Family Day September 20th
Come out and show your appreciation to all the Hawkettes, baby Hawkers, family and friends who have supported us over the year!
Shuttsie Takes League MVP Award September 19th
Shuttsie wins league 2008 Best and Fairest
A capacity crowd turned up last Saturday night to honour the best of the best at the No Regrets bar in trendy King West. The press and public lined the red carpet outside the 2008 OAFL Awards Night trying to get a glimpse at the stars with names such as Dimacakos, Fabbri and Gemmell. Little did they know that one of Maureen's ex-boyfriends had already booked Gemmell for the night to celebrate another baby or wedding or something.
The night was a rousing success, both for the league and the Hawks — even despite a Rat Weasel getting control of the microphone on a couple of occasions. The drinks flowed easily which brought the players from opposing clubs together for a much-needed social. A Hawker took home the big award of the night for the second year in a row.
Nick "Imagine what I could do if my jeans weren't this tight" Shuttleworth won the league's Best and Fairest award, winning the count from the umpires' votes during the season's games. It was a much-deserving award for the big centreman who has dominated most games with his pace and skill. And, really, it's a feat that the guy can even move, given his lanky frame.
Young Danny Walker was looking to repeat as the league's Leading Goalkicker award, but both he and Shuttsie fell short to the Eagles' Troy Marsh's 59 goals. Our two goalkicking stars shared the goals this year a little better than food is shared at Chez Walker-Shutts.
Adam Verdurmen was nominated for the league's Rookie of the Year award, but unfortunately finished runner-up to Ryan Gregory, the very capable big ruckman from the Ottawa Swans. Great effort from you this year Cracky!
The OAFL All-Star Team was also named and three Hawks found the mark, all making the starting line-up. Shuttsie was a shoe-in at Centre Half Forward, Danny was named in the Forward Pocket, and captain Stefan Leyhane was named as the Centre Half Back. Congratulations to all.
Close loss to start the finals September 17th
Kangaroos 10. 10. (70)
def. Hawks 9. 7. (61)
The Hawks gathered on the field at Humber South in the wee hours of the Saturday morning, most having given up any Friday soirees in the devotion to a good performance in their first playoff game. The field of battle had all the ingredients of trench warfare: wet grass and uniformed men with soggy balls. In an effort to prepare his troops for the game Marty "I'm a Medium-sized Jacket" Walter comforted the players with the claim that the field would dry up in the next 20 minutes. He turned out to be completely right, give or take a few days. For some, it was their first finals: Hank "Iron Bloody Forehead" Suh, Sebastion "Old enough to Vote" Pareja, Henry "When are you not at Gracies?" Chen, Adam "Cracky" Verdurmen, Rob "Crush your enemies" Vickers, and Matty "Don't mess with Texas" Mullins. Notable absentees were Mario "Why am I still in Australia?" Pareja and Rhys "Frodo" Harris.
Battered Hawks Come Up Short as Gemmell Takes Cucumber Title August 12th
Kangaroos 15. 6. (96)
def. Hawks 3. 8. (26)
If you happened to find yourself standing on the playing fields of the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus on Saturday, one would have been forgiven if they confused them with the "killing fields", as the Hawks were handed their third defeat for 2008 and a massive blow to their OAFL premiership plans. In what promised to be the match of the round, a determined Broadview team took to the field at precisely 12 noon with notable absentees and injuries. Perhaps the club's biggest worry may be with star centreman and 2008 OAFL MVP favourite Nick 'Pouts' Shuttleworth, who was seen going through late fitness tests but was finally ruled out minutes before the game. Other notables missing from the line-up were the team's onballer and 2007 OAFL MVP John McGrath and back flanker Hank "I just love weddings, I would have gone to Forbesy's as well if he had invited me" Suh. If that wasn't enough, it was evident from a distance that the club's vice captain, Luke Walker, was supporting a severe head injury that was to see him start on the bench. To find another clue to how the day was to unfold, one only had to point towards the field where the Harris brothers could be seen going through their pre-match paces and were clearly unsettled by being at the ground before the game had started. With dark skies settling overhead it was evident from the start that this was not going to be the Hawks finest hour.
Nevertheless, a battered Hawks team led by Nick 'If JMac can go to LA then so can I' Barden lining up for the first time at centre-half back and Jono 'If it's about cucumbers, she may let me come out' Barlow replacing the injured Shuttleworth in the centre. The game got underway with the Roos hitting hard and simply showing more desire to get the football. Although having the football in their forward line, the Hawks found it near impossible to convert or move the ball forward towards the goal line as the Roos' backline put the young Hawks under pressure. In contrast, the Roos' forwards made everything count from their upfront opportunities and began to pour on goals, clocking up four goals to the Hawks zero by quarter time.
Hawks Welcome Demons to 'The House of Pain' July 31st
Hawks 19. 14. (128)
def. Demons 6. 6. (42)
On a cold and blustery morning, the Hawkers roused themselves from fitful slumbers with the bowel-releasing excitement of the first game at a new home ground. "The House Of Pain" as dubbed by some extremely skinny, non-threatening members of the team, is a fantastic new facility in the lovely suburb of Scarberia. Fears of syringe pricks and stabbings were quickly pushed to the side upon arrival at this magnificent venue and the more pressing issues of retrieving footballs from the machinery yard were taken up.
Other challenges ensued and were quickly made evident when Forbes "I go where the Twisties are mate" Gemmell, was seen to kick the ball out of bounds and then take off around the field pulling his jumper over his head, sliding on his knees and trying to encourage rough man love... it turns out Gemmell had kicked the ball out of bounds on the full - but through the previous season's still remaining soccer nets, giving the poor fellow the illusion of a goal.
Sources report Coach Walter having to hold back Mario "Give me some of that action too" Pareja from leaving the bench to enter the fray, whilst Chris "Old Man" Phyland was heard to comment "Oh what do you expect with hair like that and a brain the size of his cucumbers, the damn gino wanna-be".
Soccer illusions aside, the game went like clockwork for the Hawks. The new surface proved a launching pad for Jono Barlow and a much improved forward line with the relegation of Dan "Superset" Walker to the role of VP Oranges and Orange-related activities. His venom only too apparent with the relegation, Walker seemed to be wandering aimlessly and muttering like a wild man on the sideline with things like "That bloody Walter, look at him so small and cocky, sort of like a Chihuahua in one of those fancy jackets you see down town... yeah the bloody little Chihuahua...yeah."
More entries can be found in the archives >