WHAT Shane Crawford did to Dean Brogan last weekend and Daniel Harris last September weren`t the trademarks of football toughness. They were simply acts of stupidity.Crawford, who is smart and street-wise, would be kicking himself for being so dumb.
While Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson can live with Ben McGlynn`s costly dash off the interchange bench that inadvertently cleaned up Kane Cornes in Launceston, he could never condone the off-the-ball body punch from a key player who should know better.
Crawford`s spate of five matches suspended since the start of last season leaves him frighteningly vulnerable in the AFL`s tribunal process.
Should he get cited for any offence that incurs demerit points, he can expect a massive 50 per cent loading.
And he already has 61.84 points hanging over him until Round 8 next season as the result of being forced to sit on the wrong side of the MCG fence on Sunday.
Clarkson and his fellow coaches demand their players attack the ball and the ball carrier. That intimidating and relentless pressure is a major component of what`s driving the Hawks` success this season.
They can accept there will be times when players, operating so close to the edge of the rules, will transgress and be suspended. But only when a player offends in the act of winning the ball, not taking cheap shots away from the real action.
Crawford has been told by the club to confine the tough-man images to running straight at the ball. It will be surprising if he doesn`t heed the order because at stake is something far more significant than missing the Hawks` return bout with Melbourne.
Crawford started his career at the tail-end of Hawthorn`s decade of dominance and a premiership medal is the only missing piece of his silverware collection. This wonderful ball player must sense this is his chance.
The popular Hawk will join the game`s elite next month as a 300-game servant of one club.
Most realise his reputation was forged on silky skill, breakaway speed and lung-bursting endurance. But if snide acts keep delaying the milestone, today`s young hero-worshippers will end up filing No. 9 under the wrong category.
