How embarrassment!!

[sydney-dog]

Adelaide Hawk

I think young Sam Mitchell is fast becoming your most important midfielder and the best inside midfielder in the comp....

Hodge has had 85 touches in the first 3 rounds while Sam has had 86 touches, I am just so impressed with Sam's hard ball gets, I would have him in the Crows side any day, he is much under rated and very important to the Hawks as he sets up lot of their runners

Great Player, people should take some time and watch him play

[Adelaide Hawk]

I can't really argue with you about Sam Mitchell, he's a gem. I guess my comments about Hodge results from the fact I have been a huge fan of Hodge since we first drafted him, and he has copped a lot of unfair criticism. Now that he is showing what a class act he is, I take every opportunity to tell people about him

[Rik E Boy]

Andrew Bews suggested in Inside Football that Geelong didn't show Hawthorn respect by claiming they were embarrassed by last week's performance. How does this disrespect Hawthorn? After all, it was them who embarrassed us in the first place. The big worry for me is that Geelong are continually 'getting ahead of themselves', the players, not us one eyed Cat fans. I would have thought that the lesson of last year's Fremantle clash (or even the last Bullies game) would have been quite fresh in their minds but it took less than a full year to forget what happened last time we 'got ahead of ourselves'.

What's wrong with you blokes? I remember the hurt from Round 6 1989 and the guys who play for the club can't even remember lessons that were harshly handed out as recently as last season. Mmmmm. Please, less 'we are better than St Kilda, our players are underrated' carp and more focus. Thank you.

regards,

REB

[sydney-dog]

Adelaide-Hawk

The success of Judd has placed additional pressure on Hodge and the Hawks for picking Hodge as the No.1 pick ahead of Judd.

For me, Judd has played the best first 50 games of any footballer in my time and will continue to be a class act, but Hodge has become as equally important to the hawks and will eventually gain the respect he deserves...

Adelaide-Hawk

I would also be interested in your thoughts about Clarkson, I am a huge wrap for him, I was lucky to see his work first hand with the dogs in the SANFL, and I honestly believe that Clarko and Neil Craig have a lot of similar qualities and both are taking coaching to an entire different level.

I would like to see the Hawks show some faith an re-appoint Clarko early in the season, I think it would be an enormous boost for the playing group.

My concern is that, Kennett has said time and time again it will be done later in the season, my fear is, does Kennett have a strong enough understanding of the game to make the right decision or will he just look at the win loss column

[Adelaide Hawk]

Adelaide-Hawk

I would also be interested in your thoughts about Clarkson

In late 2004 Hawthorn underwent an extensive search for the person they believe to be best equipped to guide Hawthorn up the ladder. They were unfairly criticised because this appointment was crucial to the club's development. I believe, as does the Hawthorn Football Club that they chose the best available person for the job. The only other available person I would have accepted was Rodney Eade, but I think the Hawks were looking for a non-Hawthorn person with new ideas for a new direction.

People inside the Central District and Port Adelaide Power football clubs have told me how highly they regard Clarkson and I have seen nothing to make me doubt he is the man I want in charge of the club. He has done a great job in weeding out the "softies" and we are beginning to see the fruits of his efforts. There is still a long way to go, but I feel we are headed in the right direction.

There is an element of thought that the moment Leigh Matthews declares his interest in coaching the Hawks then the job will be his. I feel Lethal had his chance to coach the Hawks 2 years ago and elected to stay with Brisbane. That's fine, I have no problem with that. However, that decision demonstrated to me that Leigh doesn't have the burning desire to coach the Hawks. I get the impression Clarkson WANTS the job, and that he WANTS to not only coach, but coach the Hawthorn Football Club. I wouldn't want Clarkson replaced unless he shows he is not able to do the job expected of him.

I had similar thoughts about Jeff Kennett as you have. There is a sneaking suspicion that he would love to have a high profile coach such as Matthews, but he also has a love of the Hawthorn Football Club. He has sat in the outer over the years in support of the Hawks and craves success as much as any Hawks fan. I think he is intelligent enough to allow the Football Directors to advise him as to the best choices available so far as a coach is concerned.

I see a long and successful coaching career ahead for Clarkson, and I'd love it to be with Hawthorn.

[Adelaide Hawk]

What's wrong with you blokes? I remember the hurt from Round 6 1989 and the guys who play for the club can't even remember lessons that were harshly handed out as recently as last season. Mmmmm. Please, less 'we are better than St Kilda, our players are underrated' carp and more focus. Thank you.

I guess you can't really expect players to hurt as much as spectators. For a start, spectators pay to watch, players get paid handsomely to play. The amount of money filtering into their bank accounts helps to ease the pain considerably. Secondly, spectators have loved their clubs since they were children and will stick with their clubs all their lives. Players probably barracked for other clubs before they were drafted, and could play for 3-4 different clubs through their careers. Players don't bleed like supporters do.

[sydney-dog]

Adelaide-Hawk

Good post, I think Lethal is stiched up with the lions until the end of 2008, by then hopefully Clarko has created his own legacy