Toast Thanks for everything, Ben Stratton - will retire at season's end

[TylerDurden]

Congrats great man. 3 timer. Hawk for life. 2013 prelim, 2018 should've been AA.

Big love.

 

[TazHawk15]

Thanks for the memories Stratts.

Forever a Hawk Premiership Hero.

 

[kazzooka]

A champion and would have been a multiple all-Australian if it were judged on Merrit instead of reputation or jumper colour.

So reliable and had an immediate impact when drafted, could take the smalls or the talls or zone off and help.

Many remember his Tackle in 2012 and those marks in the 2013 preliminary.

Some of my favourite moments are a spoil late in the 2014 grand final, we're up by 60 points with a few minutes to go but he still puts his body on the line for the club.

His entire 2018 season was fantastic and his game against Essendon where he took that hanger was a stand-out. I feel that year he started doing a lot more than just locking down and doing courageous defensive stuff.

He was a bargain pickup from the WAFL with a late pick.

Sadly the last 2 years he wasn't able to play to his standards on the field but by all reports has been contributing solidly off field and helping Will Day develop. Has made a selfless decision to call time when it's possible he could gotten another year.

 

[MrPremiership]

Was just as important to our 3 flags as the likes of Mitchell, Hodge and Lewis.

Heart and soul of the club for a long time.

 

[kirbatron]

It could be a 4:40pm Sunday afternoon game against Fremantle in the wet in tassie 65 points up but this bloke would still go back with the flight - no questions.

Spot on. Uncompromising, courageous. Went when it was his turn every single time.

Enjoy your well deserved retirement stratts.

 

[Hot Diggity]

It can not be understated how important he was to our flag years.

His run down on Danger during the dying stages of the 2012 prelim

his multiple intercept marks during the 2013 prelims that finally broke the curse.

without him we definitely don’t win 3 flags in a row and who knows if we win any. A great clubman and a great career that he will always be remembered for.

p.s he was still robbed of the AA team in 2018 And I am still not over it!

Disgrace he didn't get an AA guernsey. Fantastic player - as one said in the Poppy farewell thread, he played his role better than anyone.

 

[Argy]

Was said to be the first name on the board when the side was picked. Not bad in a era of Buddy, Mitch, Hodge, Burger, Lewis, Roughead, Cyril, et al!

 

[eldorado]

A gun...and a crucial component of the threepeat


Good luck spinning the decks, and catching the waves, Stratts!

 

[Dinsdale]

Stratton will retire from Hawthorn at the end of the season after playing his 202nd and final game for the club, with the grand total of one goal kicked (assuming Clarkson doesn't play him at full forward).

couldnt do much worse I guess

 

[Hot Diggity]

Three things stand out from this clip:

1. Stratton demonstrated the acts in big moments that saw him viewed so highly internally.
2. The eulogising of Dangerfield in the immediate aftermath of the tackle and no mention of Stratton's tackle demonstrates how those external to Hawthorn are oblivious to how good Stratton was
3. The umpires didn't know how to apply the holding the ball rule back then!

 

[Hot Diggity]

Eddie Betts is breathing a sigh of relief..

 

[Gaborone]

Stratton at his best played the same game as Grimes, but never got anywhere near the plaudits. Rock in defense.

Unfortunately for Stratts it's not difficult to be overshadowed by some of the names he played with.

Bit of a backhander

 

[Gaston]

Eddie Betts is breathing a sigh of relief..

One of many b!tches.

 

[KINGBUDDY]

Stratts was a gun for our club, he bought us so many memories. Sad to see him go...

 

[KermitJagger]

Bit of a backhander

You'd have to be pretty sensitive to consider this a backhander.

He deserved more recognition but he missed out because of some genuine generational superstars.

 

[JoeHawk]

Despite all the knockers over the recent years, Stratts was another crucial link to our 3 peat years. Fantastic career.

 

[Smooth Banana]

Tough as nails, heart of a lion. Let us remember all those intercept marks and tackles during our glory years

 

[TheExtractorFactor]

The flapping mullet repelling attack after attack from Essendon in 2018 one of my most enjoyable moments at the footy post three-peat.

 

[TylerDurden]

The flapping mullet repelling attack after attack from Essendon in 2018 one of my most enjoyable moments at the footy post three-peat.

14 marks that day.

 

[HawthornHawk]

I think one of his first games was against the Eagles in Perth where he had his colours lowered playing against Kennedy, but I remember a contest he threw himself into with such reckless abandon that I knew we had something with him.

Such a shame that his form fell away almost as soon as he was finally starting to get some recognition for being one of the best in the competition, but it doesn't take away from what he's done for the club.

The club will put out a great highlights package of him but I loved this footage which says everything about him as a player:

 

[StillAtLarge]

A classic Hawthorn champion. Tough, brave, selfless, consistent and unassuming.
I probably said "well done Stratts" out loud following a trademark kamikaze spoil more than any other player (Gibbo aside) during those successful years.
Looking forward to saying it another couple of times on Sunday!

 

[Come back Cyril]

Glad to hear many mentions of his courage, but people forget what an unbelievable athlete he was in his prime.

Quick, great leap and timing and with excellent endurance - the ultimate lockdown defender who could play on many types.

He's what CJ should aspire to be.

All the best Stratts.

 

[theiaofseed]

I've always been a huge fan of mature age recruits and rookies, knew he was something special from the day he debut. I remember being so shattered when he did his PCL against Richmond in his first year, already looked like a 200 game player.

 

[Dazza the Viking]

Strats was a very good defender, could play on all type of players, best memory was taking those two great marks in the PF against Geelong.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Stratton and Puopolo have announced their retirements. Thanks to both of you for your great service and the self sacrifice you have made to the club. Best wishes to you both for the future.