Gilbert Gardiner ranks Hawthorn’s top-20 players of the modern era, from 1987 to now
He currently has the most votes on the poll, but Gilbert Gardiner has Luke Hodge in fifth place in his Hawks top-20. Who are the four that rank above he dual Norm Smith medallist?
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Five Hawthorn players of the 1987-onwards modern era could be No. 1 without a shadow of a doubt.
Sam Mitchell or Shane Crawford? What about, Jason Dunstall or Lance Franklin? Then, there is Luke Hodge, if someone had to captain the top-20, it would be him.
Remarkably, 18 of the top 20 own multiple Hawthorn premiership medallions.
Sydney spearhead Franklin is the only active player in the top-10, such has been the brilliance and dominance of Hawthorn teams of seasons’ past.
Hawthorn legends Gary Ayres, Chris Langford and Michael Tuck would be in the top-10 had the criteria allowed for the entirety of their premiership-encrusted careers.
Triple-premiership and Norm Smith medallist Brian Lake was the hardest to exclude as 21st man, with Grant Birchall, Jack Gunston, Isaac Smith, Ben McEvoy and David Hale among others considered.
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GILBERT GARDINER RANKS HAWTHORN’S 20 BEST PLAYERS OF THE MODERN ERA
1. Sam Mitchell
Arguably the biggest draft steal ever, let alone the modern era. From a state league star and mature-age draftee to a four-time premiership champion and five-time best-and-fairest to go with three All-Australians and a Brownlow Medal. Few better ball users, on either side, graced the field than Mitchell, who was the architect for Hawthorn’s most-recent success.
Key stat: 227 – third-most career Brownlow votes of any player ever, behind only Gary Ablett Jr (261) and Gary Dempsey (246)
2. Jason Dunstall
Third-most goals (1245) in the history of the game to go with three premierships (four overall) and three Coleman Medals since 1987. Part of a golden modern era of full-forwards, matching motors with Tony Lockett and Gary Ablett for more than a decade, the Queensland-born Hawthorn legend was crowned best-and-fairest four times.
Key stat: 17 – kicked 17 goals and five behinds against Richmond in 1992 to fall one short of Fred Fanning’s 18 record
3. Shane Crawford
Could easily be the No. 1 and suspect a lot of Hawthorn fans and fans in general would agree. Champion player and athlete who carried the Hawks through a difficult era before finally and deservedly breaking through to win a premiership in his 305th and last AFL game. Four-time All Australian and Hawthorn best-and-fairest to go with the 1999 Brownlow Medal.
Key stat: 4th – most games played at Hawthorn
4. Lance Franklin
One word. Superstar. Another? Champion. Begs the question, would Franklin be No. 1 at Hawthorn had he not left to join Sydney after winning his second premiership? Certainly in the conversation. Now an eight-time All-Australian (first four at Hawthorn) and four-time Coleman medallist, ‘Buddy’ is on track to reach 1000 goals. He booted 580 goals in nine seasons at Hawthorn, including 113 in the 2008 premiership year.
Key stat: 13 – Or should it be THIRTEEEEEEEN! (Thanks, broadcaster Anthony Hudson) A number North Melbourne fans will never forget
5. Luke Hodge
Set the standard in one of Hawthorn’s greatest eras and another with mighty claims on top spot. A fearless leader who was highly-skilled and most certainly proven on the biggest stage. Read the play better than most between all the accolades was the sprinkling of mongrel. Taken No. 1 in the 2001 “super draft”, going on to win four premierships (three as captain) and two Norm Smith Medals.
Key stat: 22.6 – average disposals in 25 finals, which resulted in 15 wins and 10 losses
6. John Platten
Four premierships and a Brownlow in his first six years at Hawthorn says it all. After winning the Magarey Medal (1984) in South Australia with Central Districts, “the Rat” Platten would become one of the most popular and revered figures to pull on the famous brown and gold stripes. The hard-nosed rover was a State of Origin staple for South Australia during a V/AFL career spanning 258 games. Inducted into the Australian football, South Australian and Hawthorn halls of fame.
Key stat: 20 – shared the 1987 Brownlow with Tony Lockett, polling 20 votes
7. Dermott Brereton
Immense in the biggest occasions, be it a Grand Final or grudge match Hawks and rival fans knew the No. 23 would stand and counted. Just the six years at Hawthorn from 1987 but in that time helped the club win three premierships (to finish five overall) including arguably the greatest and certainly toughest of them all the 1989 decider. Brereton had all the tools, strength, athleticism and brilliance and of course, the swagger to go with it.
Key stat: 11 – highest single-game goal tally recorded by Brereton was in Round 16, 1990 against Richmond
8. Chris Langford
The tough and uncompromising champion fullback was a central to one of the greatest Hawthorn dynasties and did so lining up against legendary full-forwards. Three flags (four overall), two All-Australians and three VFL teams of the year selections from 1987 cemented Langford’s standing in the game. Langford started out as a wingman but retirements opened the door for him to move to fullback where the Melbourne Grammarian and Victorian State of Origin stalwart thrived.
Key stat: 9 – the goals Gary Ablett Snr kicked on Langford in the 1989 Grand Final
9. Josh Gibson
Gibson proved to be an absolute warrior during the Hawthorn three-peat and most impressively was crowned best-and-fairest in two of the three premiership years. Often undersized but rarely beaten, the ex-North Melbourne defender played 160 games at Hawthorn across eight seasons. Gibson was the glue in a formidable premiership backline including Ben Stratton, Brian Lake and Grant Birchall.
Key stat: 8.3 – the number of one percenters (spoils, smother, shepherds and knock-on) Gibson averaged per game at Hawthorn
10. Gary Ayres
The fact AFL Coaches struck a medal in his name for the best performing player during the finals series says a bit about five-time (three after 1987) premiership back pocket’s influence and ability on the big stage. Captained the club and Victoria in the twilight of a 269-game career and 1988 would become the first of only four players in Aussie rules history to win a second Norm Smith Medal. The Hawthorn Team of the Century back pocket would be higher on the list if judged on his entire career.
Key stat: Five – twice in 269 games the noted defender booted five goals
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11. Darrin Pritchard
The lethal and destructive ball user would be high on the Christmas card list for both Jason Dunstall and Dermott Brereton. Pritchard played 211 games from 1987-97, including the 1988-89 and 1991 premierships. Pritchard would become a mainstay of State of Origin teams, representing Victoria first, then Tasmania and the Allies in later years.
Key stat: 20 & 2 – Starred in the 1991 Grand Final with 20 disposals and two goals.
12. Luke Breust
Genuine star and instrumental to Hawthorn’s success. Not only hit the scoreboard with precision during the premiership years but gelled seamlessly inside a formidable forward structure. His ability to work up the ground and back again added another damaging dimension to his game, while the work off the ball, in terms of positioning and defensively, could be missed by the casual observers. Named All-Australian twice and led the Hawks in goals the past two seasons.
Key stat: 395 – the ninth most goals kicked by a Hawthorn player
13. Shaun Burgoyne
The smooth-moving Port Adelaide premiership midfielder was already a star of the competition when he arrived at Hawthorn in 2010 with a bung knee yet remarkably reached ever greater heights during and now beyond the three-peat. Burgoyne, now the competition’s oldest active player, has delivered in every position asked of him to play.
Key stat: 23 – how many more games Burgoyne needs to become the fifth member of the revered 400-club.
14. Cyril Rioli
Sublime in the premiership years (four overall) and only needed a handful of possession to wreak havoc on opposition teams. Norm Smith medallist in 2015 and three-time All Australian. His speed and pressure was through the roof, as was Rioli’s guile and evasiveness in close quarters. Pity injury brought on an early retirement.
Key stat: 11 – the number of score involvements a blistering Rioli had in the 2015 Grand Final
15. Michael Tuck
How do you hold out a triple premiership captain? Somewhat absurd to think a player that debuted in 1972 would still qualify for the modern era but Tuck capped a longstanding now broken V/AFL games record 426 games with three premierships in his last four seasons to finish with seven overall. Tuck famously never won a best-and-fairest but was runner-up on seven occasions, including 1987 and 1990.
Key stat: 50 – Tuck played 50 games for Hawthorn’s reserves before cementing a spot in the senior team
16. Andy Collins
The third amigo in the fabled “Collins, Langford, Ayres” backline who was as instrumental as any in helping the club win back-to-back premierships in 1988-89 and a third in 1991. Collins was highly-skilled and extremely durable throughout his 212-game career. He was crowned best and fairest in 1990 and finished equal fourth in the Brownlow that year, just three votes behind Footscray champion Tony Liberatore.
Key stat: 5 – Before the start of the 1993 season, Collins was asked by the Crimmins family to wear Peter Crimmins’ No. 5 after it had been retired following the Hawthorn legend’s passing
17. Jarryd Roughead
Ultra-consistent second-fiddle to the Lance Franklin Show in the early years but emerged to become one of the most popular, revered and respected players at Hawthorn. Roughead retired last year with four premierships, two All-Australian selections and a Coleman Medal to his name. He missed the entire 2016 season undergoing cancer treatment but returned to captain the club.
Key stat: 6 – the number of goals Roughead kicked in his last game
18. Jordan Lewis
Slick skills and the grunt to boot, not the quickest nor most agile, but like Hodge and Mitchell and Co the midfield enforcer knew where to be and when. The big-bodied extractor Lewis played starring roles in four premiership campaigns. He was crowned All-Australian and club best-and-fairest in the 2014 premiership season.
Key stat: 37 – the number of disposals Lewis had in the 2014 Grand Final
19. Robert DiPierdomenico
Legendary back-to-back 1988-89 premierships must be respected. His ability to not only influence but intimidate made the Dipper one of the game’s most damaging wingman, with and without the football. Like Tuck, however, the majority of Dipper’s career, including three of his five flags and 1986 Brownlow, were before 1987. He would be a lot higher on this list otherwise.
Key stat: 38 – Dipper’s debut number before becoming the custodian of No. 9 for the next 239 appearances
20. Tom Mitchell
Small sample size (47 games) but for the ball magnet but a Brownlow, two club best and fairest awards, two All-Australian selections and the Leigh Matthews Trophy – AFLPA most valuable player – must be respected. Had it not been for a broken leg last year no reason why masterful extractor and ball magnet Mitchell could not have gone back to the same wells again.
Key stat: 848 – the V/AFL single-season record for disposals Mitchell set in 2018
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