Hawthorn Team of the Decade

[morningglory]

Maybe jumping the gun somewhat, but inspired by the Team of the Century thread.

My Team of the Decade (2000-2010)

B - Brown, Hay, Gilham
HB - Smith, Croad, Birchall
C - Bateman, Mitchell, Lekkas
HF - Osborne, Roughead, Dixon
F - Williams, Franklin, Thompson
Foll - Everitt, Crawford (c), Hodge
Inter - Campbell, Sewell, Barker, Vandenberg
Coach - Clarkson

(Bench is 1 ruck, 1 KP, 2 smalls)

Not named - Holland (best years were 90s), Jacobs, Taylor, Chick (left in 2002), Rioli, Clarke, Ladson, Murphy, Barlow, Ellis, Dew

Its a bit ugly really, but remembering we had a lot of lean years early on.

 

[wolvesjr34]

I'm sorry but I think Rioli has to be in there regardless... he has already proven his class above many to previously wear brown and gold this decade!

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

The decade is 2000 - 2009 right?

Guys like Lewis, Guerra and Rioli have surely delivered more value during the timeframe than Barker or Thompson.

 

[AussieToffee15]

FB: Guerra Hay Ladson

CHB: Smith Croad Birchall

C: Bateman Mitchell Lewis

HF: Rioli Roughead Dixon

FF: Williams Franklin Thompson

R: Everitt Crawford (C) Hodge

INT: Brown Sewell Lekkas Vandenberg

 

[ACTion Hawks]

Interesting thread, and there were a lot of lean years in there.

Here is my team, with thoughts following:

B - Brown, Gilham, Guerra
HB - Smith, Croad, Birchall
C - Bateman, Mitchell, Lekkas
HF - Osborne, Roughead, Dixon
F - Williams, Franklin, Rioli
Foll - Campbell, Crawford (c), Hodge
Inter - Thompson, Sewell, Lewis, Vandenberg
Coach - Clarkson

I have replaced Jon Hay with Brent Guerra. One for the balance of the team, but also as he has been a lynchpin during a successful period. Hay was great in 2001, but after that was often in the team on reputation, rather than performance. Guerra on the other hand has often been the one copping it from supporters, yet when is out we realise what he brings to the team!

I retained Ben Dixon, even though he was just a great trier for us for most of his career, as he was there for most of the decade and contributed a lot. Others missed out due to only being in for part of the decade.

I replaced Everitt with Campbell as starting ruck as I believe Robbie was our main ruck for half the decade and contributed more in intangibles than Spider ever has. I chose not to keep Everitt in the team, due to the way he left and I feel Thompson is an excellent backup ruckman who also has teh flexibility to be a very good forward.

Rioli had to be there, just for the Grand Final performance and first year. In the decade he still played over 40 matches, with many a highlight in there.

I think Lewis deserves a spot on the bench and stayed with Vanders as the man who helped pave the way for the approach that led to our 10th Cup!!!

 

[parsons nose]

Probably not even worth contemplating as the team to take the field this week would more than likely shade it!

 

[Pessimistic]

Interesting thread, and there were a lot of lean years in there.

Here is my team, with thoughts following:

B - Brown, Gilham, Guerra
HB - Smith, Croad, Birchall
C - Bateman, Mitchell, Lekkas
HF - Osborne, Roughead, Dixon
F - Williams, Franklin, Rioli
Foll - Campbell, Crawford (c), Hodge
Inter - Thompson, Sewell, Lewis, Vandenberg
Coach - Clarkson

I have replaced Jon Hay with Brent Guerra. One for the balance of the team, but also as he has been a lynchpin during a successful period. Hay was great in 2001, but after that was often in the team on reputation, rather than performance. Guerra on the other hand has often been the one copping it from supporters, yet when is out we realise what he brings to the team!

I retained Ben Dixon, even though he was just a great trier for us for most of his career, as he was there for most of the decade and contributed a lot. Others missed out due to only being in for part of the decade.

I replaced Everitt with Campbell as starting ruck as I believe Robbie was our main ruck for half the decade and contributed more in intangibles than Spider ever has. I chose not to keep Everitt in the team, due to the way he left and I feel Thompson is an excellent backup ruckman who also has teh flexibility to be a very good forward.

Rioli had to be there, just for the Grand Final performance and first year. In the decade he still played over 40 matches, with many a highlight in there.

I think Lewis deserves a spot on the bench and stayed with Vanders as the man who helped pave the way for the approach that led to our 10th Cup!!!

I'm with you but Hay has to be in there somewhere. I might put Gilham Birchall or Smith on the wing instead of Lekkas

 

[willo_k]

surprised vanders is getting in there for a few.

 

[Threadkilla]

Probably not even worth contemplating as the team to take the field this week would more than likely shade it!

My thoughts exactly.

Not knocking the OP, as it is a good thread and a tough one to adjudicate - but add Crawf, Croad, Willo, and Campbell to our current side, and you have our "team of the decade".

 

[whiteTiga2k]

Agree with Vanders. I mean... i know he was th captain we needed when we needed him but he most certainly would not make our best team. Hell when he was captain we were wondering if he deserved a spot then!

My team would be

Brown Hay Guerra
Smith Croad Birchall
Bateman Mitchell Lekkas
Rioli Franklin Dixon
Williams Roughead Osborne
campbell Hodge (vc) Crawford (c)

Int: Thompson Lewis Sewell Gilham

 

[shanenine]

B: Guerra, Hay, Brown

HB: Smith, Croad, Birchall

C: Chick, Mitchell, Bateman

HF: Holland, Franklin, Dixon

F: Rioli, Roughead, Williams

FOLL: Salmon, Hodge (VC), Crawford (C)

INT: Dew, Graham, Sewell, Thompson

 

[Alex_au]

I'm sorry but Hay's worst has to outweigh his best. One of the worst full backs I have ever seen towards the end. Mark Graham probably held his own better in the backline and would be more worthy! Or better yet, add Benny Stratton to fullback!

 

[Knights 24]

I'm sorry but Hay's worst has to outweigh his best. One of the worst full backs I have ever seen towards the end. Mark Graham probably held his own better in the backline and would be more worthy! Or better yet, add Benny Stratton to fullback!

Stratton? He should be allowed to choose his own position

 

[bards]

My team of the decade

Hawthorn
B: Stephen Gilham Trent Croad Brent Guerra
HB: Grant Birchall Luke Hodge Rick Ladson
C: Jordan Lewis Sam Mitchell (Captain) Clinton Young
HF: Michael Osborne Lance Franklin Cyril Rioli
F: Mark Williams Jarryd Roughead Campbell Brown
Foll: Robert Campbell Brad Sewell Chance Bateman
Int: Stuart Dew Xavier Ellis Brent Renouf Shane Crawford
Coach: Alastair Clarkson

Won us a flag that lot, best thing I saw all decade!