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Parkin: Hawks are Mummy's boys
 
Written by: Mark Stevens
Herald Sun
19/5/2003
 
DAVID Parkin has urged Hawthorn to get back to trench warfare and quickly address an over-supply of light-bodied kids.

The former Hawks football director said yesterday it was obvious that six to seven players hadn't had the physical capacity to go with the hard-nosed Bombers on Friday.
"They should be home with their mothers in a real sense," Parkin said.

Parkin said he was immediately struck by the physical mismatch of Hawk Michael Osborne against Bomber beast Dean Solomon on a wing.

Steven Greene, Rick Ladson, Tim Clarke, Nick Ries and Chance Bateman were other lean, young Hawks in action at the MCG on Friday.

Parkin said all the junior Hawks had the potential to be fine players, but questioned whether so many should have been in the heat of such a crucial battle.

"If you're struggling and you want to get a contest, you've got to get them into the trenches a bit," Parkin said. "If you go out with six or seven of the 22 who don't have the physical capacity, it's difficult.

"Every one of those can play and really has a bright future, but they're not going to be able to play a game which demands a really physical game plan."

Parkin said clubs in crisis needed to head back to basics and put more hard-bodied, experienced players into the mix.

"When you're struggling a bit, experience becomes a very important commodity. The body to back it up is the second consideration," he said. "If you get the balances wrong, I think you leave yourself in jeopardy."

Parkin named Sam Mitchell and Lance Picioane as two who could add steel to the Hawks' line-up for Sunday's crunch match against Geelong.

As the media focus again turned to Glenferrie Oval, Parkin said the Hawks' were devoid of confidence and baulking at taking risks. "It might just be a game away," he said.

"There's a lot of psychological pulls and mental hurdles to get over. It's not going to be easy," Parkin said.

But he has strongly backed coach Peter Schwab, under increasing pressure to keep his job.

Parkin also slammed those who said skipper Shane Crawford's form was being affected by his TV role.

"He's the best-prepared footballer, including (Craig) Bradley, I've ever seen," Parkin said.

"It's harsh to make him carry the bag. That's grossly unfair to a very special young man.

"I've visited hospitals with him with dying kids. He's the best I've ever seen. He'll sit with kids, talk to them, cry with them, laugh with them. He has a passion for life beyond football. Why shouldn't he follow his dream?"

Parkin said Crawford's leadership ability was outstanding and Nathan Thompson, being nursed through knee soreness, had in the past shown the ability to go on to the ball and lift teammates.

But he conceded there was a vacuum after that."The next one after that's a bit hard to find," Parkin said.Parkin said Nick Holland was struggling for form. "And if you can't perform, you can't lead," he said.

But he said all battling clubs this year were suffering from similar leadership problems.

"Melbourne are devoid of it. Geelong are devoid of it," Parkin said.

"The teams that are all over the place, even though they appear to have some ability, are the ones who just don't have people who say, 'Mate, follow me'.

"And if you're going to say that, you've got to know how to do it and you've got to have the belief and capacity to do it.

"That's why Brisbane are dominating the competition; they've got 10 of them."

Parkin said John Barker, who returned for Box Hill at the weekend and may now be just a month from a senior return, could play a major role in turning the Hawks around.

"He's got all of those elements you need ... aggression; passion," he said.
 
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