The hysteria that greeted the match review panel’s decision to serve Jordan Lewis with only a two-match suspension confirms that the footballing public often lose all sense of perspective when emotions are involved.
Hawthorn’s so-called unsociable football from the 2008 season, that led them to the premiership, has never been looked on kindly by opposition supporters.
The current Hawks side are respected more than liked due to the reputation developed from that period, along with coach Alastair Clarkson’s penchant for rage-induced lapses in concentration.
The Hawks were obviously ropeable at their opening-term performance the previous week against Port, and came into the North match with an aggressive mindset and in-your-face attitude. It can sometimes be a fine line between asserting physical dominance and acts of thuggery.
Tempers flared after Luke Hodge clipped Andrew Swallow off the ball. The blood of North fans and righteous neutrals was on the boil after that incident, and it was well and truly overflowing after Jordan Lewis was late with a spoil on Todd Goldstein.
Lewis got there late, no doubt, and his calculated attempt to make Goldstein ‘earn it’ was clumsy at best, reckless at worst.
But it’s hard not to think the public outcry reached the extent it did because emotions were running at fever pitch after the Hodge strike on Swallow. The swinging arm of Lewis was also not a good look. It’s this ‘look’ that led people to take leave of their senses.
Last year, Richmond’s Tyrone Vickery delivered a swinging roundhouse punch to the jaw of West Coast’s Dean Cox with a clenched fist, knocking Cox out, causing him to be subbed out of the game, and miss the following week. Vickery’s four-week ban was deemed acceptable by most.
But now people are arguing that Lewis should have received the same or almost as much as Vickery. This, despite Lewis connecting with only his high inner forearm on Goldstein, causing the North ruckman no damage. In fact, Goldstein recorded 14 disposals in the match, against a season average of 16, and 40 hit outs against a season average of 41. The difference in those stats is negligible.
Where Goldstein suffered was with the hard stuff. He had totalled 24 tackles in his four matches heading into the Hawks game, outstanding for a ruckman, but laid a total of zero on Saturday night. Physical intimidation is still a factor at AFL level, even if some would have it leave the game.
It can’t be a coincidence that two of the most senior Hawks, long-time leaders on the field and off, both crossed the line in the opening quarter. It’s also not a coincidence that their team won the match by 10 goals.
Is it a coincidence that Hawthorn have Greater Western Sydney and Melbourne in the next two weeks? Not a bad couple of games for Hodge and Lewis to miss.
Some teams are able to set a hard, physical standard, and some players take that too far. Those who do get suspended by the match review panel. But missing a couple of weeks here and there to send a message is often no bad thing.
Perhaps the actions of Lewis and Hodge were an overt reminder to the top teams that the Hawks aren’t going to tread lightly any more. They mean to win their third flag in a row, and don’t plan on taking any prisoners while doing it.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Beveridge is a product of Clarkson's coaching Pumping Dougie, just saying!
Paul W
Guest
It's amazing that anyone was intimidated by Dimmatina and Romero, theirs was all bluff. But they didn't go with the cheap shots that the Hawks pull. Danny Southern was more intimidating with that wild stare. The only players I've really heard of being intimidated by the Dogs under Wallace were Michael Gardiner in the last game at the Western/Whitten Oval and Ben Cousins when Libba tagged him to distraction and made him cry. Maybe Steven Kretiuk's slapping of Lloyd's broken hand wasn't the best look either.
Paul W
Guest
When he said that he thought he'd hit Goldstein's arms. Puleeeez. Playing sport at the highest level and he missed by that far. The more the week goes on the less respect I have for Lewis, which was already pretty low. As I said earlier it seems that with Hodge the red mist came down and he reacted to something, I just don't know what caused it.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Nothing wrong with some malice on the footy field in my opinion, and that's why we have suspensions. Having a threat of menace about you is a good thing when you're a top side.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I can think nothing of it AND that they should be suspended though, can't I?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"Did anyone see AFL360 last night?" Never missed an episode since it has been going. Great show. Have to disagree with you though. I thought Lewis answered a very awkward question as best he could without lashing out. He after all was being accused of dirty-play, and if indeed he wasn't, then that would be hard to stomach. Especially from Robo who deliberately at times antagonises people in order to get a reaction/story out of it. I like Robo, but he is starting to become a bit of a broken record on issues and his eccentric nature is wearing a little thin. The entire incident with Chris Yarren highlighted just how silly Robo can be at times when he tried to defend the indefensible. However, there was one awkward moment in Lewis' comments that pricked my ears a little. When he spoke of having to hit harder when you see a bigger player tells me he probably wasn't entirely going for the ball. When you see it in full speed though, I'm going to give Lewis the benefit of the doubt, because like he said, any incident looks bad when you have a 100 slow motion angles to replay all week.
Pumping Doubie
Guest
Andy, I was a huge admirer of Tony Liberatore when he won his Brownlow. For a bloke to win the B&F in the 1sts, 2nds and U19s comps at 4 foot tall, no speed and a poor kick, I thought he was an inspiration to all budding juniors who lack physical talent. But under Wallace, he became a thug and I finished with zero respect for him (especially upon learning of him scratching young opponents and king-hitting Matthew Knights for no reason). I'm ashamed of his association with my team. The other guys you mention, I've got no problem with "roughing blokes up" - I thought Danny Southern was terrific. Dimmattina and Romero were just annoying pests, but there's a big difference between cheap shots (like Libber and Lewis) and having a crack at somebody. For the record, I'm a big fan of Luke Hodge, but I have always regarded Jordan Lewis as a sniper and a bloke who has a dip at opponents when they're not looking or in a position to retaliate, so I don't admire him..
Ryan Buckland
Expert
Did anyone see AFL360 last night? I thought, for once, Mark Robinson was on the money in his questioning of Lewis. It was fair and balanced, and to be honest Lewis' answers left a lot to be desired for mine.
andyl12
Guest
Nothing wrong with Luke Beveridge IMO. But what did you think years ago when Terry Wallace coached the Bulldogs and made gutter tactics a key part of his game plan, especially in 1997 and 1998 when Danny Southern, Paul Dimattina, Libba, Jose Romero and few others were roughing up the opposition every game? While none of this justifies what our players did on Saturday, I often feel that it's wrong to criticise what one club does unless you're willing to concurrently criticise every other club who's done it too.
Pumping Doubie
Guest
Let's not give plaudits for unprompted, surprise thuggery and suggest it is "setting a hard a physical standard" or suggest that it is a useful message to send, Cam. It's a bad blueprint for success. I can't imagine how either Hodge or Lewis's actions would intimidate opponents. They might frustrate or enrage them, because of the likelihood of suspension for retaliation. They will lose respect in the industry from their peers for those actions, not gain respect. Cheap shots don't intimidate, they make the perpetrator look weaker. If the tribunal doesn't punish these types of actions sufficiently, players may feel obliged to take matters into their own hands. Which would make for a good spectacle, but bad example. Given no serious damage was caused, I'm comfortable with the 3 week suspensions to the Hawk players (2 for Lewis with the guilty plea). May was stiff, but he could have avoided being cited if he'd just gone for the footy instead of the man. You get much more respect for going hard at the footy. He could have accepted 2 weeks with a guilty plea instead of fighting it and copping 3.
Pumping Doubie
Guest
Ha, ha, just saw all this guys. I'm a Doggies supporter Andy. I love the way Paul Roos coaches, Ken Hinkley and Bomber Thompson for example, but I'm not a fan of Clarko. It's got nothing to do with envy and all to do with the way he operates. He's got angry small man syndrome. But I accept he and the Hawks have achieved brilliant results in recent times and Clarko is obviously respected by those that have worked with him or played under him, and no doubt also by Hawk supporters. But he's a thug. I don't like Ross Lyon either for his negative tactics or James Hird for his lack of ethics or Phil Walsh for his demeanour. But all the rest get the thumbs up! Especially Luke Beverige, he's a gun!!!
Perry Bridge
Guest
For Lewis - it was not the tribunal - it never got there - it was the MRP.
Perry Bridge
Guest
The irony after the Hodge one - was that Hawthorn then got a free kick referred to the middle of the ground and another free referred. Now - it seemed as though the Umpires hadn't figured out Hawthorn was the team pushing the limits and suddenly North was getting hauled back into line. This seemed to happen last year too - at least last year North won the game - Lake disgraced himself and we can effectively laugh about it in hindsight.
andyl12
Guest
And they forget that every team had thugs in that era. Mark Jackson smashed half of Hawthorn in '85 but his "showman status" apparently made that OK. And Collingwood fans still think it was OK for Carman to smash Tuck in '77.
shiftyxr
Guest
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Wayno
Guest
It's like the 80's all over again. Even though I was a young fella then I still remember all the sooking and complaining about the Hawks , " they are too rough " "it's not fair" blah blah blah ... Skill an hardness wins premierships it's a fact. in saying that the actions of Hodge and Lewis on the weekend were just plain stupid ..
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Hilarious.
Old fashioned views
Guest
Last time I checked it was a mans game, although Sydney on GF day 2014 may beg to differ. Hannebery was not "targeted" he simply was set upon when in possession of the ball. Legitimate tackles, within the playing field, and yes, he was shaken up. Job done, move on to the next player who could be legitimately tackled, harassed etc and generally put off their game. No one is defending the actions on Saturday night, although as many have pointed out, there appeared to be little effect on Swallow and Goldstein, the final result will show Hawks by 60 points, 4 premiership points in the bag.
Mark
Guest
Cheap shots aren't tough
Mark
Guest
Two key defenders? Lake, yes. Frawley, hahahaha. Gibson is a million miles ahead of him, and that's coming from a Swans fan.