Over the last seven days people have gone into overdrive with the Hawks letting go of both Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis.
Yes they have both been great players to the Hawks and it was not like they were dumped out the door. Both had a spot on the roster next year and had a choice.
First Mitchell, from his own mouth when he was interviewed on SEN last week, said it was his choice to go not the decision made by Alastair Clarkson or others at the club. The offer was put on the table for him to go to Eagles or to stay with the Hawks in 2017.
After talks with his other half he chose to get the Hawks to do a deal with the Eagles so that he could start his next step in life and that being coaching.
He was not forced out or told that he was not going to be playing much in 2017. He was given the choice and he took what he believed was the best for his family and his future. He will always be one of the Hawthorn greats and will be missed but the club and Mitchell believe this was the best for all parties.
As a fan I’m happy with what they have done.
Now Lewis at the same time as Mitchell was spoken to by Clarkson and told that most likely he would not get an extension past 2017. He was told he may like to see if there are better offers out there. At this point in time I don’t think the Hawks Expected both deals to go through, But here we are with both at new clubs.
Now with all of the above is this a problem? In my view no. Last year we lost two veterans in Brian Lake and David Hale. This year with Mitchell and Lewis going they continue to bring in new blood and let those develop at a good rate.
Do we think that Jonathan Ceglar would have had the break out year he had if Hale was still playing? Of course not. He would still be in the VFL and not developing as well as he did until his injury. The same can be said for Kaiden Brand and Ryan Burton. If Brian Lake was still at the club they would not have got the chances they have this year.
All in all the loss of them both in one way is a disappointment, but in another it is fantastic for the following. No Mitchell means others have to step up to the next leave as he want be there to save them.
The like of Kieran Lovell, Blake Hardwick and Daniel How will get there chances to play more senior games in 2017. More games means more experience.
The next year is going to be interesting for the Hawks and only time will tell if it was the right choice.
The Hawks have done the right thing by giving Mitchell a chance to begin the next stage of his life in coaching. Lewis has received the extra long contract the Hawks most likely could not have given him.
Duck
Guest
Good comment. I agree 2018 will probably be worse than next year.
Duck
Guest
An all-out assault?? On what.....9th place?
Mango Jack
Guest
It's possible, Bruce, but I don't know how you can be so certain. He would have been thinking seriously about his future for a while now and maybe the move west is actually really attractive to him and his family. Until he comes out and says otherwise, I'll take his word for it.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I've been watching a weekly replay of the grand final with an old Footscray mate of mine. Yesterday we decided to watch the 2nd half of the Giants game (followed by the grand final). I had forgotten how good it was, and how it could have gone either way till the last 30 seconds. I can see a few more finals on the horizon between the two clubs.
dave
Guest
I will always remember that Dogs/GWS final.It was the game that finally got my girlfriend interested in watching AFL. Now she's looking forward to next season.
Birdman
Guest
Hawks not interested in draft picks as much as FA cattle - so while Hodge, Burgoyne and Gibson will be gone at the end of 2017, they will prob target quality FAs to replace them.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Cool. I think it is a valid comparison. The fact you know what I'm driving at means it obviously makes sense. Each to their own. I appreciate skill and poise under pressure, regardless of style.
Redb
Roar Guru
Waugh like Greg Chappell were elegant to watch, I don't think the Hawks effective kicking possession game is anywhere near that class nor a valid comparison. (Burgoyne aside). IMO Footy is at its best when its contest after contest.
Redb
Roar Guru
Oh its better than the Freo defensive game style I'll agree with that, but overall I found the Hawks fairly boring to watch. Burgoyne the exception, with occasional cameos from Rioli and thuggery from Hodge. My point is that I think Clarkson realises the game plan needs an up tempo tweak. I find the Bulldogs game style great to watch, the prelim against GWS thrilling (best game in years) and not just because the scores were close.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don't think anybody thinks that if the Hawks are out of the race for 2017 then looking to replace Mitchell and Lewis with Mitchell and O'Meara will not see them strengthened and increase longevity in those positions looking at 2017 and beyond. It's more the impact it has on player goodwill and loyalty. These two players have likely taken pay cuts to keep the team together and as soon as they miss a GF they are essentially told they are surplus to requirements when they are still playing good football. Add into the equation the Hawks bringing Vickery over on pretty big money for a player of his calibre and you have to wonder if next time players will accept less money with this in the back of their minds. And then next Brian Lake or Chip Frawley may think twice about taking less to come to the Hawks if players don't take less than market value to stay, thus maintaining a good team. People can liken it to past players all they want. But Bateman and Osborne were never as good, and already well on the decline when they are phased out, Sewell was already well on the decline and his reduced game time in 2014 was on the back of a season where he didn't even feature in the top 10 for the B&F count in 2013 and polled a single Brownlow vote. Mitchell and O'Meara for Mitchell and Lewis in 2017 and beyond may in isolation be a good move. We'll see over the next few seasons what ramifications it has though.
Wilson
Roar Guru
I think if that had happened and we had got O'Meara all of this would never had been blown out of proportion as it has been
Brian
Guest
I agree and Roughy illness also rules out a 2017 flag. So why spend the season playing with Mitchell, Lewis, Hodge & Burgoyne in midfield. You owe it to them to let them go elsewhere. Post 91 we had a lot of years of Platten, Pritchard, Condon, Dunstall, Langford still playing and so the club did not regenerate but go through crisis when those guys retired in the mid 90s. Likewise Brisbane with Black, Power & Brown.
Birdman
Guest
The only regret Hawthorn will have is in not being able to get Lewis to the Suns to secure O'Meara - clearly that was the strategy but Lewis baulked to protect his Melbourne based media commitments. Roll on the future.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Maybe not due to them aready getting in Vickery via FA as that is taken into account so they could well have ended up with nothing insead they at least go something
Bruce
Guest
That is exactly what I am doing, players are told to lie all the time (dangerfield, deledio to name just two). Welcome to the real world.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I'm with you AR. Calling Hawthorn's style boring is like saying Mark Waugh was boring. Not enough sixes and wild slogging! Just crisp clean boring cover drives and flicks off the pads with perfect timing. What a dreadful sight. Each to their own. I can see why people might not like the Hawks style but you can't fault the skill levels required. Very pretty to watch.
Paul D
Roar Guru
It’s always a difficult time when you’re stage managing the exits of club legends – and it is a difficult balancing act too, because you’re juggling future prospects of the club vs the career of the individual. I think the Hawks could afford to be more ruthless and people are more forgiving of them because they are Hawthorn – it helps if the guys you’re shoving out the door have a few premiership medallions round their neck as consolation for their time at the club. I think that was part of the reason why North Melbourne copped so much stick for an equally ruthless list pruning undertaking – the guys they were shoving out didn’t have a flag to their names, not recently anyway (Harvey probably has his stashed away somewhere) and so all they had left was their service to the club. It is a bold move from the Hawks, and I can certainly testify as to what happens if you leave a bunch of legends hanging on at the club for too long after an entrenched period of success – you drop off an almighty cliff when they all leave the side over the space of a season or two. Personally I think one of the motivating factors here is that the Hawks are a bit leery of spending too much time out of the 8 in the future – I reckon that supporter bandwagon of theirs will get a lot lighter very very quickly if they do!
paulywalnuts
Guest
The first game of football I remember was one of the most famous in the SANFL's history, the 1978 GF. In a game memorable on so many levels, one of the more infamous moments came when there was a contest near the boundary line and notorious Norwood hard man Johnny Wynne, having made a token effort to get to the ball, veered off and ploughed headlong toward the Sturt dugout and straight into legendary coach Jack Oatey. Players and officials were soon involved, the crowd was at boiling point and everyone at Football Park were apoplectic. Everyone of course except Wynne and Oatey who it is said couldn't have cared less. I am reminded of that now.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
The illness to Roughy ended any hopes of a flag. While I support the moves made the handling has been shambolic and could have done in a cleaner manner if done earlier. The irony is the quality going out arguably check mates what is coming out meaning we have no chance of flag success in 17. It is obvious we will reload targeting the likes of Fyfe after 2017 when he is a free agent but we are a fair way off being a contender. Factor in the next gulf in the line up left when Hodge/Gibbo/Burgoyne go We have only scant quality in our youth, maybe only Burton/Lovell as bankers with the rest lacking and few low draft picks to rejig the quality in the youth Very like post 91 after our 80's dynasty
AR
Guest
Mitchell was going to WCE in 2018, as a assistant coach. Instead, he was offered to go one year earlier, as a player. He spoke to his wife, and both were happy to make the move early. Mitchell also spoke about how he was dreading another pre-season to 'go again'. It was a huge surprise, but it seems all parties (bar the fans) are genuinely happy. You're basically calling Sam Mitchell a liar.