'Bloody hopeless' Hawks1:06
AFL: That's how vice-captain Isaac Smith has described Hawthorn's form - but he says any suggestion Alastair Clarkson's going to lose his job is well off the mark.
Hawthorn players in self-preservation mode in winless start, says Jason Akermanis
HALL of Famer Jason Akermanis says Hawthorn’s senior players are in self-preservation mode after the shock departures of Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell.
The triple Brisbane premiership player and prospective AFL assistant coach says he has closely observed Hawthorn’s demise this year.
The Lions went through an identical slump after their premiership dynasty as the list aged and performances nosedived.
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He said when Mitchell and Lewis were traded it would have sent shockwaves through the experienced core.
Instead of concentrating on playing their roles for the team they instead focused on shoring up their position on the list.
“The killer of all teams is the “Disease of Me”. It is where individuals become more focused on what they want than the team. That is the change happening at the club,’’ he said.
“Everyone gets traded but once that happens with guys like Lewis and Mitchell, it puts you on edge yourself.
“You think, ‘Wait a minute, if that’s what they do to those guys?’ What it says to them is that even if you are in the prime of your career, then you could be next.
“It’s not a great feeling. That would be something in the psychology of every player right now if they are in that 26-30 age group.”
“For a long time the pressure hasn’t been there - they have been great players in a great team.
“But for a lot of them it’s starting to come and nothing lasts forever. That is just part of being in the AFL for a long time at a high level.”
The besieged Hawks are attempting to rebuild their list and off-field stocks as they close in on appointing a new chief executive.
Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich told the Herald Sun he was not a candidate despite continued speculation he is set to leave the Dockers.
Hawthorn insiders say they have found a candidate who ticks both boxes of football and infrastructure expertise given the move to Dingley.
But Rosich, in Melbourne this week for list management meetings, said he had a contract which meant he could not be a rival AFL chief executive.
“It is not true that I presented to the board. As with the previous comments by (president) Dale (Alcock) my contract means I cannot look at another AFL club CEO role.”
Former Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Fiona de Jong is also believed the other candidate in the running.
Akermanis has a novel solution to keep Hawthorn’s players enthused amid what is turning into a nightmare season.
He says Alastair Clarkson must try to freshen up some of his ageing warriors with positional changes and tactical tweaks.
“Maybe (Josh) Gibson is completely bored playing down there in defence. Give him something new, put him on a wing or put in the middle for a couple of stoppages.
“I have been watching Cyril’s games and he is being very aggressive. It’s not his natural style.
“I would isolate him (in the forward 50), he is so strong and like Dustin Martin he is strong enough to play on that last line.
“Put him at full forward if the opposition allows you and isolate him where he can be dynamic.”
