We're going through the alphabet one letter at a time categorising our Hawthorn players by not just their talent, but their surname too.
We have considered premierships, accolades, and the number of games played, to come up with a select and prestigious crop of Hawks from throughout history.
Your vote counts.
W.
Terry Wallace
Nicknamed "Plough" for his tough, crashing playing style, Wallace carved out a nine-year career with the Hawks, playing 174 games. A leading midfielder of his time, Wallace, whose original club was Camberwell in the VFA, became a dual All Australian in the brown and gold. A three-time premiership player, Wallace also won two Peter Crimmins Medals, including one in the premiership year of 1983.
Tony Woods
After spending the first six years of his career on the lists of Fitzroy and Collingwood, Woods moved to Hawthorn in his seventh year having only played 31 games. It wasn't until he arrived at the Hawks that he found his place in the AFL, excelling in a tagging role. Woods retired in 2002, having played eight years in the brown and gold and 15 years total in the league. Woods played 142 games for the Hawks.
Bob Williams
Williams played for Hawthorn from 1932 to 1944. Interestingly though, in 1933 the part-time milk carter did not play a game after his employers refused to allow him to play football on the weekends. Nevertheless, by 1935, he was able to become a regular fixture for Hawthorn. Regularly at the top of the Hawks yearly goal kicking lists throughout his career, Williams captained the club in 1943. Unfortunately, a one-point loss to North Melbourne in the final round of the home and away series that year prevented Williams from captaining the first ever finals outfit for the Hawks.
Ray Wilson
Recruited from the University Blacks in the VAFA, Wilson had captained the amateur side to both a B-grade premiership in 1964 and then an A-grade premiership the following year. Renowned as a quick and competitive wingman, Wilson arrived at Hawthorn in 1966 and made an immediate impact in his debut year winning the club best and fairest award. Despite perhaps not living up to the potential that his first year might have suggested, Wilson's service to the club was nevertheless noticeable, finishing with 105 games and a 1971 premiership medallion.
Allan Woodley
A high-flying ruckman, Woodley was nicknamed "The Colonel", supposedly due to his cultured accent. A member of the 1957 team that was the first Hawthorn side to play in finals, Woodley played five years for Hawthorn before leaving to England for three years to pursue his studies in osteopathy. In 1959, his final year before travelling abroad, Woodley won the club best and fairest award. Woodley later returned in 1963 to add another 21 games to his final total of 130 career games.
