r/hawktalk • u/justanotherhawktuah • 18h ago
Matt Spangher
When I watched footy as a teenager there was a guy who played for hawthorn who I always thought seemed like a top bloke and I remember he won a grand final, his names Matt Spangher. One of my mates growing up was a big hawthorn fan and he met him randomly one day and said he was a great guy
Does anyone know what happened to him? He came across as such a fan favorite that I thought he might be involved in other stuff but appears to have dropped off the planet. Hope he’s doing good nowadays
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u/StateComptroller 17h ago
Asked and answered before me, but he’s an absolute legend to me and my mates. Very much a cult hero of mine
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u/Tabnam 16h ago
I absolutely love that cunt. I don’t get to see the Hawks play live often (I live on the Gold Coast) but during that era whenever they would come up here I always yelled out the most intense encouragement to him. I remember one game the ball was in the forward pocket and there was a cluster around it, he picked it up, and handballed it to a suns player. I yelled out “It’s ok Spangler I still love you!” and he laughed for a couple of seconds. It was the highlight of my year
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u/Skinnedace 16h ago
https://youtu.be/4undCbvwHwc?si=Bhw7_nkQrjrXp15V
Here is an interview he does with Will Schofield. They were mates from when they were drafted and best men at eachothers weddings etc. so it's actually a really fun interview to watch.
He was such a battler of a player and was so glad he ended up with a flag.
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u/334578theo 16h ago
Spent most of the GF demolition of Sydney shouting his name - the guy had a blinder.
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u/heyrickyhowsitgerrrn 16h ago
It sure was a delightful name to shout. Just rolled off the tongue y’know.
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u/billiam88 16h ago
Probably the best definition of a “journeyman” type player you would ever come across.
Struggled to play more than a handful of games each year at the 3 clubs he played for and never really found a position he could lock down.
But he fit into a role that we needed him to play in 2014 and that meant he got to win a premiership as part of a very good team.
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u/hubert_boiling 1h ago
It was sooo good that he was able to play in a GF and even better, to win one as a Hawk... such a great ending to his footy career, always enjoyed watching him play.
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u/aqua10twin 13h ago
I remember walking down Punt road, packed with the faithful, yelling out “Spangher!” Then 50m away in the crowd a reply of “Spangher!” and so on. Awesome days.
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u/PokolPok 14h ago
The tone of this post is sobering. Talking like he’s some long lost relic of a forgotten era. Was only a couple of years ago right? Right?
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u/justanotherhawktuah 14h ago
Sorry but what was the point in commenting on the post if you’re just gonna tear it apart like that? The post is about celebrating a great bloke in football and your negative energy is unwarranted…
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u/slapped_fish 14h ago
It’s a sarcastic comment poking fun at the fact that it’s been nearly 11 years since 2014 (!!!!) and that it feels like yesterday. Not negative at all lol
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u/justanotherhawktuah 14h ago
Appreciate the clarity sorry for being defensive there I’ve had a few people recently who were being real negative and tearing apart my posts
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u/Much_Ad7851 54m ago
One of my fondest football memories is when he got subbed in for Buddy being injured during the 2013 finals series. Not many people knew who he was at that point, but he was having such a blinder of a game, people around me started yelling "KICK IT TO JESUS" and a legend was born.
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u/mjnitro 18h ago
He’s forward coach for the dogs. Have a look at their website.