AFL 2024: Hawthorn great Michael Tuck enjoying Hawks’ finals tilt

The former VFL-AFL games record holder was asked for his thoughts on Hawthorn’s forward-line wildcards.

Hawthorn star Jack Ginnivan celebrates a goal against Adelaide in the Hawks’ huge win on Sunday. Picture: James Elsby / Getty Images

Hawthorn legend Michael Tuck is enjoying his club’s resurgence from afar this season – even if it doesn’t quite look the same as when his side took the competition by storm.

The 426-game great likened Sam Mitchell’s in-form team to the Richmond side which won flags in 2017 and 2019-20.

Tuck, who played in seven premierships for Hawthorn and was captain for four of them, said the side was well placed to contend in finals if it snuck into the top eight.

An away win over GWS in Canberra on Sunday could leave Hawthorn in a finals spot at the end of round 21 if Port Adelaide loses to Sydney or Melbourne beats the Western Bulldogs.

“You’ll have to ask (Sam) Mitchell this, but I think they played a bit negatively early in the year,” Tuck said.

Michael Tuck (bottom left) joined AFL boss Andrew Dillon and members of the VFL-AFL ‘400 Club’ to celebrate Scott Pendlebury’s milestone on Wednesday. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

“The first five games, they tried to chip it around a bit too much, but now they’re running a bit like Richmond did when they won their three flags.

“Their youth has a bit of run on their side and they’re quite talented players.”

Tuck, 71, said he was enjoying the Hawks’ flair and brash goal celebrations, which would have been frowned upon in his time.

“Oh it is different, but the younger generation are totally different now. Some of these kids are only 18, some are only 22, so they’re not very old,” he said.

“I think they’ve been brought up into that type of thing through the under-18s, to show a bit more enthusiasm when you kick a goal.

“I don’t know about half the phone calls they’re making (while celebrating goals). We don’t know who they’re ringing, or whatever they’re doing, but they seem to know what they’re doing. I certainly don’t!”

Tuck and Shaun Burgoyne (right) had Scott Pendlebury sign their Hawthorn jumpers at a special presentation at the Collingwood Football Club. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

Tuck was at Olympic Park on Wednesday to help mark Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury’s ascension to the 400-game club this weekend.

He was pleased to be able to welcome a new member to what he said was a “good bunch of blokes”.

For decades Tuck held the VFL-AFL games record and shared the 400-game honour with only Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett, but Pendlebury will be the fourth new club member this century.

“To be in a club like this is very, very good, because most of the players have also had a bit of success on the way through,” Tuck said.

“They’re a good bunch of blokes actually … a bit like myself.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Hawthorn great Michael Tuck enjoying Hawks’ finals tilt