Stephen Gilham

[Wedgie]

Seems to have been missed in the media spotlight but what a fantastic story for a great young footballer, was not treated well at Port, moves on and is now a premiership player! Only missed one game throughout the year by injury too.
Well done Stephen!

PS Put your money on whichever club Damon White is traded to to win the flag next year, Port are a good indicator of where the next premiership is going! Is that 4 in the last 2 years alone now? Crikey!

[wycbloods]

He has turned into a very serviceable defender. He seems to play a bit bigger than he is(like bassett had to) and has been very consistent. Clarkson sure knew who to take with him from Port when he left .

[rod_rooster]

Super effort from Gilham. He is not noticed much by those outside of Hawthorn but the role he plays is so important. Just look at the Prelim. He destroyed Riewoldt. As Wedgie said it's a great story.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Obviously I didn't see a lot of Gilham when he was at North Adelaide because I see few North matches, but whenever I saw Gilham I liked what I saw, and couldn't understand why Port didn't at least try him.

When the Hawks picked him up I was interested, but admit I never really expected him to have such an impact. He is a vital part of the most under-rated defence in the AFL IMHO.

[JK]

Well said AH ... Similarly I hardly saw him or noticed him at North, although I recall Roosters afns speaking highly of him.

Have definitely noticed him with the Hawks though and have always rated him, has good clean skills and seems to read the play well, yet doesn't appear to have his praises sung anywhere outside of Glenferrie.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Well said AH ... Similarly I hardly saw him or noticed him at North, although I recall Roosters afns speaking highly of him.

Have definitely noticed him with the Hawks though and have always rated him, has good clean skills and seems to read the play well, yet doesn't appear to have his praises sung anywhere outside of Glenferrie.

We have another one who I think is a beauty, but I rarely hear much said about him. That's Grant Birchall. He reminds me of Chris Mew in that he just gets the job done, rarely loses his feet, never rushed, always finds a jumper with his disposal. Would be surprised to see him in the AA team one day .. if the media finally begin to notice him

[JK]

Quite a few similarities with those Hawthorn blokes of the 80s, the Greenes, Morris', Kennedy's etc ... Glamour boys with flair and run who were much harder than I realised at a young age ... In fact as a kid I hated the Hawks (no doubt just because they were so bloody good) and it wasn't until I reached my late teens that I appreciated just how awesome they were.

[rod_rooster]

Obviously I didn't see a lot of Gilham when he was at North Adelaide because I see few North matches, but whenever I saw Gilham I liked what I saw, and couldn't understand why Port didn't at least try him.

When the Hawks picked him up I was interested, but admit I never really expected him to have such an impact. He is a vital part of the most under-rated defence in the AFL IMHO.

I saw a lot of Gilham at North (funny that ) and i always was dumbfounded that he didn't get more oppourtunities with Port. I was extremely pleased when the Hawks picked him up. I had no doubt that he would develop into a vital player for us and he has done just that.

PS- Agree with you totally about Grant Birchall.

[Booney]

Seems to have been missed in the media spotlight but what a fantastic story for a great young footballer, was not treated well at Port, moves on and is now a premiership player! Only missed one game throughout the year by injury too.
Well done Stephen!

PS Put your money on whichever club Damon White is traded to to win the flag next year, Port are a good indicator of where the next premiership is going! Is that 4 in the last 2 years alone now? Crikey!

Wakelin,Bishop,Kingsley,Montgomery,Wilson were all in front of Gilham for a spot in the Port line up of 05.Chaplin was on the list and developing as was Pettigrew,plus,this was a back line that had just held together a season of 19 wins and a Premiership.Meanwhile Gilham is a skinny kid with 1 game in 2 years and injury concerns.How can this be construed as 'not well treated' ?

He was delisted after 1 game in 3 seasons in which he also missed 19 games with groin/hamstring problems.As mentioned above,the side he was trying to break into were the current premiers.

Damon White is not an AFL footballer IMO and therefore he will not be traded anywhere as Port would get nothing for him.

Gilham spent 2006 on Hawthorns rookie list only being elevated last year,now,if he couldn't make the Hawks squad of 06 (they finished 11th) he could be considered lucky to be on thier list now,but,all in all well done to him and CLarkson for picking him up.

[NFC]

I thought he was EXCELLENT in the GF! A very underrated player who is so crucial to the Hawks defensive structure. Good player, Port stuffed up on this one.

[McAlmanac]

Wakelin,Bishop,Kingsley,Montgomery,Wilson were all in front of Gilham for a spot in the Port line up of 05....

Four of those five premiership players were recycled, as were Damien Hardwick and Josh Mahoney, so Port have done alright themselves in the bargain bin.

[the observer]

We dont want to get into who let who go over the years as it may get quite embarrassing for some who find thsi as a only example. he had been there for a few seasons( Port) Had not developed until he had left. Steve was very thankful at the time about Williams and was high praise for what Port had done for him. Clarkson looked at the list of Hawthorn and there was a place for him that suited Hawthorns demands. The rest is history but intersting that A .Jarman classed him as a steady SANFL player that had limitations I think was his words.There are alway footballers who will surprise as soon as one party moves on D.RODAN

[JK]

We dont want to get into who let who go over the years as it may get quite embarrassing for some who find thsi as a only example. he had been there for a few seasons( Port) Had not developed until he had left. Steve was very thankful at the time about Williams and was high praise for what Port had done for him. Clarkson looked at the list of Hawthorn and there was a place for him that suited Hawthorns demands. The rest is history but intersting that A .Jarman classed him as a steady SANFL player that had limitations I think was his words.There are alway footballers who will surprise as soon as one party moves on D.RODAN

Good post mate ... P. Caven is another similar example.

[rod_rooster]

We dont want to get into who let who go over the years as it may get quite embarrassing for some who find thsi as a only example. he had been there for a few seasons( Port) Had not developed until he had left. Steve was very thankful at the time about Williams and was high praise for what Port had done for him. Clarkson looked at the list of Hawthorn and there was a place for him that suited Hawthorns demands. The rest is history but intersting that A .Jarman classed him as a steady SANFL player that had limitations I think was his words.There are alway footballers who will surprise as soon as one party moves on D.RODAN

The same A. Jarman that thought the role of a ruckman was very overrated until he got the arse and realised he stuffed up?

[bayman]

PS Put your money on whichever club Damon White is traded to to win the flag next year, Port are a good indicator of where the next premiership is going! Is that 4 in the last 2 years alone now? Crikey!

does this include north adelaide for next year or just if he went to an afl team ?

[Punk Rooster]

PS Put your money on whichever club Damon White is traded to to win the flag next year, Port are a good indicator of where the next premiership is going! Is that 4 in the last 2 years alone now? Crikey!

does this include north adelaide for next year or just if he went to an afl team ?

let us all pray that it includes North

[bayman]

PS Put your money on whichever club Damon White is traded to to win the flag next year, Port are a good indicator of where the next premiership is going! Is that 4 in the last 2 years alone now? Crikey!

does this include north adelaide for next year or just if he went to an afl team ?

let us all pray that it includes North

you can pray but you can count me out i'll be praying for a bay flag

[Punk Rooster]

i'll be praying for a bay flag

[bayman]

i'll be praying for a bay flag

the guy holding the flag looks like a younger version of you

[The Lethal 1]

having Luke Hodge in the back half for the second half of the season might have helped him, Hodge is a natural leader and was a little surprised he wasn't captain ahead of Mitchell, would've made a better argument in the Hodge v Judd argument...