Sam Mitchell responds to tanking claims and reflects on divisive trade period - Footy Classified

Sam Mitchell faces the Footy Classified panel, addressing claims the club is adopting a 'form of tanking' this season, the club's controversial trade period decision-making, and what the Hawks are aiming to get out of this year.
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[@vigour6786]

Good to see him face the criticism head on and give the hawks fans some justification and much needed reassurance.

[@jornavyr2459]

Should be a real comfort, when the Hawks finish the year with two wins if they're lucky.

[@themetalpig7613]

I'd hardly call it criticism. Damian Barrett is the lowest of low forms of human. I wouldn't listen to a single thing that germ says.

[@jimmyriddle5246]

We don't need reassurance. The true fans know exactly what's going on and why

[@jpw5029]

Or could be a puff piece.

[@richardbehan8118]

​@@jimmyriddle5246 yeah. Everyone involved at Hawthorn know they are now knee deep in the sh!t.

[@shaunrandle1306]

Caroline Wilson isn’t a football journalist. She covers what she perceives to be politics in football. Along with Damien Barrett she’s the ultimate muck raker.

[@donny8619]

I find her presence incredible irritating. Perhaps here expertise would find better value at the wafl.

[@jimmyriddle5246]

​@@donny8619don't be so cruel to the wafl

[@donny8619]

@@jimmyriddle5246 yeah perhaps your right. The Auskick it is then.

[@richardbehan8118]

Agreed. But here she is 100% right, which should be terrifying to all Hawks supporters.

[@timmcgrath9708]

Muck raker = Asking difficult questions

[@jackiebartolo235]

I wish Sam all the best he came across really well sounds like he really does back his young guys in every week

[@sweetcell8767]

And in addition, Caro has lost the plot. Asking the bloke about reunions. She’s no longer a serious person in journalism if this is gonna be the standard of her questions.

[@taliamason7986]

A reunion that hasn't even been scheduled yet by that club. What kind of professional journalism is that.

[@CMe48282]

Yeah that was a disappointing question and not called for. Asking about list management strategy and their plan to be competitive is fair game but that stuff about toxic relationship is just to get headlines.

[@tahliataylor]

Petition to get her off all things footy 🤡🤣

[@grennyfell97]

Caro was such a pest in this segment.

[@lukemate2783]

Sam Mitchell most well spoken coach in the league. Able to easily disparage the cronies interviewing him. Will be a premiership coach.

[@richardbehan8118]

Lol you are dreaming. He's gone next year.

[@brodiestelfox5568]

Craig McRae

[@jl3165]

how is that going for you@@richardbehan8118

[@jameswalker6330]

@@richardbehan8118 how's this comment going mate?

[@richardbehan8118]

@@jameswalker6330 what do you think?

[@CosFromQueens]

So Richmond, Port, Carlton & Melbourne are all allowed to bottom out (several times) and rebuild their list from the ground up. Yet however the moment Hawthorn do it to rebuild a list for success for the first time in 18 years it is referred to tanking? Gee whiz what an utter non-issue and garbage.

[@jornavyr2459]

When did Richmond bottom out? Carlton and Port were garbage, but they weren't trying to be garbage. Hawks have gone out of their way to get a number 1 pick. Only other team to have ever done that is Melbourne.

[@CosFromQueens]

@@jornavyr2459 your absolutely kidding yourself right? Richmond have bottom out probably 4 times over a 25 year period since the early 90 till half way through Hardwick tenure.

[@edwinlegends932]

Port Adelaide is the only team in AFL who having bottom out never have pick #1 😂

[@robbo1234]

Port Adelaide? Yeah theyve had some poor years no doubt about it, but they are quite literally the only team in the AFL who have never finished bottom of the ladder.

[@chasindigo]

​​@@robbo1234 only just in 2011

[@p8kie153]

We need more targets up forward. when mitch lewis comes back i expect us to be more competitive

[@mareewalker1096]

Adzactly mate we don't have a forward line 😅😅 how dumb are these people! And our midfield are of kids 18 19 21 beat last year's final team😅😅! They will all be bin shock in a few years! This year pick 1 Dustin Martin clone and a few trades next 2 years for forwards look out! Out and whoever finishes last is tanking! Or the afl telling us hawks how to build our list so we are not tanking😅😅😂 were on earth did carro get that from! What a joke😂😂 Glenn a mad hawk!!!

[@twomindz79]

True. But bottom dwelling for 3 years m

[@mareewalker1096]

@@twomindz79 nah this year and next then lookout! Dad spoke to a hawk's official and asked they did not offer number 19 to new players why! He said its for a free agent at end of year! We only need 2 key forwards we will get the best mid in years in the draft this year and a key back! In 3 years there back trust me!!!! Brockman kicked 4 in 30 mins in his first game back this year! Scrimshaw weddel and cooper Stephens all quality in seconds!

[@sweetcell8767]

This is sickening to watch. Since 1971 Hawthorn have won 12 premierships. They’re ticking along at an average of 1 flag every 4 years. They are historically speaking the most rock solid club of the professional era. They smash everyone. Sam Mitchell should answer these questions with distain. He should basically tell these people to write us off at their own peril.

[@themetalpig7613]

It's just bottom of the barrell reporters like Barrett trying to kick up drama so it can all pile on top of the Kennett, Clarkson, Mitchell hand over, or these past player allegations, to make it all the more dramatic. I honestly believe the articles are already written and they're just kicking a hornets nest trying to get a reaction. It's pathetic.

[@JimmyRaptis]

Crazy right? They have won 4 in the last 15 years? Mind you theres some insanity at that club at times. Talks of mergers in the 90s after coming of how many premierships in the 80s and early 90s?

[@daniellebcooper7160]

...more flags since '71 than any other two clubs combined.

[@StuAus]

Yes, and thats why they think they're too good for mid table, so they're tanking this season to try do what they did in the early 00's. Get a gun draft class and live off that.

[@sweetcell8767]

@@daniellebcooper7160 There you have it. And we’re talking about flags won in the top eras of vfl/afl footy. The dynamic and tough era of the 80s. Plus, they have been the ones who’ve set the pace during the professional era of football in the last two decades. Caro is off her chops.

[@Reactiverse22]

He doesn't care what you guys think 🤣🤣

[@twomindz79]

Does he ?

[@paokara1512]

I hope so.. Cause he shouldn't.. They're just kicking when someone's down.. They knew it would be hard and already, at Round 2, they're talking like the world is over.. Just chill!!

[@rickzw67]

Tanking definition is deliberately loosing or throwing games to receive draft advantages, this is a big accusation and requires some proof from the journalists.

[@StuAus]

If they had a choice of finishing last or 14th they'd chose last. If that tanking? They don't want to win.

[@richardbehan8118]

Letting Gunston walk and trading Omera and Mitchell is proof enough.

[@williamporter8355]

Was a great player and in ten years we will be saying he's a great coach. When Clarkson took over he was a raw coach with a very ordinary team and everyone thought Hawthorn were nutters, is history repeating itself here.

[@wndabarinze]

Hes very well spoken and great at taking the criticism.

[@bakerpauldavid]

He stayed very calm, given the heat.

[@jameshogan6293]

Sam's responses have aged well, the criticisms not so much.

[@stepkycopky9354]

No one deliberately looses, but there are incentives to finish last, as opposed to positions 9-16 for 5-10 year period…. Call it tanking or whatever you like, but with a VERY good plan and list management, you can use the draft to finish bottom 4 for 4 years, and Aquire up to 10 top ten picks, with selling good quality 28 year olds to give them a good chance of success, and Aquire toicks

[@matkaczorowski]

I thought he spoke very well and honestly! Well done Sam!

[@tomaskjagr]

This is an absolute joke, it’s round 2. This is pure click bait journalism, these panelists should be embarrassed to question the integrity of the club and coach. That’s exactly what they are doing, let’s not mistake that. Regardless of their intent, integrity is at the heart of what they are claiming, it’s an issue of morals and ethics in a competition.

[@rockdog4894]

This aged well...

[@Binga81]

Handled himself very well. If I was a Hawks fans I would be much happier and reassured after seeing this.

[@presencemedia8508]

Who’s here in 2024?

[@eldoroonie]

Sam can't even tank properly...

[@FeminismDebunked]

In 2016 and 2017 Hawthorn sacked Hodge, Lewis, Gibson, and Mitchell so they could put games into kids. They said we would see a return in 2019 and 2020. Here we are in 2023 and they are wooden spoon favorites and they are STILL putting games into kids.

[@themetalpig7613]

That was under Clarkson, not Mitchell. And it wasn't exactly to put games into kids, it was to reload with O'Meara, Mitchell, Wingard etc and it failed. We hadn't had draft picks to pick kids to get games into. It wasn't exactly the worst call on Lewis either. Hawks wanted him to stay on a 1 year at a time deal, but he wanted 3. Dees gave him 3 and after 1 year he looked so slow it was ridiculous. His body hit the wall. Mitchell was in a unique position of wanting to coach and had an opportunity at WC. How many players have you known to sign with a club for 1 year with an already agreed upon deal to coach the next. Hodge I kinda agree was let go too soon, but he actually retired briefly. Hawks had a strong back six forming and it looked worse because he went to Brisbane who are now great, but at the time they really needed Hodges leadership, he waltzed into a young weak team on the up. Hawks were on the down.

[@samdekretserrr]

Mate they are players from the past, they did their time and did a great job of it, end of story

[@FeminismDebunked]

@@samdekretserrr Hawthorn would have had the best list in the AFL in 2017 if they had not of made those silly sackings. They will finish 18th in 2023 because of their silly sackings. Hawthorns last finals win was 2015.

[@damobdaking]

Think getting Lloyd Meek was a bloody great move by hawks, as a Freo fan was upset he left. Understood why he left, but sad all the same.

[@22ab8]

Ah yes, the bumpy road an AFL Coach must travel. Ones character is proven or destroyed, welcome to the club, Mitchell!

[@MegaCaza1]

Where’s the criticism on Luke Beveridge? They’re 0-2 and have a much better list than Hawthorn but have had two bad losses as well. We forgetting people had this team pushing for the top 4? No one has even picked the Hawks pushing for finals this year, literally everyone prior to round 1 had them finishing last or 2nd last, but we’re focusing all on the worst team list wise in the comp? I swear the media has it out for Mitchell. Beveridge should arguably be under as much criticism as Mitchell but it’s all about the Hawks being bad. You watch North win and the first thing on Monday is Clarkson beats his old team, hawthorn are rubbish, was Sam Mitchell the right man etc..Dogs will lose on Thursday and it won’t even be touched on, only briefly.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

agreed, its a media blow up

[@richardbehan8118]

Beverage is under pressure. Hawks are under pressure because they let 3 mature players walk for practically nothing

[@richardbehan8118]

You are a special kind if you think the media will let Beverage off after a 0-3 start.

[@chasfield]

Sorry? In this very same episode of Footy Classified their main segment of the show was all about criticising Luke Beveridge - in far more harsh tones than they criticised Sam Mitchell here. Beveridge copped much more from the media this weekend than Mitchell did. You must be the most one-eyed supporter on youtube.

[@richardbehan8118]

@@chasfield or they are just an idiot.

[@richardgreatorex]

Since 1961 hawks have won a grandfinal every 4.8 yrs. What does that say about this great clun

[@Hunty49]

Sam is a great speaker. No umms or ahhs. Doing the hard thing of blooding the youngs players to hopefully bring them up quicker as a group. Hopefully they get instilled that the wins will come in time and not get demoralised with loses.

[@portadelaidepower1293]

Hawthorn was a huge chance of making the 2023 Finals Series until they sacked Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O'Meara, Jack Gunston, and Liam Shields. Just as they were a huge chance of winning the 2017 and 2018 Flag until they sacked Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Luke Hodge.

[@themetalpig7613]

They didn't sack Gunston, he left, they wanted him to stay. And Shiels was on the fringe of the 22 because they drafted young mids. If Newcombe (a mid season draft pickup from some bush league) didn't come out of nowhere, Shiels may have held his spot. Even Tom Mitchell was being played out of position last year for the young mids to get a crack. Saying Hawks were a huge chance for finals is a stretch. Even Isaac Smith left, then won a Norm Smith, but no one mentions him.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

gunstan left on his own free will, and shiels retired.

[@richardbehan8118]

​@@daniellebcooper7160 pretty sure shiels is at NM.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

@@richardbehan8118 yes he is, though he was brought out of retirment by clarko.

[@richardbehan8118]

@@daniellebcooper7160 yep. Another big mistake by Hawthorn.

[@zacebrahimi4254]

Kane cornes saying we have the worst list. Now his jumped on the Hawthorn bandwagon

[@terryrwest2657]

What a lot of crap that turned out to be, media heads have to have a story every day and jump on any scrap they can find, 2022 and 2023 were significant because the wins we had were against the top 6 or top 8 sides but struggled against our contemporary younger sides, trying different mixes of players and midfield in particular is the only way to find your best team, if you lose that game these twits come out saying you lost the game on purpose, it's just ridiculous and pathetic sports journalism.

[@Roddrummer]

Cats, Swans and to an extent Pies, all stay up and up and up, perpetual finalists, and they all snag the odd flag here and there from that. Our entire history in the league, almost 100 years now, has been one of devastating lows and glorious highs. We bottom out, rise to glory again, bottom out, rise to glory again, and in the last 60-odd years, it's netted us more flags than anyone else by far. I'm not concerned, because it's the way we do things. And it works.

[@thedownunderverse]

Priority picks, compromised drafts and free agency had most to do with it. Your club is not special. Right place right time, after almost going under. Welcome back to Earth, get comfortable - it’ll be a long stay.

[@falconmclenny7284]

We were a joke in 05. Slightly less of a joke in 06. 07 we staked our claims and 08 we won flag.. won 3 more and should had 4. Give it a couple of years. She'll be right.

[@falconmclenny7284]

​@@thedownunderverse 6 decades of flags and the most successful club of the AFL era and the last 40 years says you're wrong mate.

[@richardbehan8118]

​@@falconmclenny7284 yeh unfortunately that will end over the next 2 decades. Hawthorn are the new Essendon and won't win a final for over 20 years.

[@falconmclenny7284]

@@richardbehan8118 hahahaha. Okay mate. Needed a laugh.

[@toddpowers3085]

They are clearly tanking. They have sacked their best players to increase their chances of getting the number 1 Draft Pick.

[@themetalpig7613]

Who were their best players? Tom Mitchell and O'Meara were top 10, but hardly our best. Mitchell finished 5th in our b&f, O'Meara 7th. Gunston left. Shiels was outside our 22 half the year. McEvoy retired. Isaac Smith bailed the year before. Sicily is our best player and became captain, with Moore & Newcombe next (those 3 were 1, 2 and 3 in our b&f) with Mitch Lewis quickly becoming a huge part of our team. The year Mitchell missed with a broken leg Worpel won our b&f. We signed Karl Amon who won Ports b&f I'm pretty sure. I think you're exaggerating what we lost. The last couple years Hawks were criticized for not bringing in youngsters, funnily enough because they instead brought in Mitchell, O'Meara & Wingard. Ppl with complain and criticize no matter what teams do.

[@GreyManTheory]

Hawthorns structure as a football club is compromised. From the President to the board to recruitment to players to the coach and then on game day are definitely NOT on the same level nor playing feild. This structure playing out at Hawthorn is played out as singular individuals rather than a team as a whole. It shows, and no matter what Mitchell may say he knows this himself.

[@themetalpig7613]

How is it compromised?

[@GreyManTheory]

@themetalpig7613 Internal backstabbing and power hungry individuals who think they know better. If you can't fix the top dnt expect the bottom to follow suit. Every problem at Hawthorn is a internal issue hence why Clarko left, and it shows every weekend

[@themetalpig7613]

@@GreyManTheory I don't know enough about that to agree or disagree. I'll take your word for it. But look at Essendon, their off field is reportedly a shambles too, but they had a good win. Even Collingwood are reportedly split into two camps off field and they were a kick off a GF and looking even better this year. It's preferable to have everything in sync but I doubt every club has it, or needs it.

[@falconmclenny7284]

You often just say dumb stuff?

[@GreyManTheory]

@@falconmclenny7284 only to the dumb who have no idea of the issues internally

[@jsequine927]

I was always most worried about losing Gunston the most in terms of our structure. That said, he only played about half the games last season (when he did he was generally excellent). Mitch Lewis is clearly the most important player structurally at the club. I think Mitch needs to be prepared to switch things up like Clarkson would. Play Sicily forward, we have no structure to speak of an there's no point playing your best player in defence when you're losing by 70-80 points. Hawks have very talented third tall defender stocks who could potentially fill in for Sicily while we wait for Lewis to come back - Jiath, Day and Scrimshaw. In terms of the midfield although we're not strong we weren't strong in that area last season when we had Mitchell and O'Meara. We regularly got smashed in clearances and possessions.

[@wulwun]

Strongly agree on all parts especially the Sicily part. Something I wouldn't mind seeing is Hardwick starting forward with DGB coming in, understand he was drafted as a key back but personally I can see him better suited and excelling at the Ben Stratton role, able to play tall or small or intercept if need be, adds flexibility to the backline in terms of system or incase of injury.

[@kyleallen4648]

I am watching this 12th September 2024, on the eve of our semi final with Port Adelaide. Never ever lose faith int he HFC

[@timmcgrath9708]

Nice from Sam. Needed a 30 minute interrogation though!!

[@kellywatts6227]

It's a serious accusation tbh. Feel for any head coach in his situation.

[@richardbehan8118]

He did it to himself.

[@aussieswatching3135]

Well said Sam 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤎💛🤎💛🤎💛

[@jsequine927]

This line of thought from the football community is so absurd. Even if Hawthorn were to continue on the current trajectory and receive the #1 pick this season, is there any club in the competition in the last two decades that has received less assistance from the draft than Hawthorn? Maybe only Geelong. Hawthorn haven't received a number 1 pick since Luke Hodge in 2001 over 20 years ago. The Hawks have received only three top 5 draft picks in the last 20 years (Roughead #2 Franklin #5 and Ellis #3 in 2004 and 2005). In the last decade, the only top 10 draft picks the Hawks have received are Grainger-Barass #6 2020, Ward #7 2021 and McKenzie #7 2022. Hardly much to ride home about right or any indication of tanking. In fact, probably the best example of the complete opposite. We've hardly even got any top 20 picks in the last 15 years. We finished 13th last season with one of the youngest lists in the AFL and were competitive. Melbourne, Richmond and Carlton regularly finished in the bottom four for 10+ seasons and received a litany of top 5 picks for doing so. Hawthorn didn't even finish in the bottom four last season. Two losses in and everyone is accusing us of tanking.... give me a break. As I said, even in the event the Hawks get the number 1 pick this season there are 17 other clubs with more of a case to answer for 'tanking' than Hawthorn, the only club that wins premierships every decade.

[@rakmut]

If they win this weekend against the Kangas, people will say Mitchell is the best. A week is too long in Footy. 👍🏾

[@richardbehan8118]

Not really. Everyone knows NM are doing better than expected.

[@987654321aus]

Caro needs to go..... bad questions

[@binks7988]

Shouldnt have gotten rid of clarkson

[@benmorgan9748]

Caro with more rubbish

[@Takastie]

Hate the Hawks, but this wasn't seen as a big issue when Gold Coast and GWS were introduced into the AFL.

[@richardbehan8118]

You can't compare the hawks to expansion clubs.

[@grumpydaddy4209]

Play the guys you drafted instead of the sun-par stop gaps

[@themetalpig7613]

Isn't that what Hawks are doing? Ward, Macdonald & Grainger Barras were their top picks last year. Mackenzie is their top picks this year. All are playing.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

This 'tanking' criticism is just a media blow up. Sam made it quite clear last year, that he was going to reinvigorate the list. There were a number of retirements, and gunstan left on his own free will. So it was only tich and jom that were offloaded.

[@richardbehan8118]

Gunston, Omera, Mitchell, Sheils. No one retired and they got next to nothing for these trades. Offloading those players to lose by 10 goals a game isn't building a good culture. It's tanking at its finest.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

@@richardbehan8118 Gunstan left on his own free will. Sheils retired, but was talked into going to north by clarko. Omera was experienced but not as good a player as he was hyped to be. and titch gets a lot of the ball but doesent always use it well. Sam tols everyone last year what his plan was, so these results arnt surprising. Do you think bulldogs are tanking as well, theyre 2-0 and have a better list than hawks?.

[@richardbehan8118]

@@daniellebcooper7160 you mean 0-2. Bulldogs didn't let 4 players walk for nothing in return. It's obvious this is what the Hawks wanted going into this year. In going after draft picks they are going to create a losing culture. Get used to it because it'll be a long time before Hawks win a final let alone a premiership

[@daniellebcooper7160]

@@richardbehan8118 well be playing finals in 3 years.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

@@richardbehan8118 ****In going after draft picks they are going to create a losing culture. Get used to it because it'll be a long time before Hawks win a final let alone a premiership****

[@falconmclenny7284]

2 games in and we talk tanking? We are just rubbish. And in five years we will win a premiership. This is Hawthorn after all, it's what we do

[@richardbehan8118]

Lol keep dreaming. It'll be a long 20 years

[@falconmclenny7284]

@@richardbehan8118 they were saying that in 97 and 98 as well. And then...

[@richardbehan8118]

@@falconmclenny7284 yeh I hate to break it to you, but I don't see the likes of Buddy, Roughy, Lewis, Mitchell, Hodge ect walking through your doors anytime soon. Nor will they ever get the window of free agency being introduced while at the same time the AFL expands the competition taking lower picks from clubs. You Hawthorn supporters think it was just the club and the players that won you 3 in a row when in fact Hawks were in the right place at the right time.

[@falconmclenny7284]

@@richardbehan8118 really? Well your prescience of the outcomes of the next couple of drafts is phenomenal. 6 decades of flags mate. Get ready for seven.

[@simonliptack6961]

Hawthorn is clearly tanking to try and obtain the Number One Draft Pick but I do not blame Hawthorn I blame the AFL for having a silly rule in place that rewards you if you finish last but punish you if you compete and win as many games as you possibly can.

[@themetalpig7613]

They could maybe have a lottery, but it's not a silly rule, it's there so you don't have teams bottom out and then cease to exist because they become irrelevant. It's disingenuous to say Hawks are "clearly tanking".

[@timmcgrath9708]

It’s not that they’re not trying to win…it’s that they’re not trying to win this year

[@kingofsperm69]

Hey Caro. If you’re going to ask a question to a highly respected and credited footballer and coach - LET HIM ANSWER IT. Stop interrupting to completely change the pace of the questioning and let him talk. Slack journalism and I wish I could say I expected better, but for gods sake she’s been doing this forever.

[@richardbehan8118]

Highly respected footballer, not coach.

[@kingofsperm69]

@@richardbehan8118 he’s been there a whole two minutes take a look at every other coach who started off with a bad list, champ

[@jimmyriddle5246]

​@@richardbehan8118a year later and he's talked about as coach of the year. 😂

[@richardbehan8118]

@@jimmyriddle5246 yep. He's earned that title now.

[@richardbehan8118]

@@kingofsperm69 you can't name someone a highly respected coach with lout earning it champ 🙄

[@Knaven85Perth]

The only time I saw Sam swallow / gulp was when hutchy asked him how much time does he think he has.... was a good question

[@StuAus]

They are 100% tanking. Everyone knows it.

[@kellywatts6227]

The term tanking is getting thrown around with wrong definition.

[@petermcculloch4933]

When a club has won as many wooden spoons as Hawthorn has, adding another, won't really matter.

[@Matt-cp9wh]

they are rebuilding its that simple

[@stephensabato9428]

That was an absolute barbecuing

[@yeahna]

hes response to clarko was weeiiiiiirrrrd, give him hes flowers you flog, clearly some salt in hes eyes.

[@Blurdage]

Id prefer him to gut the team and have 2 years of bad results blooding a young core than rebuild like north saints blues etc and spend years wallowing at the bottom.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

agreed. Thats pretty much how sam put it last year

[@richardbehan8118]

It'll be more than 2 years of crap and Sam Mitchell won't be the one to see them to their next finals win. Mitchell doomed the club for the next 20 years.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

@@richardbehan8118 LOL. '20 years' dream on.

[@richardbehan8118]

@@daniellebcooper7160 Essendon had a better list when they went through the drug saga. I was being generous when I said 20 years.

[@22ab8]

Mitchell, sounding very much like 'the hollow man'

[@samryan3694]

Caro wouldn't have a clue about lists she shouldn't get to have a vote pass or not in that

[@kratos13241]

Why can't Caroline get petraccas' name correct ever? " petracka"

[@justinblacker-quin5785]

So a nice way to say TANKING....

[@simonpapik6365]

It's their turn now......

[@1Johnny1]

Sam Mitchell the ten goal coach for the other side.

[@brettbrett9973]

Toxic is a good word Wilson

[@MozartificeR]

It makes sense to stop players not bringing the effort. But it makes no sense to ban strategies.

[@GG-kc6ie]

And got the better of North today, well done Sam. The only thing toxic about Hawthorn was the way Clarko carried on like a cantankerous brat, he's a jerkoff.

[@brettbrett9973]

How are Cornes and Wilson still in a job ? I would love a coach to ask them about their jobs. Lost me when they are on media. Woeful.

[@calebramat7649]

They all just asked the same question basically

[@passportbro7]

tough looking kid , young Sammy

[@Melbournelost66]

Tanking, my posterior!!! It's always the same people, Caroline Wilson, Skeletor Cornes, and a few other parasites that live off sensationalism. Mind your business as to how any clubs goes about it. Gunston wanted to go! I reckon there's a few sooks at other clubs jealous Hawthorn might get a #1 draft pick!

[@falconmclenny7284]

Kane's just a pisstaker about it though, carro and Barrett on the other hand are complete and utter flogs.

[@richardbehan8118]

Jealous? Of getting a #1 draft pick? I'm pretty sure they are hitting on Hawks because they have put themselves in a horrible position. Hawthorn will need 5 years of #1 draft picks to get themselves out of this hole.

[@Melbournelost66]

Oh dear, the Hawks won on Saturday. Caroline is so concerned, clowns like CORNE Kain keep bagging Hawthorn. All muck raking bottom of the barrel drama queens. As Jeff Kennett said on SEN last year, thanks CORNE 😂

[@andymcrae4661]

Hawthorn stole the best players from weaker clubs for years, including Gunston Karma

[@falconmclenny7284]

And we do it again.

[@richardbehan8118]

"Stole" is a strong word. When hawks won 3 in a row the AFL had just introduced GC and GWS and bought in free agency. So teams finishing low got higher draft picks and then hawks picked up, Bourgogne, Lake, Gibson. Hawks fans think they won because of good management when it was just a case of being in the right place at the right time.

[@falconmclenny7284]

@@richardbehan8118 nope. We won because we are the hawks and that's what we do. Don't be bitter.

[@richardbehan8118]

@@falconmclenny7284 not bitter. Just stating facts. I'm just sorry you can't comprehend anything anyone says to you.

[@falconmclenny7284]

@@richardbehan8118 oh my comprehension is excellent. You are saying nonsense based on absolutely nothing. Good chat.

[@Tony_Pepperoni_]

Ah yep the great gargoyle caro interrupting as per usual

[@philipbrown2514]

Had this fish once it turned into a shark it bailed and I smile😃

[@garypunterjr.9537]

So’ it is tanking.

[@quinnmcarthur6667]

2:00 completely wrong here, terrible comparison. They finished 17th in 2019 and jack viney played his 100th that year, they were all between 60 and 100 games not 30

[@lat-roc9733]

Hawks cheating. Like essendumb and caarrrlton also do. Probably need to bring back Kennett - which would be hilarious.

[@richardbehan8118]

Lol the Hawks aren't Melbourne of 2018 mate. It'll take years to rebuild Hawthorn and Mitchell won't be there to see it through.

[@thenightridermax660]

If you're a hawk's supporter you wouldn't go to a game because they are not going to win a game with the tripe they are dishing up pain for a lot of years

[@hubrismaydie3838]

On the contrary ,I'm a Hawks fan and am looking forward to going to as many games as I can as it's not about winning, it's about supporting your club. Hawks fans know where we are at and most my mates who are Hawks fans are excited about the list and it's future.

[@themetalpig7613]

​@@hubrismaydie3838 yeah I agree. We've been spoiled with success and appreciate it. Now it's time to sit back and get excited when we see a youngster show some potential. It's part of supporting a club.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

rubbish, we get to see the 2016 premiers honing their skills. LOL.

[@frankie4fingers552]

Hawks are WOKE AF.....A disaster

[@magicjohnson3121]

How?

[@jimmyriddle5246]

Do you even know what being WOKE is ? 🤡

[@frankie4fingers552]

@@magicjohnson3121 Are you kidding ? look at the board to begin with

[@richardbehan8118]

Oooohhhhh 8 tackles😂

[@richardbehan8118]

Hawks lost to Essendon by 10 goals. Just imagine what Collingwood will do to them lol

[@scottclark1634]

Hawks nearly beat the pies in the preseason

[@richardbehan8118]

@@scottclark1634 and? They will lose by over 100 points when they play the pies and I'm being generous. I'm not a Collingwood supporter so don't even.

[@BigWadzBigJocks]

Who’s here watching this after we won 7 days after this

[@themetalpig7613]

Accusing a team of tanking after one game has got to be the lowest I've ever seen this rabid media get. This "story" was written before a ball had been bounced. The AFL should revoke Damian Barrett's media credentials. When are they going to be held accountable for the utter rubbish they spew. The AFL media is quickly becoming like the ESPN US media around the NBA. Just over the top manufactured drama after drama.

[@richardbehan8118]

They are tanking. Just look at the players they let walk last year.

[@themetalpig7613]

@@richardbehan8118 McEvoy retired, we needed a ruckman, so we traded O'Meara for a ruck. Gunston left, wasn't our choice. Shiels was on the fringe of the 22 because of the emergence of Newcombe and didn't play half the year. Mitchell was already being played out of position last year and trading him got us draft picks and a young mid. We had to get young players in the last 2 drafts and the majority were mids, so Mitchell, O'Meara and Shiels would've been holding back their development. Everyone is over exaggerating what we lost. We also added Amon, who won Ports b&f last year, he replaced Isaac Smith who walked the year before to Geelong. We let no one walk. By your strange assessment of "let walk" you could say Tom Mitchell, but we got back up into the first round of the draft by letting go of a guy who's not going to be around for our next finals run.