17th Premiership wrote:
Just for some context...
Alastair Clarkson was appointed 2005.
Prior to his arrival, they had drafted Roughead, Franklin & Lewis in a single draft - i.e. nothing to do with Clarkson.
In his first trading period, the Hawks picked Beau Dowler, Beau Muston, Xavier Ellis & Travis Tuck as well as Birchall, & Max Bailey in their first 6 picks.
In 2006, they stuffed their trading again by picking Mitch Thorp, ahead of Joel Selwood! And Brent Renouf.
Also in 2006, he famously left a hapless Zac Dawson on Anthony Rocca while he helped himself to 8 goals (or maybe 6)?
He turned out to be an amazing coach, possibly the best ever AFL coach.
He never would have lasted at a club like Carlton with our spoilt-brat whinging and looking for flaws prematurely.
By anyone's standard we did better than expected last year.
Since Bolton arrived, we have done better than Clarkson in his first two drafts.
And we are coming from further back in terms of list.
Culturally, Hawthorn we also a shambles at the time.
He may not turn out to be another Clarkson but I'll bet he knows at least as much about current football and our team in particular than at least 95% of us on TC and 99% of football commentators (many of whom just aim to court controversy). I am sure he is just as aware of the flaws, gaps and disappointments. Give the guy a chance to build it right for a change.
I"d love to agree with you on this, but apparently given I may have disagreed with you on something once in the past, this is an impossibility...