The scariest holiday of the year is fast approaching and we want to celebrate…
For Hawks’ Halloween we’re going to delve into the ‘scariest’ players in Hawthorn’s history.
What players were the most brutal on the field? Who frequently visited the tribunal? Who spent the most time on the sidelines from suspension?
Those who top the suspension list for rough conduct in AFL history include Fred Rutley who was suspended for 89 games in 1925 and Bill Burn who was suspended for 46 games in 1906.
Looking at Hawthorn's history though, Hawks don't come close to these tough guys, but nonethless we've compiled a list of who we think would be the ‘scariest’ players to face (and of course - we don't condone any of the below behaviour!).
Read: Marsh Community Series fixture announced
1. Dermott Brereton
First and foremost, we must discuss the aggression of Dermott Brereton. Not only was he one of the most influential and talented players in Hawks’ history but he also built a reputation for himself as one of the toughest players of all time.
Still to this day, Brereton holds the record for most games missed due to suspension for a Hawthorn player.
Arguably his most infamous moment was when Brereton was playing for Sydney and he *accidentally* trod on the head of his former Hawthorn teammate Rayden Tallis. Ouch. Talk about scary stuff.
No. games suspended: 39 (23*)
No. of charges: 17 (14*)
2. Robert (Dipper) DiPierdomenico
The 1989 grand final was one of the most brutal finals in history and is a huge example of Dipper’s toughness and resilience.
He played the whole game but was rushed to hospital after the final siren and was put into intensive care for a punctured lung. As crazy as the story already was, while he laid in a hospital bed recovering, Dipper was then sentenced to five weeks on the sidelines for elbowing Garry Hocking during the game. Yikes.
No. games suspended: 18*
No. of charges: 9*
3. Campbell Brown
Campbell Brown was the epitome of on-field aggression during his 11 years of football, spending a total of 29 games on the sidelines and 15 games whilst playing for the Hawks.
Brown’s most famous suspension in the brown and gold was during the well known ‘Line in the Sand’ melee of 2004, that resulted in 18 players fronting the tribunal. During the scuffle, Brown struck Jason Winderlich and was sentenced to a four-match ban for the action.
No. games suspended: 29 (15*)
No. of charges: 14 (10*)
4. Luke Hodge
‘The General’ may have been one of the most well respected players of his time, but he was also known as a regular remonstrator on the field, spending a fair amount of time at the tribunal.
2015 was a big year for Luke Hodge. He was suspended for three weeks after elbowing Andrew Swallow in the jaw. Later that season he was once again sentenced to a two-week ban for bumping Chad Wingard into the goal post.
No. games suspended: 10*
No. of charges: 19 (18*)
5. Don Scott
Don Scott was an aggressive ruckman, visiting the tribunal frequently throughout his 300-game career.
During the fourteen years he spent in the brown and gold, Scott was reported 15 times, but luckily only managed to miss 11 games.
1972 and 1973 were his most dangerous years, spending a total of four weeks on the sidelines after he was suspended on two seperate occasions for striking the opposition.
No. games suspended: 11*
No. of charges: 11*
*Hawthorn matches only.
