Hawthorn Hawks – Ultimate Premiership Team Jamie Cooper Locker Room Print

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

Hodge and Ayres, Norm smith medallists and men’s men, sit back taking in the scene. Ayres, true to form in those days has a smoke on the go. Coach Jeans is famously giving someone a stern talking to with the finger pointing and the palm turned up. Apparently he would point when making a “point” but when he really wanted to drive it home he would turn the palm up in a twisting motion. This time it is directed at Crawf who stands and says “What’ve I done?” the reason for Jeans’ attention is that Crimmo, hiding behind Crawf, has pinched the Police hat from Jeans’ locker at far left. Also in Jean’s locker is a string of sausages in reference to the coach’s famous analogy of cooking snags and football. 2008 Captain, Sam Mitchell HOLDING THE 2008 CUP, is next to Crawf because Parkin (in 2005) advised that he shadow Crawf on the track to lift his fitness and preparation. The squashed cat’s tail under his foot represents the 2008 Premiership win against Geelong. Platten was notorious for being a pants man of little discretion. “Anything with a breath” as Dermie describes it! There are no women here so Tuck will have to do. At least Tuck has taken his false teeth out for the romantic occasion. Tuck is wearing his tracksuit top with a can in each pocket. He was famous for his traveler’s for the drive home from training. Dipper hugs the beloved cup as Knights pours Champers all over him. Note Buddha Hocking’s teeth in his elbow from 89 Grand Final. Also the bloody drip from his side in reference to his heroic effort in the same game playing with a punctured lung. The three 23′s. Buddy…a genius. Light hearted, spinning the ball on the finger. Dermie… Tough, ruthless and in your face. Full of confidence and bravado. Here he says…Here I am…”I’m Dermie and you are not”. Don Scott… A true eccentric. Tough, brave, loyal, difficult…here he is sitting back, casting a skeptical eye on his other two and the whole scene in general. He stands beside his open locker in which hangs an embroided denim jacket, a cravat and blue leather boots. Matthews and Arthur take a well-earned rest. Arthur holds the 1961-cup. Matthews sits and gives a rare smile. Why is his moustache and mouth covered in blood? Stewie Trott tried to knock him out one day. Broke his nose and loosened a few teeth. As he stood over a dazed Lethal he yelled…”your not so f*(&%ing tough now are you!!” Matthews staggered to his feet, cupping his hands in front of his face to catch the flowing blood, looked at Trott, still half conscious…smiled and licked his hands clean. Watch out Stewie! Dunstall and Huddo embrace in celebration as Darren Jarman puts a beer in both their hands. The excellent delivery to forwards continues off the field. Jarman was Dunstall’s favorite player to see coming down the field. Huddo has his ear partly hanging off in the 1971 GF courtesy of Cowboy Neale. Eade the court jester, cheekily places the much-hated helmet back on Dunstall’s magnificent mullet. Buckenara famously did his knee in the 83 GF. He had a low threshold to pain and complained as if he had had a near death experience. On the footy trip that year he complained so much about how tough it was going to be to come back from such a devastating injury that he was nick named Ben Hogan. Hogan was a pro golfer who lost his leg and came back to win a major. Also he has the dotted line on his leg where he is considering amputation. Andy Collins… Tough, fierce and courageous and serious as all hell. He was said to be an intense character being nicknamed “tablets” as in serious tablets. Here he tips the bottle out, as it is time to have a laugh.

Coach: Allan Jeans

Backs: Gary Ayres, Chris Langford, Andy Collins

Half-backs: Peter Knights, Chris Mew, Luke Hodge

Centres: Robert DiPierdomenico, Sam Mitchell, Shane Crawford

Half-forwards: Gary Buckenara, Dermott Brereton, Lance Franklin

Full-forwards: Leigh Matthews (C), Jason Dunstall, Peter Hudson

Followers: Don Scott, Michael Tuck, John Platten

Interchange: Darren Jarman, John Kennedy Junior, Kelvin Moore, Cyril Rioli

Emergencies: Peter Crimmins, Rodney Eade, Graham Arthur