- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Saturday, September 25, 2014 is a day no Sydney Swans fan will want to remember.
Having entered the grand final as seemingly the best side all season, the Swans saved their worst for last as they were beaten to the tune of 63 points by Hawthorn, who proved once and for all that there was life after Lance Franklin.
Buddy had left the Hawks at the end of the 2013 season to take up a nine-year, multi-million dollar contract with the Swans and while he was slow to get going in his first year in the Harbour City, he would eventually prove his worth in the side that won its first minor premiership since 1996 and claim his third Coleman Medal.
When the Swans and Hawks set up last year’s grand final showdown, it shaped as one of the most anticipated deciders yet as either Buddy had the chance to become the first man in a very long time to win consecutive premierships with two different clubs, or the Hawks would become the first side since the Brisbane Lions in 2001-2-3 to successfully defend a flag.
While the Swans ended up being on the wrong end of the worst grand final defeat by a minor premier since Collingwood lost to Melbourne by 57 points in 1926, it wasn’t all that bad if you consider the performances of two individual players.
Franklin kicked four goals while Josh Kennedy was their most prolific ball winner, but in the end the Hawks’ hunger and desperation ultimately proved to be the telling story.
By winning, the Hawks not only avenged their shock 2012 grand final loss to the Swans in which they started as favourites after having dominated during the regular season, they also joined the Geelong Cats (2007, 2009 and 2011) and the Brisbane Lions (2001-2-3) in winning three flags since the turn of the millennium.
Will Langford had one of the games of his life in the 2014 grand final. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)
Eight months on and this Saturday night’s showdown between the Hawks and Swans will be the first time they have met since last year’s decider, which is now officially history as far as both clubs are concerned.
The Swans, who appear to have well and truly moved on from their grand final humiliation last year, have dismissed the hype surrounding the upcoming match, with coach John Longmire saying that “grand final replays really don’t exist”.
While nothing will be on offer for the winner, a victory for the Swans, which would be their first over the Hawks in a regular season match at the MCG since 2007, could go a long way towards healing the scars of last September’s epic failure.
The club has started this season with five wins and two losses, and were at their absolute best in the second half as they put the Geelong Cats to the sword by 43 points at ANZ Stadium last week.
That has followed on from victories over Essendon, Port Adelaide, the GWS Giants and Melbourne, while the two losses came against Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs in consecutive weeks, in Rounds 4 and 5.
However, they will have to up their game against the Hawks if they are to avenge last year’s crushing defeat, which was an anti-climax to what was otherwise a successful season last year for the red and white.
Alastair Clarkson’s men have been slow to get going, with the Hawks yet to win consecutive matches in 2015. However, their four wins have come at an average margin of 74.25 points, including a 105-point demolition of Melbourne last weekend.
Their three losses have come by less than ten points, including those by two points to Essendon, eight to Port Adelaide and ten to GWS in Rounds 2, 4 and 6 respectively.
It could be proof enough that the Hawks are only human beings after all and that they’re not going to be at their absolutely dominant best every week, even though the nature in which they have won their four matches would suggest otherwise.
Skipper Luke Hodge will miss the match as he serves the final week of a three-match suspension incurred for striking North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow in Round 5.
However, the premiers will get vice-captain Jordan Lewis following his judiciary-enforced fortnight off for striking Todd Goldstein in that same match.
Lewis’ return will be timely for the Hawks, who must win if they are to revive their bid for a rare premiership hat-trick. It has been a strangely inconsistent start to the season for the Hawks, but this Saturday night’s match will present them a golden opportunity to win consecutive matches for the first time this season.
As for the Swans, a win will keep them entrenched in the top four and with matches against Carlton, the Gold Coast Suns and North Melbourne to come before their Round 12 bye, they couldn’t be well placed for another tilt at the premiership come September.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.