King (defence) - gone
Royal (forwards) - gone
Campbell (midfield) - staying
Rawlings (Coburg) - going?
McRae (development) - staying?
Johnson (development) - staying?
Monkhurst (rucking) - ?
Don't know who he'll have in mind as assistants but he'll probably want people whose footy philosophy is similar to his and what he has experienced in footy. Does he go with newbies just retired from footy who he played with (Lucas as a forward coach?) or do we poach an experienced Silvagni from St Kilda for the backline?
Hawks backline has been their weakness even with Croad, Gilham and co. playing hence the cluster gameplan. They needed Hodge to go back as their quarterback to sure the backline up last year. This year it's been exposed due to their injuries. At Port in 2004 they had a very good albeit aging defence - Keys Wakelin and the mobile Chad Cornes, Bishop as 3rd tall rebounder, Wilson, Kingsley plus Pickett running, rebounding and kicking long when not shirtfronting opponents. At Essendon they had Fletcher and Wellman with hardnuts Hardwick, Solomon and Mark Johnson.
As for the forwards all three clubs Hardwick was at relied to two big key forwards with quick nifty highly skilled smalls with excellent goal sense at their feet. Keys Lloyd and Lucas, Tredrea and Thurstans/(Lade resting), Franklin and Roughead.
Interesting to see if Hardwick seeks any help or coaching mentoring from Sheedy now they are both at Tigerland.