Demonsone

Hawthorn have been building foundations since the failed merger almost 20yrs ago.... I think people forget how strong off the field they become financially including the Waverley deal which was a bargain etc... Stability was the key & with strong cash flows they attracted the right people across the entire club .. So 4 flags in 8 yrs just didn't happen..... Look back on our club in the same period ...we wanted a White knight to be our saviour, poor long term vision, rejecting the now Lexus centre, continued internal board & mgt issues, CEOs changing, crap sponsorship fiascos, band aid approach & diabolical drafting & culture as a result of wrong people in critical positions, continued coach changes & game plans....

If can't get a game in team playing finals ... Why would we take him????

Last time checked there were 18 teams & only 1 team can win a flag .. Not all players will be premiership players... Restraint of trade is garbage when your originally drafted by whichever club picks you... Loyalty is a 2 way street but these players have to get a reality check, that not all of them can play for the Farken Hawks & win 3 flags in a row!

Bottom clubs struggle to secure classy free agents... We offered Dangefield big $$$ but no interest .... Good players wanna go to top clubs to win a flag.. Eg frawley .. Vicious circle & got caught in the cycle of bad drafting & expansion clubs ...

Well said... & no one wants to take away there succes as they managed & used the system well... But does the afl want supporters feeling that their club basically has no chance of winning a flag???

Correct.... Though the dominace of 4 clubs has occurred regardless of premiership droughts ... My fear is free agency will allow top clubs to target bottom clubs of talent & keep their premiership clock open.....

Not at all . MFC position own fault .. But there are 15 other clubs who haven't won a flag in 15 yrs.... 80% of flags between 4 clubs.. Afl can't talk about equalisation then have these results .. How's our comp really changed from the dominance of a few clubs in each decade??? Apart from the 90s maybe... You reap what you sew... MFC were diabolical...

Firstly well done to Hawks as they showed what a well run, coached, trade,development & cultured club can achieve.... But this is not what the afl wants, domination by one or 2 clubs..... In the last 15 yrs 12 premierships by 4 clubs .. Hawks 4, cats 3, lions 3, swans 2 not to mention Hawks 5 gf, cats 4 gf, lions 4 gf & swans 4 gf... Can't see equalisation here.......

Agree Hawks have had early failed picks.... But not as many as the MFC ... The above drafting/free agents along with below & the rest is history... The quality of their field kicking is so dominant & when u hit targets it results in less turnovers... Some of the kicking skills from our players have been deplorable... 2001 Luke Hodge (1) — 250 games, 3 x All-Australian, 2 x best and fairest, 3 x premierships, 2 x Norm Smith Medal Rick Ladson (16) — 125 games, 1 x premiership Campbell Brown (32) — 159 games, 1 x All-Australian, 1 x premiership Sam Mitchell (36) — 261 games, 2 x All-Australian, 4 x best and fairest, 3 x premierships 2004 Jarryd Roughead (2) — 207 games, 441 goals, 2 x All-Australian, 1 x Coleman Medal, 3 x premierships Lance Franklin (5) — 182 games, 580 goals, 5 x All-Australian, 3 x Coleman Medal, 2 x premierships Jordan Lewis (7) — 217 games, 1 x All-Australian, 1 x best and fairest, 3 x premierships Tom Murphy (21) — 95 games Simon Taylor (53) — 85 games

Recruiting in the early to mid 00s did not address the changing style of the game which was contested footy...we all know the failed early picks from 07-13...club had too many coaching changes & poor direction with poor recruiters which resulted in one of the poorest lists in afl history.... Yet hawks had 2 super drafts in 01 & 04 coupled with stability & resulted in 3 flags possibly 4 in 8 yrs...

Hoping my mate doesn't see another Hawks flag!!!!

Great mark but really a 1 trick pony.. Plenty of turnovers from kicks out of the backline ... Maybe better suited as a forward only... Wouldn't be paying 500k to keep him.....

Exactly... 09 we had 1,2,11,18.... Trengove only one left, but injured for 2 yrs... We got compensated for Scully but when you throw in all the rest of our early picks over a 10 yr period it's no wonder we continue to rebuild.... Compare us to Hawks who had 2 super drafts of 01 & 04 which is basically the nucleus of their premiership teams...

This amazes me ... Couldnt cut it to play accountable footy in a top 4 team... Came back overweight & couldn't run.. You really think he would really influence & mentor our young players trying to set high std??? Rather pay Dangefield 2 mill a yr than pay Sylvia $1...

Can't blame Frawley .. Club was a basket case pre Roos saw an opportunity to maybes win a flag can't blame him

Really want his character back @ our club... Couldn't make it in a top 4 club as standards too high .... Had 10 yrs & coasted in a very poor side by default not by work ethic

Free agency has definitely benefited top clubs in the premiership clock & perhaps even kept them there longer... Eg buddy to Swans & frawley to Hawks..... The appeal for players to move & taste premiership success is a key driver but we're 18 team comp & not all players can play in a premiership...... My fear is lower clubs will pay overs to attract free agents to an unsuccessful club....

So clubs like Melb are just making up the numbers.....Richmond have 70k membership & yet have not played in a Gf since 1982 & played in only 3-4 finals ... What's occurred is the large clubs to their credited have even become bigger & stronger, they are miles ahead in terms of facilities & attracting sponsors .. Throw in the fixture controlled by tv ratings which just continues to support the bigger clubs....

The afl introduced a salary cap & draft to stop clubs going broke & stop the domination of power clubs.... Has this worked? Premiers & Runners up since 2000 Haw : flags 08,13,14, 15? Runners up 12, 15? Geelong flags 07,09,11 runners up 08 Swans flags 05, 12 runners up 06, 14 Brisbane flags 01,02,03 runners up 04 West Coast flags 06 runners up 05 Port flags 04 runners up 07 Coll flag 10, runners up 02,03,11 Ess flag 2000 runners up 01 Saints runners up 09, 10 Freo runners up 13 Melb runners up 2000 11 out 15 premierships have been won by 3 teams........ So what's really changed from the the 70s & 80s...

Cause our club stuffed up all 4 picks in top 20...... & supporters ask why we can't win more games...

Still dreaming....lol

Not the point I was trying to make ... Virtually 4 failed picks in top 20.. I know we got compensated for Scully & trengove maynever play again ..

This sums up our footy club pathetic drafting... 09 draft 1: Scully 2 : trengove 11: gysberts 18: tapscott 20 : Fyfe

Have to accept the MFC was has been a basket case... It's the club responsibility to create an environment were players want to stay... It's not always premierships but what occurred from 08-13 was a disgrace & don't blame players who left to seek more opportunities..