Hawthorn's treatment of its veterans compared to Geelongs

[Mad_Hatter]

It may have been initiated by Clarkson, but Lewis asked to leave.

By asked to leave I presume you meant told he wasn't required pissing him off greatly, then reneged on that when Mitchell said he'd leave so Lewis now WAS required but he said a big **** you anyway and left?

 

[HairyO]

You believe the rubbish you wrote? So Mitchell and Lewis asked to leave?

Lewis said on radio tonight this was 100% initiated by Clarkson.

Is that all he said? The interview I heard this afternoon went for about 5 or 6 minutes. During which he said that he was told he was wanted for 2017 but they werent going to offer him another contract so if he wanted to leave early and find a better offer they wouldnt get in his way.

And amazingly enough, exactly this happened. He found a better offer, and the club didnt get in his way.

So too with Mitchell.

How totally horrible of Hawthorn to offer a chance to their older players to find other offers.

We totally screwed Hill with his wanting to go back to WA as well. I guess.

 

[Leeda]

Not sure what you mean.

When was the last time a reigning B&F was told his services were no longer required or as Ckarkson put it "we think you should play somewhere else and then become an assistant coach"

Maybe it is a first but it also says that well unfortunately it is a business or else that it was a mutual decision.
Not sure that I know what you mean either. It sounds like you're just having a poke anyhow..

 

[hk89]

By asked to leave I presume you meant told he wasn't required pissing him off greatly, then reneged on that when Mitchell said he'd leave so Lewis now WAS required but he said a big **** you anyway and left?

None of that happened. Lewis was told he might not be required at the end of 2017, and used that information to seek a 3 year deal at Melbourne now while his value was high enough to justify it. Hawthorn were certainly hoping he'd stay after Mitchell decided to go, and we could have forced him to stay, but showed him the same respect we showed Mitchell who we could have also forced to stay. Forcing both players to stay on 1 year deals when they had opportunities elsewhere when we were not prepared to commit to more than 1 year in advance would have been the shit thing to do, but probably a good deal easier in terms of pandering to fans and media.

 

[Matt Stevic]

Always thought Bigfooty needed another Geelong vs Hawthorn shitfight bumped.

This shitfight thread may not be 1200 pages, but it sure is monumentally embarrassing...

 

[Catsnlakers]

I think in hindsight both clubs may have handled their situations differently... I know with my club we seemed to handle the exits of johnno, stokesy and kelly alot better then chapmans as we kept them all appraised of where they were at from the start of 2015.... I think if hawthorn had done the same this year with mitchell and lewis, instead of contracing them then asking if they would be up for trade, there wouldnt be as much angst within some of the supporters.

 

[OhhhhhCyril]

Pretty disappointing, both Mitchell and Lewis but I do understand these are trades that were done in the best interest of the club, hard calls had to be made off the back of our poor second half of the season. In saying that we have put a lot of faith into getting JOM. Really hoping it pays off.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Time will tell. If Vickery, O'Meara and Mitchell contribute to another flag, it will be a master stroke. If they get injured or perform poorly, it will be an epic fail.

 

[Wojcinski]

Geelong gave their veterans a chance to say goodbye, the second year around. Didn't do so well with Chappy, but such is life.

The thing is Geelong actually offered Chappy a one year deal, but Essendon offered two. Chappy chose to leave the club

 

[Pavlovs Cat]

The only thing that sticks out to me is that Hawthorn retires players and they are finished in the AFL
Sewell, Lake, Hale, Guerra etc all finished straight away where as the Cats seem to have the policy of them going a year early
Stokes, Chapman, Kelly, Johnson, Hunt all right or wrongly continued their footy at another club
You could argue Geelong made the right call on all of them but yeah that's the slight difference I'd notice

Probably been said but Lake, Hale and Guerra not at their original club.

 

[Pavlovs Cat]

Is there a sandwich edition?

He's on a roll now.

 

[HR Roughnstuf]

He's on a roll now.

He is on a..... bagel now?

 

[JackFlash]

Only Stevie J was a bad move, Chappy might've played 1 more year, but he ended up at the average Bombers. Kelly is dreaming if he thinks he will get a game every week next year, IMO he will be lucky to front 7 or 8 times! It's never easy to see your old stars go, is Bomber really that shocked Hawthorn are doing this?

 

[hk89]

The thing is Geelong actually offered Chappy a one year deal, but Essendon offered two. Chappy chose to leave the club

Which is pretty much what Lewis and Mitchell have done, the only difference is that we gave them a heads up the year before their contract expired, allowing them a bit more flexibility. I doubt Lewis would be getting a 2 year deal at the end of next year, but who knows.

Bartel was forced out today, clearly wanted to go again, but told he wouldn't get many games next year despite reaching his contract extension trigger. I know many cat fans thought he was cooked, but thought he played a good role in your QF win against us. We've tried to avoid that type of situation, but have got stick from doing so.

Hawthorn have allowed players to go out on their own terms at somewhat of a cost to the club. IMO we should have waited to see what all of Lewis/Mitchell/Hodge/Gibson/Buygoyne wanted to do before we offered them contracts. If they say they are not satisfied with a 1 year contract with no certainty after that (as clearly Lewis wasn't) then tell them they can have 1 year if they want to stay, but otherwise they'll stay uncontracted so we can potentially leverage free agency compensation. I have no problem with our treatment of those players, I think we've treated them magnificently, too magnificently in fact. I do have a problem that we didn't manage the situation to maximise the clubs outcomes at the same time as looking after the player's best interests.

 

[Boppo]

So what will the Hawks midfield look like now? Suddenly Hodge and Burgoyne are going to start feeling very old. Is Hartung being considered for a trade?

 

[hk89]

So what will the Hawks midfield look like now? Suddenly Hodge and Burgoyne are going to start feeling very old. Is Hartung being considered for a trade?

Apparently, but they'd be very reluctant with Hill gone. They desperately need the JOM deal to work now that both Mitchell and Lewis have exited. TOM/JOM in Mitchell/Lewis out is a fan disaster but not necessarily an on field one.

 

[Happy_Hawker]

Whether treatment was good or bad depends on which reports you believe.

I'm a Hawthorn supporter, I trust Clarkson, he spoke very well about how he approached it with Lewis and Mitchell, said they were a part of the decision-making process. We facilitated their decisions, which is why we accepted unders for those trades (the posturing by us on Lewis was a bit messy, but was always going to get done).

Many people on here will think he's making that up. Well, fair enough. No one here really knows the full facts.

I'm glad Mitch and Lewis were able to get a good payday for themselves, but we'll miss them badly.

Next year, Hodge, Gibson and Burgoyne will leave or retire. We'll try and give them the chance to play at other clubs too, if other clubs will have them.

 

[bomberman31]

I would be ropable been a hawks supporter pushing out champions to bring in ty vickery on 500k a year! But to hawks credit they do have a great record at the trade table so they will probably make me look stupid

 

[armpit]

There's been some notable retirement games this season. Pav's comes to mind. Pav's a different type of bloke though, I suppose.

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

The two best players from Hawthorn in 2016 exiting the club whilst under contract is either a stroke of mad genius or just batshit crazy.....time will tell I guess, but I'm betting on crazy...

Posters are referring to the Geelong's champions leaving, however, Chapman, Kelly & Stokes weren't in Geelong's top 10 B&F the years they departed and SJ came it at 10th.....

 

[The_Flying_Egg]

I think Lewis, Mitchell and Bartel have all had their exits handled terribly

 

[Tulip]

"When the player arrived at the club for his end-of-season interview, he was told the coaches were not available and the meeting would need to be re-scheduled."

Well done, Geelong. All class

 

[Mitchell Madness]

I think Lewis, Mitchell and Bartel have all had their exits handled terribly

I wont comment on how geelong handled bartel (as i believe he should have retired a couple of seasons ago when he was beginning to decline, thus preserving his reputation)

As for Lewis and Mitchell, people are letting CV get in the way of the fact that hawthorn gave them the option of staying or going as the club didnt see them playing a part in the next flag tilt(call it a super-annuation trade)
Lewis and Mitchell being traded is similar to Mark Williams in 2009

 

[Great 2008]

Mitchell and Lewis will be chaired off by Darling and Shuey, Hogan and Viney.

Weird.

Yeah cause getting chaired off is why we all play the game.

 

[Great 2008]

Mitchell and Lewis asking to leave - if true even - is just embarrassing.

Hawthorn kool-aid is strong.

Yes Lewis choosing a 3 year contract at $600k over 1 more season at $500k is embarrassing. He should have stayed and been chaired off. Lewis is obviously a moron.

Your posting is embarrassing.