encouragement from the players this year.

Been tough work being a member of the back 6 for the past few years, he probably thought like the rest of us that the days of 100 point smashings were over.

I do believe his contract is up at seasons end. At 26 or 27 years of age at seasons end I can see him getting plenty of offers elsewhere. he has a good 5 years of footy left. I do worry players like Garland will leave to go to greener pastures, we simply cannot keep losing key players to other clubs when we are this crapola.

Ironically, if Col hadn't provided the goal assist to hawthorn in that passage of play the margin would've been 99, lol

Edit: on the topic of players leaving as free agents, I'll be mighty peaved if PJ isn't building the strongest of cases for special assistance to the AFL, clearly what is happening at this club is not sustainable.

Edited May 17, 201510 yr by leucopogon

He's 27 years old, and since he was a teenager he's been told better times, indeed, 'glorious' times, were just around the corner.

He's borne the brunt of the club's failures for year after year, often being the defender who has to cover a mismatched opponent because we didn't have the right players available, and facing down who knows how many 100pt losses that could hardly be his fault but which he was always 'on camera' for.

His only direct colleague in his role throughout that time has left, to go to the very same opponent that was smashing him that day. His other mates through that time are either sinking to the end of their careers in the VFL or have gone to other clubs.

His closest mentors throughout his career are dead.

He was one of our best on the day, one of the few who actually didn't drop his head. I'm fine with him being visibly upset at making a clanger (or even moreso, having a clanger kind of imposed upon him by circumstance). Honestly, I think I'd be even happier to see Garland celebrating a win in a final than I would be for Nathan Jones.

Edited May 17, 201510 yr by Little Goffy

Well Said ^^

I would not one ounce of grudge if Garland left at the end of the year. The guys deserves finals success.

Keep ya chin up Garlo.

I saw it and he was definitely not adversely reacting to Garland's position... he saw that Garland was distressed over what had happened (I think he had gifted them a goal) and he was encouraging Garland to put it behind him and get on with the game (in a very positive and caring way). Great leadership and something that I would think Garland appreciated.

Edited May 17, 201510 yr by hardtack

Garland had just gifted the Hawks a goal and slumped over. Lumumba came over and tried to lift him up. We need to just keep trying to do the right thing and I think lamumba was trying to get that across. Definitely a positive.

Garland finally started to clunk them and take them on yesterday.

The turnover was not all execution either.

Our gut running to provide an option was VFL standard.

TGR gut running, leading up and hitting up those lead up targets as you work your way up the field has been happening as an AFL standard play for decades now. That includes hitting a lead up target coming inside 50 quite often.The top 4 to 6 teams are able to do this regularly with relative ease week in week out. The modern game has no doubt added a frenzied work rate to this style with so many interchanges allowing players to bust their gut for the whole time they're on the ground prior to their next rotation.

The fact that we have been unable to implement this gamestyle consistently since 2006, and rarely over many decades prior to this season, is one of the many reasons why this club has now become irrelevant.

Even the lowliest clubs each year manage to string together this style of play against middle to lessor ranked teams most weeks. Yes they do get intercepted and turn the ball over more often against the top 6 to 8 opponents but they still have this capability in their arsenal and are able to do so successfully on occasions to great effect and success on the scoreboard, including occasional upsets against somewhat higher rated opponents at times (eg., Richmond over the Pies today).

Until we have the personnel with the will/work rate to gut run a match out and the skills by FOOT to do this (including delivery inside 50) we will always be languishing at the bottom of the ladder. IMO calling us a FOOTball club is a stretch at best. The Hawks know the value of this gamestyle and have grown an amazing list with gut busting running abilities as well as sublime skills by foot enabling them to hit up target after target as they work their way up the field. When they see an opportunity inside they are also able to pull the trigger and go inside (or switch...quickly) with hand or foot with soldiers always running past from behind to get forward of play (or on the switch) for the next receive or lead mark. Their gut running also means they are constantly on the move providing so many options and burning off less fit/capable opponents.

To date i have yet to see this as an ingrained part of our weekly gamestyle in my lifetime of watching the MFC, other than for a few short match streaks within a season, a few individuals in the present list (eg., T-Mac, Viney, N Jones...mostly gut running...by foot...well) or at best maybe 1/2 seasons (max) in isolation (eg., most of 1987/88, parts of 1994, most of 2000, parts of 2004, 2005 & 2006).

When/IF the MFC ever builds a list capable of doing the above across most of the 22 representing it, we should finally start to see us winning our fair share of games at AFL level. Until then we have effectively become irrelevant in the modern era as we seem unable to carry out this minimum standard of "moving the air conveyance" required at AFL level.

Edited May 17, 201510 yr by Rusty Nails

Garland actually gave the Hawks their first goal with a very short pass which went along t he ground. And he certainly gave away the goal which lead to Heretier's sympathy. But he played a darned good game, marking fearlessly. I would be devastated if we lost him. Sure, he makes the odd blunder but he can play on talls and bigs, and never turns it in. Regrettably in the third quarter I thought a few of his team mates did.

And well done Heretier'.

I would not one ounce of grudge if Garland left at the end of the year. The guys deserves finals success.

Attitudes like this is why the clubs farked.

If he wants finals success.

Work for it, and make sure your teammates work for it too.

Barassi uses a quote - "If it is to be. It's up to me."

Edited May 17, 201510 yr by Fork 'em

I met "H" at the FH Dinner last night.

This is is a big statement, but I think he was the most impressive man I've ever met.