The Roar
The Roar

AFL
Advertisement

The Hawks' best is the best, but will they bring it?

23rd September, 2015
Advertisement
Expert
23rd September, 2015
41
1026 Reads

When they’re at their best, they can’t be beaten. That’s the catch-cry that’s come to characterise the Hawks’ continued favouritism for the flag in 2015.

And you can see why it’s stuck.

After their scary dismantling of the Swans in the 2014 grand final, the Hawks were widely touted as a shoe-in to become only the second team to win a three-peat in the modern era.

This prediction was affirmed when the Hawks obliterated the Swans by 89 points in July this year, making them the shortest-priced premiership favourites after Round 16 on record.

Yet, the Hawks’ season has been somewhat inconsistent. Indeed, it took until Round 10 for them to string two wins together. And although the mid-section of their season saw some big scalps, they still lost to Richmond and Port Adelaide in games they were expected to win.

Their latest loss – a 32-point defeat at the hands of West Coast in the second qualifying final – was another shock to the system. It was the first final the Hawks had lost since the 2012 grand final.

In the aftermath of the defeat, Alastair Clarkson and the entire Hawthorn fraternity said the loss was an aberration, and highlighted the Hawks’ previous form as credits in the bank. And after the Hawks stunned Adelaide in last week’s semi-final, the Hawks’ loss to the Eagles may very well have been described as just that: an aberration.

Yet, if you inspect the Hawks’ season more closely, the loss to West Coast was an aberration only in terms of the margin of defeat, but not the defeat itself. Prior to that, the Hawks had lost six times throughout 2015.

Advertisement

These were days when they hadn’t played at their best because, as we have been indoctrinated, when the Hawks are at their best they certainly can’t be beaten. Yet, the difference between the Hawks’ best and worst this year has been telling.

Bring it, and they’re capable of smashing any side.

But when they’ve failed to play at 100 per cent, they’ve lost to sides such as Greater Western Sydney and Port Adelaide, teams that both finished outside the top eight.

Question marks have hung over players more this year than in the past. Jarryd Roughead has at times been quiet, David Hale looks older than ever, and the public aren’t sold on the combination of Brian Lake and James Frawley in defence.

So should we expect the best Hawthorn to turn up this Friday?

Ordinarily, the unequivocal answer would be yes. And it more than likely still will be. But if there was ever a year where Hawthorn were going to falter, this one – characterised by massive wins, but also inconsistency – could be it.

Having to travel to Perth twice in three weeks certainly doesn’t help either.

Advertisement

Still, don’t get ahead of yourselves, Freo. This is the reigning premier we’re talking about, and one of the greatest sides of the modern era.

And great sides step up when it counts.

close