very interesting today at the son's granny (he lost to a team that went out and headhunted for better players outside the club, so they had seven kids on the bench, at the start of the season - this was told to me by their coach, we are talking under 15)

I'm not here to stir up trouble, and I have no plans to hang around and answer every objection, so I'll make this the last.
Re-read my post: I said double and triple teamed at every opportunity. Franklin's ton came from a situation where we moved the ball too quickly to him for Carlton to get numbers to him. Furthermore, Bower was forced to leave him completely uncontested because Hawthorn's other forwards had proven themselves capable of making themselves threats, and our midfield had been willing to use them, rather than going to him at every occasion. Williams had bagged 3 virtually uncontested because of numbers going to Franklin, Roughead had had a raft of uncontested shots for the same reason (although he kicked poorly). By late in the first quarter, Carlton could simply not afford to give Franklin the blanket coverage they had begun with, and he started to get free - but don't fool yourself that it was anything to do with compassion from Ratten and the Blues.

With the last of Fev's contests, I was fully expecting it to be called shepherding off the ball by the umpires, as I and the Hawthorn supporters around me genuinely felt the umpires were trying to get Fev to the line as well (based on the 28-18 free kick count for the game, and the soft free he got in the goalsquare for 99). Just goes to show the difference in perspective that supporters have on umpires, as Carlton supporters seem to think the umpires were doing everything they could to stop him.
Ultimately, it wasn't called, and since it happens several times a game, every game, every week and isn't called, you'd have to say it was a consistent - if discompassionate - decision.

As for why four of our players were doing everything they could to stop Fevola from marking and scoring, I'll refer you to my post before this one. Our players were never going to lay down for him, it would have been farcical if they had, and you would be foolish to argue otherwise.

What I can tell you, is that if the roles had been reversed, and it were Franklin being blocked out, Roughhead and Brown would have crashed that contest and done everything they could to bring the ball to ground, and Buddy would have been a big chance at ground level. Fevola's teammates didn't, or couldn't, do that for him.

Basically, the whole thing comes down to the fact that it's not a Hawthorn player's role to contrive a fairytale ending for a Carlton player. That challenge was for Fevola and his own teammates, and unfortunately, although they came close, ultimately they just weren't up to it.

Life is all about taking responsibility for yourself, not blaming your woes on others.

Anyway I'm off.
Cheers and commiserations to those of you - and there do seem to be some - who are taking a rational perspective on the whole thing.

Are you sure?
If so i apologise... Roughhead is the disgrace.
What was he doing back there in hte first place? did he mve himself to the backline?

I'm not here to stir up trouble, and I have no plans to hang around and answer every objection, so I'll make this the last.
Re-read my post: I said double and triple teamed at every opportunity. Franklin's ton came from a situation where we moved the ball too quickly to him for Carlton to get numbers to him. Furthermore, Bower was forced to leave him completely uncontested because Hawthorn's other forwards had proven themselves capable of making themselves threats, and our midfield had been willing to use them, rather than going to him at every occasion. Williams had bagged 3 virtually uncontested because of numbers going to Franklin, Roughead had had a raft of uncontested shots for the same reason (although he kicked poorly). By late in the first quarter, Carlton could simply not afford to give Franklin the blanket coverage they had begun with, and he started to get free - but don't fool yourself that it was anything to do with compassion from Ratten and the Blues.

With the last of Fev's contests, I was fully expecting it to be called shepherding off the ball by the umpires, as I and the Hawthorn supporters around me genuinely felt the umpires were trying to get Fev to the line as well (based on the 28-18 free kick count for the game, and the soft free he got in the goalsquare for 99). Just goes to show the difference in perspective that supporters have on umpires, as Carlton supporters seem to think the umpires were doing everything they could to stop him.
Ultimately, it wasn't called, and since it happens several times a game, every game, every week and isn't called, you'd have to say it was a consistent - if discompassionate - decision.

As for why four of our players were doing everything they could to stop Fevola from marking and scoring, I'll refer you to my post before this one. Our players were never going to lay down for him, it would have been farcical if they had, and you would be foolish to argue otherwise.

What I can tell you, is that if the roles had been reversed, and it were Franklin being blocked out, Roughhead and Brown would have crashed that contest and done everything they could to bring the ball to ground, and Buddy would have been a big chance at ground level. Fevola's teammates didn't, or couldn't, do that for him.

Basically, the whole thing comes down to the fact that it's not a Hawthorn player's role to contrive a fairytale ending for a Carlton player. That challenge was for Fevola and his own teammates, and unfortunately, although they came close, ultimately they just weren't up to it.

Life is all about taking responsibility for yourself, not blaming your woes on others.

Anyway I'm off.
Cheers and commiserations to those of you - and there do seem to be some - who are taking a rational perspective on the whole thing.

The fact that you call yourself "MrSpirit" is a paradox if ever I have heard one.

See you next year.

I just watched the replay of last nights game and noticed that with 30mins played, Hawthorn 70 odd points up, Fev on 99 and the game well and truely over, Clarkson dropped Jarrod Roughhead in the hole in front of Fev to stop him getting his 100 for no other reason then to be a prick.

Now no one expected the Hawks to do Fev any favours, like us with buddy, but at least give the guy a chance to kick his milestone one on one.

Before last night i would have supported the Hawks in a GF, but after that pathetic display last I hope the Cats embarrass the shit out of them.

bring on next year.

Vet, would you have been happier tonight if Fev alone reached the ton, or both Fev and Franklin?

a half decent pass from JR wouldn't have hurt

No forward will go on their own accord to drop back in the Forward Line, especially one of Roughead's quality.

look at Richmond finishing 9th