CHOOSING to stick with an unchanged line-up for Saturday's grand final despite the efforts of ruckman Simon Taylor and defender Thomas Murphy is one of the 'tough decisions' that simply had to be made.
That's the word from Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans, after the selection committee decided to retain Brent Renouf and Stephen Gilham for the biggest match of the season.
That's the word from Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans, after the selection committee decided to retain Brent Renouf and Stephen Gilham for the biggest match of the season.
"There are some pretty tough decisions at this time of the year," Evans said.
"It’s tough for players who come close to playing in a grand final but don’t get selected. Particularly for Simon Taylor and Tom Murphy who have been so much part of the team throughout the year."
Senior coach Alastair Clarkson personally delivered the news to the pair, who have both played 18 games in 2008.
"The uncanny thing is that players who are in this position are always aware that they’re in this position," he said.
"They’re just waiting for confirmation and that gets done personally by Alastair.
"It’s about selecting 22 players who you think can give you the best chance at winning a grand final and that’s just the job you have to do. If we could play 25 or 27, we’d love to.
"The rules say you’ve got to pick 22 and whoever misses out is desperately unlucky."
Lively midfielder Cameron Stokes could not be considered because of ongoing hamstring tightness.
"I think we wouldn’t have taken the risk on that one so he was always going to be behind the eight ball," Evans confirmed.
He also acknowledged that Tim Clarke, who made his debut for the Hawks in 2001, and youngsters Travis Tuck and Jarryd Morton were also unlucky to miss out.
"They’ll get some experience for having been through the process and hopefully it will spur them on to bigger and better things," Evans said.
