Stevo's Sting - Hawthorn's move is on the nose

Hawthorn trumpeted it as massive news.

A late morning briefing, or handout, to Melbourne's two newspapers then a carefully managed onslaught of detail in a letter to members around 9pm.

More news followed on the net and social media, all perfectly timed and just plain strange.

If it's an announcement so big, why not unveil the plans at a 2pm all-in press conference?

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It was on the nose ... and so is the move itself.

Credit to Hawthorn for thinking outside the square, and the Hawks are the leaders in innovation, but the proposed move to Dingley is a sad move for footy. It's another blow to the geographical, tribal nature of our game.

The fans could cop the move from Glenferrie to Waverley Park, for the club was still sticking to the edges of its heartland in the eastern suburbs. The Hawks also played games there.

The weather can be putrid in the place they call Arctic Park, but there is a warmth about the place. It's well established, cosy and homely ... and it reeks of success.

Sure, space is an issue, and privacy and the luxury of two training ovals would be nice, but the Hawks are giving up something special.

To move again, the location surely had to be top shelf, and in that traditional Hawthorn zone in the east/south east.

Seaford was a hard sell for Saints fans, and the club is odds-on to depart and return to their roots. The move to Dingley is a tougher sell for Hawthorn.

Nat Edwards, AFL Media reporter, is as passionate as anyone about the Hawks. Her tweet, when the carefully stage managed exclusive emerged last night:

She won't be alone among the Hawthorn faithful.

Dingley is St Kilda territory. Just down the road from Moorabbin Airport. The Saints themselves will be just up the road in Moorabbin when they inevitably move. Suddenly, the sandbelt's a footy hub again.

Glenferrie Oval in leafy Hawthorn and the back blocks of Dingley are a world apart. As far from Hawk heartland as you could get from a mindset perspective. It would be like Carlton setting up at Hopper's Crossing or the Dogs seeking more space in Nunawading.

The attraction is cheap land, and that's it.

Hawthorn is a juggernaut, which seemingly can do no wrong, but this is a risky move. Nobody can afford to alienate even a small group of supporters.

The latest, shiny new facilities will give the club bragging rights, but footy is about more than that.

North Melbourne dominated in the 90s working out of portables and tin sheds.

Maintaining your soul is just as important as keeping up with the latest trends in the NFL.