LAST week's game between the Hawks and the Dogs was everything a game of football should be.

Plenty of goals, tough tackles, lead changes and a young Hawk stepping up to the plate to be the match-winner.

It was a thriller in every sense of the word - and Sicily definitely stepped up to the plate, which for some reason made me hungry.

And it got me thinking... if Hawthorn players were pizza, which pizza would they be?

Hawthorn's pizza menu

Margherita

Under-rated. Solid and dependable. You always know what you’re getting with a Margherita. A little like Liam Shiels, I think. Goes about his business without the hype (or the pineapple). When in doubt or confused by the overwhelming assortment of options and fancy names like Harissa Hummus Chicken or Bontempelli you can simply say the word and Margherita will get it done. But like a true pizza lover knows the beauty of a good old fashioned Margherita, any Hawthorn fan knows our side is a hell of a lot better with Shiels in it.
 
Aussie

Chip Frawley is to our backline; what Aussie is to any good pizza menu. A good old country lad whose bread and butter is playing the solid shut down role, but with just that added little bit of something extra. Just when you think Frawley is your basic ham and cheese, he surprises you with a little something’ something. Like his stint up forward late last year or when he lit up the MCG on Grand Final day.
 
Vegetarian

It knows its target market and it hits it. It’s accurate just like Jack Gunston. It’s precise, it hones in on its target and nine out of ten times it hits it.
 
The Lot

Short, tall, lead-up, power forward; Ben Stratton can take them all. The boy can do the lot. Last week we witnessed the spectacle that was ‘The Lot’ V ‘The Package’ and we weren’t disappointed. He’s one out of the box and not to be messed with for this pizza has far too many strings to his bow.
 
Garlic Bread

Before you’ve even realised what you’re doing, you’ve ordered a garlic bread. It’s a staple, a regular, a must-have. It gives the same effort, week in week out and it can’t be faltered. Even if you get the home-brand variety it still plays its role. It is Paul Puopolo. No matter the ground, the day or the opposition, you get intensity from Poppy. He is a role player. Sometimes in a way so deliciously brilliant you are in awe for days and even if he isn’t at his best you’d place the order again before even thinking.
 
Gourmet 

It’s top notch and the go to when you need to impress. It’s as smooth as Shaun Burgoyne under pressure. When you need to take things to the next level enter Shaun Burgoyne. Guaranteed to show up on the big occasions.

Hawaiian
 
Ham. Good. Cheese. Good. Pineapple Good.
 
The ham and cheese sums up Josh Gibson as a defender, always doing the basics right and laying the foundation for team success. The ham and cheese alone is delicious, like shutting down an opponent or effecting a spoil. But the pineapple is that extra ingredient which makes Gibbo great – his elite decision making and precise foot skills or the ability to rack up 44 disposals in a match.
 
Meat Lovers
 
When you really need to satisfy your hunger, it’s got to be a Meat Lovers. Much like when the going gets tough, you’d want Luke Hodge on your side in the trenches. It’s got all the essential ingredients – plus a bit of hot salami, bacon, a few meatballs and some barbeque sauce to pack an added punch. It’s almost the ‘leader’ of the pizza menu – the pizza you turn to when hunger needs satisfying.
 
BBQ Chicken

It’s a newer addition to the menu – similar to James Sicily being a newer addition to the line-up. We all know Sis has plenty of flair, not unlike a BBQ chicken pizza - the chicken, the pineapple, the sauce… maybe even a bit of capsicum if you get lucky. It’s got plenty of tricks and is still convincing people it should be a staple order.
 
Mexicana
 
The Mexicana is a required taste, but it’s one of those pizzas you only order if you love it. Like when you sign up to be a Hawks member, being a Cyril fan is a given. With the hot salami and a dash of chilli, the Mexicana packs a bit of spice – it’s got the ability to turn an order on its head and burn opposition sides in just a mouthful.

The Glenferrie Ghost - a passionate Hawks follower - will pen a weekly column for hawthornfc.com.au in 2016.

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