In 2005, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson caught up with Peter Crimmins medallist and ex-vice captain of the club, Nick Holland.
Clarkson said to Holland, “as long as my ass points to the ground, you won’t play another game for Hawthorn.”
However, once Clarkson walked out of the meeting at Glenferrie, when asked by the media about Holland, he stated that he was a required player and an important player for the team’s future.
Clarkson’s words to the media created the smallest piece of hope in Holland that he could prove to Clarkson that he still deserved a spot in the best 22. Holland wold sign a two-year extension, instead of signing elsewhere or seeking a trade, however, he would not play for Hawthorn again, spending the next two seasons in the reserves at Box Hill.
In 2016, coach of the Hawthorn Football Club Alastair Clarkson knocked on the door of four-time premiership player, Hawthorn vice-captain and Peter Crimmins medallist Jordan Lewis’.
Lewis was expecting Clarkson to tell him that he would take over as captain of the football club when Luke Hodge retires, instead he was told that he should start looking elsewhere for playing opportunities.
Lewis’ management immediately contacted his club of choice, the Melbourne Demons, and a contract was agreed to by Lewis, who was already picturing himself running out in the red and blue in 2017.
Then five-time Peter Crimmins medallist, premiership captain and 4-time premiership player Sam Mitchell was traded to the West Coast Eagles for essentially pick 88, and social media exploded.
Seeing the reaction from the entire AFL community, Hawthorn list manager Graham Wright then spoke to the media stating that Lewis is a required player, and will “absolutely” be in the brown and gold come 2017. Sound familiar?
Jordan Lewis needs to move on from the Hawthorn Football Club in order to prolong his career.
Over his successful career with Hawthorn, Lewis has said that he has turned away more lucrative offers from rival clubs in order for Hawthorn management to bring in extra talent with players such as James Frawley, Shaun Burgoyne and Brian Lake.
However on AFL 360 this September, Lewis said that if a player was to come in and they strip teammates of money, yet become one of the highest paid players at the club, it wouldn’t sit well with the locker room.
This is exactly what is happening this trade period. Hawthorn have brought in Ty Vickery for $500k, it’s looking like Jaeger O’Meara will be earning $700k when he does make the trip down south, and Tom Mitchell will be earning somewhere between the two.
All of a sudden three new players in Hawthorn’s locker room will take up in excess of $1.5m per year.
Not only are we currently witnessing one of the most captivating trade periods in AFL history, but we are also witnessing one of the most poorly managed trade periods by a club whom earned so much respect for what they’ve managed to do in recent trade periods.
If the Hawthorn Coach knocked on Jordan Lewis’ door telling him that his services are no longer required at Glenferrie, then no matter what the staff at Hawthorn tell the media, that player is no longer required – especially if two players are being brought in to play the same position as you.
Sam Mitchell received the same treatment as Lewis, yet managed to save his grace by declaring how excited and thankful he is at the opportunity to move east and plan for life after football.
Jordan Lewis didn’t miss a single game in 2016, and in order to do the same in 2017, he’ll need to find a way to get himself in the red and blue, or else his career could have the same, sour full stop as Nick Holland’s.
Penster
Guest
The Halcyon days of the 3-peat are gone, if we're to remain competitive, the old wood must be peeled back to allow the new stuff through. I understand you're salivating at the prospect of the Hawks making bad decisions, and maybe Vickery & O'Meara will deliver that for you, but offloading Mitchell and Lewis are not bad decisions. Horrible yes, but not bad.
Bruce
Guest
Well, Birdman, I can see them winning 12 or 13 games next year....maybe a few more...maybe a few less. 12 or 13 wins puts them right on the edge of the 8. Let's see what happens.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The difference is those revered players were not playing as well, and at their peak were not able to take the team to the same heights. In fact those revered players were from Hawthorn's darkest period, these from probably their brightest.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That's the problem. Once you let the genie out of the bottle it's hard to shove it back in.
Penster
Guest
Part of the "youth policy" around 2004/5, Roughy, Buddy and Lewis and yes, Holland's shoulders were kaput but he wanted longer and the fans did too. Veterans banished to the reserves weren't happy, teams was getting flogged regularly. McFarlin and Croad had earlier made way for Hodge and Mitchell. 4 flags later and you don't hear much criticism about it at all, funny that.
Hawkamania
Guest
I thought it was Roughy? No matter, Holland's days were numbered when they went out and got Buddy, Roughy and Tim Boyle.
Penster
Guest
I'm glad you mentioned Holland, di3i, he was dropped from the team to make way for a young recruit by the name of Jordan Lewis. Clarko ruffled feathers early in his tenure dropping revered players, but we're not complaining now are we! Coaches and list managers have to make hard decisions, and the end of a successful era is never pretty. Geelong did it and are on their way back to the top, the Hawks must follow suit. I'm devvo Sam is leaving, but it's a win win for him and the club (and the Weagles), Lewis has a choice to make also - be a one club player in one of the most successful teams ever albeit on reduced coin (Hawthorn people will be familiar with the Allan Jeans catch phrase "Pay the Price"), or move to one of the most unsuccessful teams ever as a missionary on bigger bucks and wring another year out of his career. Decisions decisions.
David C
Guest
Lewis is pissed off, he's headed for Melbourne. To be honest, Hawks are better off letting him go and getting on with the reset. Their image has taken a hit though. Look at all the criticism Nth got and then Hawks go and do this. Strange trade period this year. Think Geelong managed their vets the best but let's wait and see what happens with Bartel.
Birdman
Guest
you wish, Bruce.
Birdman
Guest
Ridiculous to conflate Nick Holland's last days to the Lewis situation. Holland was plainly cooked and if Clarko did in fact call time on his selection then there wouldn't have been any (many) hawk fans at the time who would have had a problem with that. Unfortunately Nick was a whipping boy at the time benefiting from the largesse of a long contract that he wasn't able to honour with fair playing value. Lewis is fast coming to the end but has been given the opportunity to find another deal if that's what he wants. Lewis had had his fair share of underwhelming seasons but the Hawks have backed him to end up a 4 time premiership player while leveraging media and Audi ambassador deals - Hawks don't owe him anything IMHO
Birdman
Guest
Lewy was given notice of one more year and then given the opportunity of finding a new deal - the only problem was that Sam Mitchell had been given the same opportunity but had beaten Lewis to sealing a new deal. Unfortunately the Hawks want to keep one of them for 2017 so had to back away from Lewis leaving but he looks like he's made his mind up to go anyway. Oh well. .
Bruce
Guest
Lewis has what...3 years left maybe? I don't see Hawthorn seriously challenging for a flag in that timeframe. Teams have worked them out....their back line is very shaky without Lake....Frawley the big hyena just doesn't use the ball well. Their mids are old and slow....and Sam was the best ball user (except for maybe Burgoyne). The forward line in 2016 performed as well as can be expected....and still sometimes struggled to kick a score. They will be doing well to make finals next year mate.
Rossco
Guest
The author is new at this game but he/she is already showing traits of other jounos. How do they know what the players are being paid? It is supposition only and may well be way off the mark. I'll reserve judgement until we know. And as the article is based on such shaky ground I can't take it too seriously.
Hawkamania
Guest
Of course he should walk out on the club, Matthew Lloyd said so.
Luke
Guest
Ahhh, Sammy Mitchell is heading to the Eagles, and they are located in the West of the country.
Curtis
Guest
What nonsense. Like Sam Mitchell, Lewis has brown and gold in his veins. He will do what is best for the club rather than himself.
MG
Roar Rookie
How much do you think Jordy is getting paid? $700k? $600k? $500k Is he worth more than Ty?
jay
Guest
You're a joke mate, Nick Holland could hardly jump at the end of his career, jordy is killing it, he still has a chance at another flag with Tom and Jaeger on board, why would you leave?