Rodney (Balls) Grinter

As an asides (which I think could describe this whole thread anyway), has been great listening to all the commentators talking down Hawthorn's mid field depth over the past few days, with the highlight being when Jonathan Brown stated that the cracks in their invincibility started to show when they were convincingly beaten by a young Melbourne midfield in Rd 20. I do find it amusing how fickle commentators can be when at the start of the season they were all talking up the Hawks great depth, development and how they had this next wave of young stars coming through, but now they see worrying signs on the Hawks talent. We are yet to see how far and how fast the Dorks fall, but for the moment, I'm enjoying the fact that they have fallen off their high, aragent perch and the likely prospect that they will fall further.

As an aside, the current Hawthorn coach is another that could be added to that list. Was not an out and out superstar, but a very serviceable player for us none the less.

In his press conference, Clarckson said that everyone at Hawthorn would be happy if they finished 18th if Jarryd Roughead got his health back (well that's all I recall of his presser before I fell asleep - literally). I think everyone in the football world would be happy for both of these events to come true.

Yet had they won, it would have been this old guard of Leiwis, Hodge, Burgoyne, Mitchell, Gibson that the commentators would have lauded as ageless superstars. I actually think that the writing wason the wall for these guys back in rd 11 when we played them. We had the better of them in general play and if it wasn't for Gunstan kicking 3.1 and a few other toss of the coin opportunities, we would have won that game. In our second match-up, their old guard practically disappeared and only Cyril kept them in that game (similar to last night). All of a sudden, this great depth and wave of young talent that Hawthorn had doesn't looks so good either as it's far easier for average players to look good in great sides. Whilst our respective seasons both died somewhat inglorious ends, the underlying reasons were different and the two teams are heading in different directions.

Regardless of what he said verbally, his awesome fist away and body language certainly said " bounce it properly then ". Was a great bit of theatre in the midst of an enjoyable win against the filth. Added some nice icing to the cake along with Max's other non verbal statements that day.

Just love Big Maxy's persona and thought that he needs his own topic to make sure we never miss a giggle from the gems of humor that seen to pop out every second sentence. So here is one to start things off, as reported on the Fox Footy web news page: Via Hawks duo Isaac Smith and Josh Gibson during the night, Frawley apparently said Gawn’s head would’ve “gotten quite big quickly” if he had taken out the Leigh Matthews Trophy. Big Max’s rebuttal, however, had Frawley covered. “Old Chip Frawley, hey? Well Hawthorn has to play a 17-man defence because Chip doesn’t defend too much anymore,” Gawn said. I'm not sure it's right up there with his absolute best work, bid did like that it gave Frawley a well earnt sledging. So what else has the new mouth from Melbourne put out there?

With all the talk of us being such a young side this season, the addition of Melksham and Hibberd would increase the average age/games overnight. Not sure how significant that is though if they can't play at the required level, as adding Dunn, Garland and or H would have a similar statistical effect. When adding just two players has such a significant statistical effect, I do wonder if this stat/claim was over played a bit by the club this year?

Yes my wife is also a sunny day Hawthorn supporter. All I can say is how sweet was Rd 20. Looking forward to a period of sustained success over those horrible poo brown and yellow jumpers. I feel our list is headding in the opposite direction to theirs, even if they get O'Meara, Vickery and others. The old brigade of Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis and Gibson that were somewhat holding their team together are past it and I really don't think their next bunch of replacement kids are all that flash.

Great result and another great ambassador of the club.

Hiring a proven coach with excellent credentials, who promoted a sound, basic, build from defense up approach to football, recruiting competitors with good character, along with engraining solid team first, winning culture - I'm not sure I'd call that an experiment as opposed to a well trodden path to success. I just hope this path continues uninterrupted under Goodwin, which I have reasonable confidence that it will. A bit of luck wouldn't go astray either, we are overdue for a bit of that.

Agree. Perhaps it's just nostalgia, but for my mind, the best modern footy was played in that 80s/90s era, with two or three on the bench and limited (but not subitutinal type) interchange. Current coaches complain that it would "slow the game down" and that players would "burn out in the fourth quarter" - my personal opinion is that's crap: 1. Players and teams would need to relearn how to 'pace' them selves so as to leave them selves more in the tank at the end of the game. 1500m runners don't go out at 400m pace for the first lap. 2. Would result in more true one on one (not 5 on 5) contests to move the ball down the ground; 3. More true lead up and one on one power forward/key back type contests at either end of the ground. 4. Still plenty of scope for different sized, skilled and athleticly talented players to play different roles and parts of the ground. This is the way Aussie Rules was meant to be played. If limited rotations failed to bring the desired result, I'd also actually be in favor of introducing further zone rules in general play, beyond the current centre square one we have now.

Can B Stretch also add his name to the list to become the second father son Bluey?!

Love it. I remember that slimy little turrd $ulley saying a similar thing, but my impression is Trac has got so much more character and integrity than him.

Disagree with your last statement, but otherwise on the money. Personally, the award I hope the poll much better in is the Norm Smith in a MFC premiership team - everything else is pretty much rubbish.

Just hope he fares better in future years than our last two AAs .

Maxxeey I love this bloke.

Free Of Charge Is that what you meant - haha

Team - Essendon, North, Carlton Finals - one that gotaway

Perhaps we also should have traded Patracca before he did his knee. Big Max is another one who's currency before this year was well down due to successive knee injuries and just look at how many seasons we have wasted on the bearded warrior. Salem has already produced more in the two or three years on our list than Cale Morton or Joydan Gysbits did in half a dozen and they are the other potential out comes of trading for a draft pick and trying a different option. Are you from the school of thought that high draft picks should perform to their full potential from their first year? Only a few freaks like Crisps and Judd ever managed that, but most clubs fully expect quality players to take a few years to develop and can take longer if there are a few speed bumps along the way. Just look at Robbie Grey guess you would have traded him too. I actually think that first round draft picks are like new cars, in so far as you pretty much loose value on them the moment you drive them out the door.

That sounds like a polite way to turn down what would likely be a poisoned chalice for him.

Hogan's first season was certainly ahead of where Johnathan Browns was and Tom Hawkins took about as long as Jack Watts to come good I recon. Both of the aforementioned played in kinda handy sides too. Our delivery into the forward line was deplorable at times this year, but should only get better as the team improves. I'm sure Jessie would have been much happier with the kind of supply that Tomahawk was getting today.

I'm not sure that Freo would be looking so attractive to Hogan after the realitive seasons us and them have had. Freo's annus horribilis couldn't have come at a better time for us in many ways. The main concern would be if the exit of key players like Pav and deflation in value of a few others will leave them with a huge war chest to throw at Jessie.

Whilst it would certainly be handy to pick up a few quality players in the off season, I'm not sure that any sort of cull of our playing list is required, beyond the few obvious delistings. I'm now just looking forward to what another preseason will do for our young team. It's pretty incredible that we have been able to compete against many of the sides out there this year, when you consider the realitive youth of our list, it is a case of boys playing against men in a lot of instances. Hoping our game goes to that next level with some more physical and mental maturity.

As much as watching the game today sucked, perhaps it was for the better. There has been enough good performances this year for the team to build a bit of confidence that we can match it with some of the good teams on our day. If there was any sence of overconfidence and complacency from our small run of form, today's loss should leave a bad taste in the mouths of the players to motivate them to work their butts off over preseason as there is obviously still a lot of work to go.

Still spewing about last weeks game and more so with WC winning. Those GWS ****ers will have had pleanty of motivation as they will be playing for a home final. If we were to win and win well today (and I have little confidence that, but then said the same agains the Hawks), then surely that would provide both some added confidence and motivation to go to the next level in 2017.