Hawthorn premiership pair Ben Stratton and Paul Puopolo will play their last games for the Hawks in round 18 after the club announced their retirements at the seasons end, per hawthornfc.com.au.
Stratton, a three-time premiership player, will lead out his side for the last time when the Hawks face Gold Coast at Adelaide oval on Sunday.
Puopolo will join Stratton in hanging up the boots at the conclusion of the 2020 season, playing in his 196th game for the Hawks this weekend.
Coach Alastair Clarkson commended the careers of both Stratton and Puopolo ahead of their final match.
โStratts and Poppy are exceptional examples of Hawthorn people, each with an incredible work ethic and each highly respected among our playing groupย and within our club,โ said Clarkson.ย
โStratts is the sort of guy youย wantย besideย youย when you go into battle. He is relentless, selfless and willย never stop competing.ย ย
โHe never fails to take a teammates-first approach and it is these qualities that make him soย highly valued amongst his peers and also the broader footy world.ย ย
โPoppy is an incredibly resilient player and person. He came to us as a defender and leavesย the gameย a master of the pressure forward role.ย ย
โForย most ofย his career, Poppy was always the first name selected in the side each week because you could neverย doubtย the intensity, energyย and pressureย he would bring to the game.ย ย
โPoppyย isย an amazing exampleย ofย how farย hardย work andย perseverance can take youย in your career.ย ย
โBoth Stratts and Poppy were drafted to the club as mature age recruits and are fantastic role models for what you can achieve if you have belief and determination.
โAs a coach, they are both players you love to have in your side. They never give in and they will put absolutely everything on the line for their teammates and the club.ย
โIโm thrilled that we will have the opportunity to see them pull on the boots one last time on Sunday and I know their teammates and our members are excited for the chance to farewell them.
โOn behalf of the club I would like to thankย Strattsย andย his fiancรฉ Laura, and Poppyย andย his wife Carmel and daughter Giselle for the sacrifices andย contributionsย they have made to our club.ย
โTheyย will always be a part of the Hawthornย familyย andย willย forever be welcome at our club.โย ย
