THE UGLY

From bad to ugly

What’s worse than getting belted by 86-points to a rebuilding Gold Coast team? Getting belted by that exact same margin, 86-points, one week later against an old rival on the big stage. Geelong decimated Hawthorn at the MCG in their traditional Easter Monday clash and upturned the pressure on the winless Hawks, whose recent unprecedented glory has almost certainly come to an end.

Heading into 2017, Hawthorn possessed the 4th oldest team on average age. Luke Breust, Jack Gunston and Cyril Rioli are all struggling to carry the batton for the new look Hawks. Luke Hodge was their best player in the loss, who at 32-years old is concerning. Jarryd Roughead (30), Shaun Burgoyne (34) and Josh Gibson (33) aren’t getting any younger either, the latter two are nearing retirement, which will further leave gaping holes.

They’re attempting to play an uncontested brand of footy that this team simply can’t execute and questions are being asked of Alastair Clarkson’s future beyond 2017. For many of us, Hawthorn’s three-peat team is the greatest we’ve ever witnessed. That team is now ancient history.