One of the major attractions for visitors to The Hawks Museum is the exhibit ‘They made the Brown and Gold’ which pays tribute to three players annually who have made a significant contribution to the Hawthorn Story. For 2023 we pay tributes to Tilly Lucas-Rodd, Chris Langford and Josh Gibson.

Tilly Lucas-Rodd 

Recruited St Kilda AFLW

Debut Order 1

Played 2022 -

Guernsey 18

Games 10

Goals 3

Captain 2022 -

Best & Fairest Medal 2022

Lucas-Rodd is to be congratulated for their history-making feats at Hawthorn. After playing 43 games with Carlton and St Kilda, Lucas-Rodd joined the Hawks for its inaugural season in the AFLW competition. Appointed as the first captain to lead the Hawks in AFLW, Lucas-Rodd also won the team’s first Best and Fairest Award.

Hawthorn has had a storied history of picking excellent captains who lead by example and play the Hawthorn way. Be it Graham Arthur, Don Scott, Michael Tuck, Shane Crawford, Sam Mitchell or Luke Hodge, the captain sets the tone for the rest of the team to follow.

Selecting the first captain for the Hawthorn AFLW team was always going to be important. The captain helps instill belief in the young players who have been drafted and also assists the coaching group to ensure that their game style could be transferred from training to game day. Lucas-Rodd has continued this leadership legacy.

Standing at 163cm, Lucas-Rodd often is undersized compared to their fellow midfield counterparts, yet has built an enduring reputation as one of the fiercest competitors in the AFLW landscape. A self-confessed lover of tackling, Lucas-Rodd will regularly be found in the thick of the contest, uncompromising in attack on the ball and the opponent.

Having played in the first AFLW game in 2017, Carlton v Collingwood, Lucas-Rodd led the Hawks to its first AFLW victory in Round 5 against the Sydney Swans by 4 points. A major personal highlight was to follow in Round 7 when Lucas-Rodd recorded 50 career games and kicked the match-sealing goal against Port Adelaide.

Chris Langford

Recruited Melbourne Grammar

Debut Order 690

Played 1983-1997

Guernsey 28 (1983-86), 24 (1987-97)

Games 303 Goals 33

Captain 1994

Premierships 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991

Night Premierships 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992

3^rd Club Champion 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993

Life Member 1989

Team of the Century 2001

Hall of Fame Inductee 2007

AFL Hall of Fame 2009

E J Whitten Medal 1987, 1993

State Games 15

All-Australian 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994

AFL Commissioner 1999-2015

When Sef Dunn recruited Chris Langford, his observation became Club folklore: ‘We have a beauty with young Langers’.  Langford, who started as a wingman with occasional ruck duties, became one of the game’s most outstanding and composed full backs, playing an important role in four premierships. In the twilight of his career, gained lasting fame when he reminded the club of the importance of its identity. 

Langford thrived with the challenge of playing against the best forwards in the competition.  His contests with Stephen Kernahan, Tony Locket and Gary Ablett are etched in the memories of all football lovers.  Renowned for his coolness under pressure, he was an attacking player and an integral part of the all-conquering sides of the 80’s.  In his frequent dashes through a pack, he could be seen bouncing the ball before delivering it to a teammate.  He led a defensive unit that was the envy of the competition: Chris Mew, Gary Ayres, Andy Collins, and Ray Jencke.

His efforts in 1996 demonstrated his great passion for football and for Hawthorn. His day job required him to live in Sydney. Such was the importance of his leadership and all-round football ability to the team, the club wanted him to continue.  Despite only training with the team occasionally, he would fly to Melbourne to play.  Something that would be inconceivable in today’s football.  He enjoyed one of his best seasons with many outstanding games in defense. 

Following the Hawk’s thrilling one-point win over Melbourne at the MCG in Round 22, 1996, Langford struck a chord and became immortalised with Hawk supporters when he raised his guernsey high in defiance of the proposed merge with Melbourne, thus more than fulfilling Sef Dunn’s original remarks.  Life after football saw him appointed to the AFL Commission in 1999.

Josh Gibson

Recruited North Melbourne

Debut Order 861

Played 2010 - 2017

Guernsey 6

Games 160 Goals 3

Premierships 2013, 2014, 2015

Peter Crimmins Medal 2013, 2015

Most Consistent 2011

All-Australian 2015

Life Member 2017

Josh Gibson is regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation.  He is a member of Hawthorn's 2013, 2014 and 2015 premiership teams, winning the Peter Crimmins Medal in both 2013 and 2015 premiership seasons.

After playing 65 games with North Melbourne (2005-2009), Gibson requested a trade to Hawthorn.  The deal was done early on the first day of the 2009 trade week, with Gibson traded along with North Melbourne's fifth round draft pick No. 69 (Hawks picked Taylor Duryea who would play in the 2014 and 2015 Premierships with Gibson).  

Gibson’s first season with the Hawks was interrupted by injury.  He tore his hamstring in the third round, which sidelined him for nearly three months.  But he recovered to play 12 games. 

He was in superb form in 2011, playing in every game and holding the backline together after long-term injuries to key backmen, Ben Stratton and Stephen Gilham.  Gibson’s ability to anticipate the play enabled him to nullify many a forward attack.  His team-first efforts, where he consistently beat big name forwards, saw him rewarded with second place in the Best and Fairest.

Gibson received cult status among the Hawk fan base.  His value to the team was second to none and was underlined by the fact that he won two best & fairest awards during the Club’s history-making 3-peat.

Coming off his third consecutive premiership with Hawthorn, Gibson starred in the club's first home game of 2016, ending the match with an equal-club record 44 disposals in a victory over the West Coast Eagles. 

Many a Hawk fan will have long lasting memories of Gibson’s ability to read situations and fly high to spoil opposition forward trusts, actions that became his trademark. He announced his retirement from the AFL at the conclusion of the 2017 season.