1946 - Year in Review   Written by: Dominic Milesi http://www.hawkheadquarters.com 26/11/2003   Keith Shea returned to coach the Hawks again in 1946, but this time in a non-playing role as Jim Bohan was formally appointed captain. Confidence was also boosted by the return of Col Austen, Kevin Curran and Wally Culpitt with the end of World War II. But once again the season was to be a disappoinment as the Hawks lurched from one poor performance to another. The rot started from the opening round, when Collingwood pounded Hawthorn by 63 points at Glenferrie Oval. Four more defeats followed, including a 103 point loss to the Bombers in Round 4. The drought was broken against the Demons in Round 6, but two more losses followed. The latter against Fitzroy saw the incredible feat of Roys captain Fred Hughson running the ball all the way from full-back to full-forward! The only bright spot had been the form of Col Austen off a half-back flank. Unfortunately against North Melbourne in Round 9 he was to break his ankle, ending a promising season. To give you some idea of his dominance, he was named best on ground in five of the nine matches (including the one where he was injured) and gathered nine Brownlow votes. He was to finish second in the best and fairest behind the great Alec Albiston. Despite the loss of Austen Hawthorn managed a gutsy 25 point win over the Shinboners. However, they were only to taste victory one more time for the year against Geelong. Victory did look likely against Melbourne in the first game at the MCG since the war. The ground had been shortened as the VFL wanted conformity, and it appeared to favour the Hawks as they led by 9 points at three quarter time. But seven goals to nothing in the final term saw the Dees get home easily. The final humilation was a 112 point loss to the Bulldogs at Western Oval, Footscray having 50 shots at goal. The season ended with another loss to Fitzroy in front of just 6 000 at Glenferrie Oval, and another wooden spoon, the 7th since Hawthorn had entered the league in 1925. The new recruits struggled and not one of the 14 players to debut would go on to play more than 50 games. Jim Bohan and Jack McLeod played well enough to represent the Big V, and Kevin Curran won the most determined player award, but it was a bitterly disappointing season that saw Shea sacked at season's end. 1946 - The Facts Record: 3-16 Finished: 12 of 12 Highest score: 17.20.122 v North Melbourne, Round 9 at Glenferrie Oval Lowest score: 6.17.53 v South Melbourne, Round 5 at Junction Oval Greatest winning margin: 31 points, 15.22.112 to Geelong 11.15.81, Round 13 at Glenferrie Oval Greatest losing margin: 112 points, 8.5.53 to Footscray 23.27.165, Round 18 at Western Oval Longest winning streak: 1, Rounds 6, 9 and 13 Longest losing streak: 6, Rounds 14 to 19 Coach: Keith Shea Captain: Jim Bohan Club Champion: Alec Albiston Most Brownlow votes: Col Austen and Jim Bohan, 9 Leading goalkicker: Albert Prior, 52 President: Dr Walter Jona Secretary/CEO: Vic Hocking Debutantes Len Andrews Don Beauvais Thomas Calwell Geoff Cartledge Ted Collis William Dalkin Tom Ferguson Kevin Hevey Lionel Johnston Ken Mace Keith Molloy Ken Munro Robert Neate Wally Spencer   Printable version     Copyright © 2006 Hawk Headquarters View Disclaimer