Almanac Footy: Rookies

 

In one of the more improbable turn of events, as footy home and away seasons go, the young Hawks find themselves Finals bound.  It has been earned. Hard earned even.

 

Leading into 2024 some commentators speculated that Mitchell had a 10-year grind ahead of him just getting a team together that could compete on a regular basis. Other footy talking heads, scratching their professional crystal balls, had us wooden spooners.

 

Even Hawks supporters were divided on our fate. Including moi.

 

Yep, I too have had to eat my words. I didn’t see the spell Sammy cast until I was captured by it. So, I’m delighted to chew down the crap I was banging on about last year. And preseason. And, yes, okay, by Round 5 I was getting my high horse from the stable, ready to herd Sammy outa town.

 

Anyhoo, I was wrong, mea culpa and all that, today I’m as happy as Larry because my mighty youthful Hawks are in the Finals. I asked Bob Seger what he thought about things, and he said:

 

“I saw a young hawk flyin’ and my soul began to rise
And pretty soon my heart was singin’”

 

How the hell did the Hawks turn their year around? They’re rookies in most every metric you might apply. Only the Roos have a younger squad. The WC Evils are just slightly older than the Hawks. Cats and Pies are like old men from the mountain in comparison to the wee hawks. We have one of the least experienced squads and are third last in the AFL for average games played. Yep, we the rookies.

 

Despite those grim readings (and bear in mind cellar dwellers Roos and Eagles are the other two squads represented in youth and rookie terms) the Hawks have reaped the rewards of something sown deep into the team’s DNA.

 

What came with winning was an unchecked exuberance following goals and games. AFL media commentary teams, with an average age above 700, couldn’t digest what was going on. Our youthful Hawks had their little goal ‘dances’, elaborate fist bumps with fellow forwards and stacks of selfies that were joyfully uploaded to Insta and TikTok. Commentators tried to harrumph, dismiss, engage and get on board. They aged with every attempt.  Fans of the yoof persuasion however got right on board. In the blink of an eye a new mode of connection, of community materialised.

 

That buzz got translated into a thing called the Hollywood Hawks, an idea big on pizzazz but short on understanding as my mate Marvin might say, what’s going on. What is it that is holding our 2024 club community together? Simply, it is the joie de vivre sparked by wins on the board and players authentic reactions to their small, medium and big successes. As Springsteen has said to me more than once or twice, it aint no sin to be glad you’re a Hawk.

 

This year, under Sammy’s insightful af coaching, along with some smart af recruiting our decent set of players learned quickly and smartly how to play together. And the Lord he did sayeth, ye Hawks faithful, open thine eyes.

 

When Mitch moved Hardwick forward early in the year I thought, OMG Mitch what the hell, Hardwick is our backline bulwark. But it was one hell of a play. Then Freo reject Meek literally rose up to meet his moment. And did so again and again and again. Phenomenon is one way to describe D’Ambrosio’s season. He has owned the wing, equal parts skill, grit, flair, audacity and consistency. Rightfully nominated for a spot in the All Australian squad.

 

Chol, I mean, c’mon! A godsend or what. Gunston, gorn a year, back and firing. Now I’m tearing up. Don’t even start me on Calsher Dear. Then the tears will flow. Weddle finding the absolute right possie and learning from Tom Petty to damn the torpedoes. When they go hard Weeds goes ballistic.

 

Oh yeah, we have a decent set of players, led by Sis, driven by Newcombe, Worps, Amon, Nash. We have Mr Moore, the Wiz, the Gin, Macca finding goals like diamonds.

 

Then there’s Day. What a difference a Day makes (stolen from Grant F). His teamwork efforts. His freakin individual efforts. When Hawks started to step up their march on September, with wins against Lions, Giants and others one player was in our best every week. That’s right, our 2023 Crimmins medal winner.

 

Sammy’s building a hell of a team. With more to come. For now, our young team including Grandpa’s Bruest and Gunners, have a month of reckoning ahead of them. They might win, they might lose but the chord they’ve struck will resound well past this season. And the joy they’ve given us fans I hope is a gift that keeps on giving.

 

 

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