The most bizarre match in HFC history?
Recapping the final round draw that sent off Clarko and Silk
ROUND 22: HAWTHORN 83, RICHMOND 83
📝 Main recap:
Let’s get this out of the way first: this was not the fairytale ending anyone imagined. I’m sure when we all pictured Clarko and Silk’s last ever games for Hawthorn, we imagined Roughie like scenes of elation, reflection and pure joy.
We probably imagined one final rendition of the song with gusto, and we probably thought we’d be there in some capacity - at 25%, with masks, socially distanced, rapid antigen tested, whatever it took. Maybe we all imagined Silk sneaking forward - just like Benny Stratton did against Gold Coast - to kick one final goal in game #407 to add to his 302 career majors?
But what transpired wasn’t anything like we pictured. In fact, it was completely bizarre. The MCG on a beautiful sunny day, with only the seagulls and some lucky media (*cough* Ash Browne *cough*) watching two of the great teams of the past decade - six flags out of the last nine between them - playing in their first ever draw.
Not that it looked likely at the 19-minute mark of the fourth quarter, when Jack Scrimshaw kicked a beautiful goal to put us four goals in front.
That sparked the Tigers into action and they ended up clawing the margin back with some scrappy play from Hawthorn (Scrmishaw’s dropped mark, Lachie Bramble running too far) and a whole lot of luck on their side (Jack Riewoldt’s arsey kick from the boundary, Shai Bolton’s round the body bomb to nowhere that ended up in Sydney Stack’s hands. Urgh!)
But as the dust settles on an utterly bizarre farewell for two outright Hawthorn icons - and we don’t use that word lightly - those post siren feelings of emptiness have given away to deep appreciation and gratitude.
Yes, this is not the result we wanted, but it was weirdly fitting that in their final duel, Clarko and his great mate and former mentee Damien Hardwick would end up splitting the points. The result means nothing ultimately. These two champions were feted the right way, with a guard of honour and thousands of Hawks fans blubbering into their couch pillows at home. Or was that just me?
What then to make of this match in the context of an equally bizarre season? We’ll be wrapping up the year in due course, but this developing group can take a lot out of the past four weeks of footy, in which they’ve gone undefeated and taken some pretty decent scalps (Brisbane, the Bulldogs, and that epic draw against Melbourne).
We’ve got important games into the likes of Jai Newcombe, Tyler Brockman, Denver Grainger-Barras and Ned Reeves; found an absolute beauty in Lachie Bramble; showed our versatility and depth by winning games with a decimated backline; seen Chad Wingard return to All-Australian form; the best seasons ever from Dylan Moore, Jack Scrimshaw and Daniel Howe; and finally found a role that suits Conor Nash.
In finishing 14th (one place above 2020), we haven’t improved our draft position on last year, but we’ve restored pride back to the jumper in avoiding our first wooden spoon in 56 years.
With a cavalry returning that includes James Sicily, Jarman Impey, Will Day, Luke Breust, Jack Gunston (🤞), and Changkouth Jiath, there’s every reason to be optimistic about the list Sam Mitchell is inheriting. Who knows? Maybe we’ll actually be watch them live in a packed stadium, too?
✂️ Snippet of the match:
How could we go past Shaun Burgoyne’s final contribution in the brown and gold? In one final act of desperation, he valiantly lunged towards Jack Riewoldt’s grubby kick off the ground, coming only centimetres from getting a finger on the footy before it crossed the line for a game tying goal. It would’ve been the most apt and poetic finish to his 407 game career, but it wasn’t to be.
🍔 Ash’s 11 key takeaways
One day I’ll do the maths and try to work out how many Hawthorn games I’ve seen in my lifetime. A back of the envelope calculation would suggest around 600 give or take a few, But I never have nor likely will ever again experience a game as bizarre as that one.
It was the reverse of the Melbourne game. The Hawks came away from that one the moral victors. But you can never feel good about throwing away a five goal lead. The Leigh Matthews rule didn’t even apply. There were more goals needed by the Tigers than there were minutes remaining and they somehow came away without losing.
And in more than 45 years of watching the Hawks, I’ve never seen them draw twice in the same season. Fitting end to a strange season.
The Jacob Koschitzke injury did throw the Hawks out of kilter. Moving Shaun Burgoyne and Tim O’Brien forward at various stages late unsettled the backline, which has been such a strong suit all year. It’s bad luck for Kosi, who now likely faces another summer of rehabilitation rather than sharpening his football.
We’ve loved Lachie Bramble this year but being penalised for running too far in the final quarter was his first real blemish. Jack Scrimshaw kicked a super goal one minute and dropped a chest mark the next. So many little errors, but given Clarkson said he won’t bother reviewing the game, does that become Sam Mitchell’s first order of business on Monday?
The unfortunate moment Lachie would take back if he could. Speaking of Mitchell, when does he become known as ‘Hawthorn Senior Coach Sam Mitchell’? Monday?
I’ve come not to expect too much from the Rising Star selectors when it comes to Hawthorn nominations (there must be another Sydney nominee out there for them somewhere), but surely Tyler Brockman comes under consideration this week? He was a joy to watch on Saturday, but it was his 11th game. He won’t be eligible in 2022.
1/3 If the president and the chief executive were at the footy on Saturday, they were keeping a very low profile. Under the circumstances, that was probably the right move.
Chad Wingard’s football over the final six weeks of the season is not just his best for Hawthorn but is the equal of his 2013 and 2015 All Australian form for Port Adelaide. Shame the season has ended, but I’ve seen enough to hope that he finishes his career at the Hawks. It would want to be a great deal to move him on.
If the bookies are correct, then the Alastair Clarkson coaching tree will grow another limb with Craig McRae now the favourite to be the next coach of Collingwood. McRae’s time was brief, but he can take some credit for Koschitzke, Mitch Lewis and Dylan Moore taking steps forward this year. And the mail is strong that David Hale will be returning home from Fremantle to be an assistant under Mitchell at the Hawks. The reviews for his work at the Dockers have been very good.
The last few weeks for Hawthorn have been fun but largely inconsequential. As of Monday, things get interesting. We cannot wait to see what happens.
Superstar/Rising Star/Falling Star
⭐️ Superstar - Shaun Burgoyne
How could it be anyone else on this wonderful occasion for the AFL, the Hawthorn Football Club and the man himself, Shaun Burgoyne? The fact we weren’t able to be there in person was tempered by the reality that we saw him chaired off the ground in his 400th, and have had plenty of opportunities to let our feelings be known. In his final and 250th game for our club, Silk managed 21 touches and seven inside-50s, showcasing his trademark poise and skills. An absolute warrior, and deserved the praise he received all week.
💫 Rising star - Conor Nash
Another brilliant effort from the best Irish midfielder in the competition. Topped of his month in the guts with a stellar day out, leading us in so many areas. His 24 touches and a goal were accompanied by eight marks (second most for the team), 399 metres gained (second most), eight score involvements (most), five inside-50s (most) and 87.5% disposal efficiency. It was a great finish to the season, and we can’t wait to see if he can carry the form into 2022.
🤷♂️ Falling star - Liam Shiels
Who knows what the future holds for Shiels, whose day was reflective of his season as a whole. He managed 20 touches against the Tiges but was one of our worst users of the ball. He finished the season well down on his season averages across the past decade. Last year was significantly affected by COVID, so removing the 2020 season this year was his worst tackle count since 2013 - on Saturday against the Tigers he did not register one. In these uncertain times for so many on our list, Shiels will be nervous heading into the next few weeks.
Unsung Hero & Scapegoat
👼 Unsung Hero - Sam Frost
Possibly his best season to date, and another fantastic showing from Frosty against the Tigers. Frost backed himself to go for intercepting marks, spoils and trademark dash out of the backline, and finished the day with 16 touches and seven marks. He had the most intercepts on the ground with eight, and had three rebounds and five score involvements. We may have six defenders ready to return in 2022, but Frost is one of the first names to mark down in our best defensive six.
🔪 🐐 Scapegoat - Jacob Koschitzke
It just wasn’t Kosi’s day yesterday - and not for lack of trying. Our young key forward just couldn’t get into the game and when he went down with a serious shoulder injury his day was done. The result changed the game as we shuffled magnets around to cover for his loss, and in turn it unsettled our back six before the Richmond onslaught took place. Hopefully the injury is not as bad as first thought and he can get in a good solid pre-season ahead of the 2022 season.
The Final Ladder Check-In
It’s official. We finish 14th with one of the best records in the comp through the final six rounds of the home and away season. Had we not conceded all those late goals on Saturday we would have leap-frogged Carlton into 13th, but the positive is we will pick before them at the draft.
Current forecast 2022 draft picks of note (before trades / compo picks etc): #5, #20 (Collingwood’s second round selection) and #23.
News & Notes
Just in case the day needed any further historic significance, it was the first time in 161 battles that the Hawks and the Tigers have drawn a game of footy.
Similarly - we can’t recall many post match press conferences being conducted by both coaches together, and it was fitting listening to the praise Clarko and Dimma Senior had for each other.
No news yet on the significance of the shoulder injury to Kosi. He did his shoulder in the pre-season of 2020 when he was flying on the track, causing a delay to his start for the year. Fingers crossed there is no major, long-term damage done and he is fit and ready to hit pre-season running.
The talk has begun - where to for Clarko? Carlton is calling, Collingwood is calling, Gold Coast is calling. Will be interesting to see where he ends up. Similarly - welcome to our 33rd appointed Head Coach Sam Mitchell - exciting times ahead, time to get to work!
Clarko’s Last Ever Press Conference Bingo* 😢
*for Hawthorn
✅ It has been a tough year
✅ It’s a baton change
✅ There’s enough emerging talent at this club moving forward
✅ It’s a tight competition
✅ Write a new chapter for the Hawthorn Footy Club
What They Said
🗣️ Tyler Brockman:
“I thought we fought hard all day. Just until that last five minutes it got stressful, but all together it was a good performance by everyone.”
“We all had energy and spirit coming into the game. We all wanted to get that victory for Shauny and Clarko and even Tom Mitchell (playing his 150th), but whatever happens happens, I guess.” “The more games I start to play the more comfortable [I get], so I’ve gotta keep doing that leading into next year.”
🗣️ James Worpel:
“It’s an interesting one. Almost a fairytale ending for Shaun. Just a little bit off at the line when he could’ve got it. We’re pretty happy with the effort but couldn’t get the chocolates. They came at us - we always knew it was going to come. Every team, late when they’re down by a couple goals, throws the kitchen sink at ya. They kicked a few from the boundary and some lucky goals, but you just gotta tip your hat. They were too good.”
“It was a huge honour. Two greats of the footy club and two greats of the whole AFL, so very lucky to have played today.”