Here’s a little exercise for perspective Hawthorn fans: imagine you could travel back through time and find yourself in 2006, ten years ago, and tell that version of yourself, the one who grew up watching their Hawks lose and lose and lose for 15 years, that by 2016 we will have won four flags.
Not only that, but we will have played in six prelims, five grand finals, have over 75,000 members, and put millions of dollars in the club’s coffers.
How would that you have felt? You would have been over the moon! Riding the bumps with a grin because something special was about to happen.
Well it has happened, it is over for now for this group of players, with Cyril Rioli and Grant Birchall the only ones from the 2008 side to play on beyond next season.
Take heart, Alastair Clarkson is still the coach, he’s still young, and he has told the club he wants to do it all over again with a new group of young players. He’s still hungry for success, he will adapt, recruit and rebuild this club and bring us more glory.
Hopefully our kids, the ones that will be back next year, will finally understand the difference in the speed and skill of the game from the VFL to the AFL and work harder in the off season. They just weren’t good enough this year, so we relied too heavily on our older players, who didn’t have another 26 games of greatness in them.
Since 2010 those veterans have played in 14 finals, so during the same period that most teams seasons ended at 23 games year after year, we have played another half a season of all finals matches – only Sydney and Geelong come close to that stat.
Hawthorn’s legacy isn’t completely out of the finals yet either, we still have two former assistant coaches in the final four, which speaks volumes for our coach and our organisation, and one of them will be coaching in the 2016 grand final.
Do not lament what will not be this year, rather rejoice in what we have accomplished, the great achievements of this groups of players, of this amazing coach, of our wonderful footy club, that no one can take away from us.
We are Hawthorn, and we will be back!
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Carbine ran second as well last night. Rebuild time.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Yep, spot on AR
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Great analysis Nev, if that's all you can bring to the table give it a miss mate. Yep plenty have jumped on in the last few years, they always will. But don't disparage those, myself incuded, who were following Hawthorn in the Glenferrie Oval days. We were an easybeat , membership of 12,000 and a home ground the size of a cake tin. Its been a fantastic era to have followed that club and its now a well administered, well coached, well resourced entity with on field success to match. It has to end some time and may take a couple of years to rebuild, but they'll be back, mark my words.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Every club in Melb has been assisted by the AFL since well before the AFL began and most of them until now. If not for that assistance, half of them would be long gone. Get over your sorry selves.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Clarko to Brissie on $2m.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Bill, I agree those guys can do the wrong thing from time to time, but thinking about your views on other clubs, is this not a case of one sniper calling the kettle black?
New York Hawk
Guest
You need to check more often...
New York Hawk
Guest
Gone Cats!
New York Hawk
Guest
Sample size of one! You are so thorough in analysis that you conducted to draw your conclusions! (sarc)
Jrod
Guest
Cats no longer in the race Rick. Good riddance.
While we're at it
Guest
Yeah Go Cats. In hindsight after tonight's performance they would be wishing Smith had nailed his kick 2 weeks ago
Nev
Guest
Cats werent in the premiership race for long!
Nev
Guest
Obviously there are more Hawks bandwagon supporters currently, we have been the only bandwagon in town recently.
mattyb
Guest
I understand that all clubs have bandwagon supporters but Hawthorn probably do have more than their fair share,it could explain why some of their supporters carry on like they do. For all their achievements in the last few years though,the way some of their supporters up and left during the doggies game was a little ordinary. Surely it wouldn't have hurt these supporters to stay another 20 mins to clap their club off.. Normally I'd have a bit of a laugh when we are winning and the opposition head home but this time it just seemed so very wrong.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
The third article in as many days from the same person reminding us of what its like to be with the best. Yes, I get it. Only too well. But, please, that's enough.
Nev
Guest
Yes, all hawthorn supporters joined 2 years ago
DeanM
Guest
Geelong = Steve Dank and I don't think his assistance was a handicap. 89,08,13
Brian
Guest
Have to make sure we don't get complacent. The Hawks of 1983-1991 and Lions of 1999-2004 were the two greatest teams before the Hawks of 2008-2015. Both really struggled 10 years after their peak so I hope the lessons are learnt. For one neither Clarkson, Hodge or Mitchell should ever coach us without being the best candidate at the time. see James Hird and Michael Voss for what can happen
Brian
Guest
check back in about 10 hours you'll see the 21st century ledger reads 4-3 Hawks way. 20th century I believe was 9-6. Got no idea who Carbine is or was. I would suggest you gamble less I assure you, you are not winning in the long run.
Redb
Roar Guru
Let it go, you lost.