Forgive me for venting but I strayed on to Big Footy this morning and found myself reading a thread on the Hawks forum with the headline ‘Why is Hawthorn so great’? As exercises in self delusion it can’t be beaten. I wanted to answer it, but turns out I don’t have reply rights on BF so I am letting rip here.

They make a few points but all annoying. Here goes: Anyone alive has seen more Hawthorn premierships than any other (13 - this much is true); the Coodabeens used to have a joke that the Grand Final was the final match of the year when someone played Hawthorn. Elsewhere they bang on about St Kilda having no right to try to establish a stronger presence in the south east because that is Hawthorn territory.

Anyone who has read Between The Flags would know how much of this is self-serving BS. Hawthorn’s presence in the south east, and eight of those 13 premierships are in large part due to the introduction of country zoning in 1967.

St Kilda was the sole inhabitant of the south east when country zones came in and was counting on being assigned the Mornington Peninsula but the Saints were premiers at the time and Hawthorn, well Hawthorn was rubbish and bumbling about in the bottom third of the ladder, so luckily, or suspiciously, Hawthorn was assigned the talent-rich MP- West Gippsland zone that the Saints had prepared for by moving to Moorabbin.

They also boast of having voted - “unlike that other mob” - to have opposed a merger, and again, any who has read Between The Flags knows that is a misreading of what happened.

The truth is, we were once like them. Melbourne originally had one great advantage in recruiting, which was the fact we played at the best ground in the state, probably the nation. For a quarter of a century we made the most of it, then times changed. Hawthorn likewise had one great advantage, their amazing country zone and good luck to them, they made the most of it.

But its’ infuriating that they think their success is down to their own virtue. I know I made that same mistake about us.

On another matter, they also sling off at St Kilda trying to increase its presence in the south east because that is “Hawthorn territory”. See paragraph four above to understand the falseness of that self-delusion.

So I’ll pose another question: Why are Hawthorn supporters so full of it? All contributions gratefully accepted.

 

 

I live for the day similar success at the MFC brings such derision! 

We play them twice this year at the G so I would suggest turning up and enjoying absolute demolition jobs.

You can then sit there smugly and enjoy watching their supporters sitting there talking about the young kid who has had 15 touches and looks promising.

Imagine the midfield battle of Reeves, Newcombe Worpel and Ward vs Gawn, Oliver, Petracca and Viney.... what a blood bath that will be.

Edited February 15, 20232 yr by Action Jackson

The best revenge is living well...move on.

Because they've won the lottery of life being Hawthorn fans. They grew up with an entitled sense that flags were things that just happened. That entitlement isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's great to be part of a winning organisation. However the truth is that they honestly don't know what it means to struggle as an AFL fan, they don't understand what it feels like to chase a single flag in your lifetime like some kind of Moby Dick. For most Hawks fans I know, this 8 year flag drought is even too much for them. 

It's not even worth worrying about at the end of the day, not all footy fans are created equal. 

Good on them for being so passionate. But their supporters are the biggest load of bandwagon supporters in the league. Their crowds have completely dropped off the the last years. Last year (and I know they play some games in TAS) their total attendance at home games was the fifth worst in the league (similar figure to the Bulldogs and Saints). 

Scratch most Hawthorn Baby boomers and you will find an ex-saint or ex-demon. They all got on in the 1970's. 

hawthorn - nouveau riche melbourne

15 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Good on them for being so passionate. But their supporters are the biggest load of bandwagon supporters in the league. Their crowds have completely dropped off the the last years. Last year (and I know they play some games in TAS) their total attendance at home games was the fifth worst in the league (similar figure to the Bulldogs and Saints). 

That crowd last year was pretty awful, really surprising. 

48 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

Forgive me for venting but I strayed on to Big Footy this morning

Mistake #1. (Confession: I am a part-time Bigfooty lurker.)

 

48 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

So I’ll pose another question: Why are Hawthorn supporters so full of it? All contributions gratefully accepted.

Little-known fact. At various times, Hawks, Brions, Cats, Bombers, Weagles, Blues, Kangas, Tiges and even Demons fans have been full of it. Probably even Roys at one time. It goes with success. The more prolonged, the more hubristic. Success begets success and specially-constructed bandwagons are required to fit on all the johnny-come-latelys. (Special note: Pies fans have always been full of it.)

But ... (now read on)

47 minutes ago, pitmaster said:

then times changed.

As they will again. So will the hubris of these pretenders to our crown. Let's show these phoneys what true obnoxious hubris is. GO DEMONS!!!

TWO WORDS settles their interminable malaise, the first starts with J and the second starts with K

A very dislikeable fanbase.

And they have the worst colours of any sports team the world over. Pee and Poo colours. What kind of a demented mind thought that was a good idea. 

There only a few real Hawthorn supporters and I think I know them all personally and can count them on one maybe two hands.

The rest are all on the bandwagon, not real, not passionate, just a bunch of DH's.

The only team to have "red rattlers" regularly visit the ground on Sat arvos....

Couldn't give a stuff about Hawthorn.

1 hour ago, layzie said:

Because they've won the lottery of life being Hawthorn fans. They grew up with an entitled sense that flags were things that just happened. That entitlement isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's great to be part of a winning organisation. However the truth is that they honestly don't know what it means to struggle as an AFL fan, they don't understand what it feels like to chase a single flag in your lifetime like some kind of Moby Dick. For most Hawks fans I know, this 8 year flag drought is even too much for them. 

It's not even worth worrying about at the end of the day, not all footy fans are created equal. 

I imagine our supporters during the 50's and 60's were the same..... how quickly it can change.

They began their serious domination at a perfect time. It was all on TV. Back in the ‘70’s that was gold 

i have seen 12 of those stinking Flags. Felt sick at every one of them

1 hour ago, Damo said:

Scratch most Hawthorn Baby boomers and you will find an ex-saint or ex-demon. They all got on in the 1970's. 

Ex Hawker here. 
I switched to Melbourne in 1965

56 minutes ago, willmoy said:

The only team to have "red rattlers" regularly visit the ground on Sat arvos....

What’s a red rattler?

9 minutes ago, radar said:

Ex Hawker here. 
I switched to Melbourne in 1965

I won't ask you for this week's lotto numbers then.

15 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

What’s a red rattler?

 

 

I’m a 4th generation MFC member who now owns quite a bit of hawks gear (thanks to the vagaries of the draft). At least they know how [censored] their colours are by using navy in all their merchandising. 

It’s sort of like we own them now (at least in a football sense) anyway. 

I switched from Hawthorn to Melbourne in about 1973 (used to wear Hudsons 26 on my  jumper).  Atleast one Blues switched as well.MFC was still quite fashionable back then but the rot was about to set in. We had good players but utterly useless coaches one after the other.

7 minutes ago, Deebauched said:

I switched from Hawthorn to Melbourne in about 1973 (used to wear Hudsons 26 on my  jumper).  Atleast one Blues switched as well.MFC was still quite fashionable back then but the rot was about to set in. We had good players but utterly useless coaches one after the other.

It seems some very bad decision making in the late 60s and early 70s led to decades of misery for some on here. I at least had no choice. My black cloud was my birthright.

Some of the more delusional ones actually think 2023 will be a failure if their team misses the finals, if you listen to talkback.