“Unsociable” can easily become “dumb” in the AFL if a player is not careful.
Earlier this season, media commentator Nathan Buckley started using the expression “unsociable football” to describe Hawthorn’s hard-edged playing style.
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Along with stars such as Lance Franklin and tactics that include a well-executed zone defence, toughness has been a hallmark of the Hawks’ unbeaten start to the season.
The term “unsociable football” has become so common this year, and used to describe Hawthorn so often, it’s widely-assumed to have come from the Hawks – which they insist is not the case.
But what is beyond doubt is that they are regularly catching the eye of the match review panel, a lot more than Hawthorn would like.
This week, Shane Crawford accepted a one-match ban for striking and Ben McGlynn received a four-game suspension at the tribunal for rough conduct.
At times, the Hawks have said publicly that reports are sometimes a price to be paid for being hard at the ball and keeping pressure on the opposition.
Privately, their attitude is more that if you’re booked, you’ve taken it too far.
At some stage this week, someone from the Hawks football department sat down with McGlynn to review video footage of the collision with Port Adelaide’s Kane Cornes that led to his suspension.
McGlynn would have received 10 out of 10 for intent, but a much lower mark for how he went about the contest.
The review with Crawford would have been more straight-forward – as in, “that was dumb, cut it out”.
The much-decorated veteran was caught on video striking Dean Brogan and he also missed the opening three games of the season on another striking offence.
While the Hawks’ toughness has attracted a lot of interest this year, it is also worth looking at the other two unbeaten teams, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs.
Several years ago, when coach Mark Thompson was building the list that would take the Cats to last year’s historic premiership, he made it clear he did not want thugs or hitmen in his team.
Rather, he needed players who would consistently win their own ball and withstand the physical punishment of the game.
Gary Ablett is so talented, it is often forgotten that he routinely puts his body in danger to gain possession.
Two years ago, as the Cats stagnated, key forward Cameron Mooney was suspended four times in the one season.
It was knucklehead stuff and self-defeating – he was intimidating no-one and opponents kept trying to fire him up.
Since 2006, Mooney has kept a clean rap sheet.
Last year, he also gained All-Australian selection and was a key player in a premiership team.
There are many reasons why the Bulldogs are up with the Cats and Hawks this year, including the development of the team, bigger-bodied players and keeping key personnel out of the medical room.
But there is no doubt that over the off-season, the Bulldogs made it a focus to become harder at the football.
This year, they have won the contested-possession count in five games out of eight – last season, it was six out of 22.
It will be fascinating to watch where the Hawks take their commitment to playing uncompromising, fierce football.
Perhaps where Mooney was two years ago is where Hawthorn are now – learning some lessons about toughness the hard way.
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