By Scott Vincent
October 7th 2008 @ 12:32am
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Manly and Hawthorn share more than just bird mascots
For those of us who watched the respective Grand Finals of the AFL and NRL, the more you analyse the respective victorious sides, the more you reveal some striking similarities.
There’s the obvious dominance of the Birds in 2008, but just the start. There are some even meatier facts.
* They are the only two sides in the AFL and NRL to win premierships in the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s (Hawthorn also won in 1961). Only Carlton can add to this list from either code and they better get cracking, because next year is their last chance.
* Both sides have come close to extinction relatively recently, with Hawthorn nearly merging in the mid-90s and Manly having survived the ill-conceived merger with North Sydney earlier this decade. Both clubs have been saved by respective ‘white knights’.
* Both sides rewarded veterans (with 300+ games) with grand final victories: Steve Menzies and Shane Crawford.
* Both sides beat the dominant teams of the AFL and NRL for the last three seasons, Geelong and Melbourne.
In slugging out the so called code wars, we can often lose sight of the things we hold in common.
For Manly and Hawthorn fans, the victory is that much sweeter knowing how close they came to having it taken all away from them.
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The Answer said | October 7th 2008 @ 3:53am | Report comment
Good work Scott, the sort of facts that make good reading on a Mad Monday.
Scott Vincent said | October 7th 2008 @ 9:09am | Report comment
Another one for the list;
- Both sides enjoyed relative periods of dominance prioir to almost collapsing. Hawthorn 80’s and early 90’s, Manly mid 90’s.
Answer, anything to help you knock a top off another one.
Pippinu said | October 7th 2008 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
That was a great read - thanks!
One possible point of difference worth exploring (if anyone is keen enough) - is it possible that Manly is hated by non-Manly supporters more than Hawthorn is hated by non-hawks?
True Tah said | October 7th 2008 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Pip,
ex-Bears supporters will always have a special place in their heart to hate the Sea Eagles.
It is not easy being an ex-Bears fan with a bunch of Eagles supporters in the office.
I can’t speak for other Sydney supporters though.
Greg Russell said | October 7th 2008 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
Possibly this is generic to all such victories, but I think one can also add:
- Underrated coaches outsmarting highly rated coaches
- Underrated players outperforming players regarded as amongst the best in their sport (state of Origin reps for 2008: Manly 1, Melbourne 10; All-Australians for 2008: Hawthorn 2, Geelong 7). Or to put it in terms of an individual player: who would have picked Michael Robertson to score a hat-trick and Stuart Dew to turn the grand final?
Both matches should become case studies for how to create a star team to beat a team of stars that was thought to be a star team.
Tom said | October 7th 2008 @ 9:52pm | Report comment
Good article. I must say as a Manly fan I thought the Hawthorn win was a good omen for us, sure enough…
Scott Vincent said | October 9th 2008 @ 11:29am | Report comment
They also seem to be sharing dark thick sunglasses for days after for the celebrations.
What’s everyone’s take on the Grand Final Tattoo? Looks like Watmough and a few others went that way for Manly - any for the Hawks?