The Roar
The Roar

AFL
Advertisement

Hawthorn look good for flag four-peat

3rd October, 2015
Advertisement
A proven premiership star, Luke Hodge makes his way into the backline. (Photo by Justine Walker/AFL Media)
Expert
3rd October, 2015
90
2283 Reads

As much as West Coast choked in yesterday’s AFL grand final, Hawthorn were exquisite. Immaculately drilled, wonderfully skilled and possessed of admirable poise, they are the consummate finals team.

Many of the Hawks players were taking part in their fourth consecutive grand final and it showed.

Their calm and execution under pressure spoke of a team which feels at home on the big stage. They made the important spoils, won the crucial contests and made the most of their chances up forward.

It was a similar story the previous week when they had too much composure for the Dockers.

In that preliminary final, too often Fremantle players fumbled or butchered their ball use seemingly as a result of the perceived pressure the Hawks manage to create.

Hawthorn have developed a truly intimidating aura, one which only grows the deeper the finals go. To beat them, you must block out that perception of pressure and fully exploit the periods of the game during which you have the ascendancy.

The shell shocked Eagles could not manage that yesterday. From early in the second term to 10 minutes into the third quarter, West Coast had it all over the Hawks. Except, that is, in finishing.

The Eagles could have, nay should have, reduced the margin to within two straight kicks in this time. While Hawthorn still may have run away with the game it at least would have placed them under heavy pressure.

Advertisement

Instead, West Coast showed all the hallmarks of stage fright as they fluffed chance after chance. This was summed up in the space of two plays in as many minutes early in the third quarter.

The Eagles had managed to close the margin to just four goals when Luke Shuey dashed towards a wide open 50-metre arc with several teammates in open space.

The midfielder, who had an awful day, somehow managed to kick the ball straight to a Hawthorn defender.

Moments later, Jack Darling spilled an uncontested chest mark just 25 metres out from goal. The ball went back down the other end and Hawthorn produced something from nothing to give themselves a tidy buffer once more and kill off the Eagles’ charge.

West Coast can be fiercely proud of their season, having been expected to languish in the bottom half of the ladder.

What a time, though, to produce by far their worst display of the year. Only a handful of Eagles could be happy with their performances yesterday with the rest turning in efforts which ranged from poor to dire.

They will, however, still enter next season as the team which looks most capable of preventing Hawthorn from equalling Collingwood’s famous feat of four consecutive flags.

Advertisement

The Hawks are expected to cast Brian Lake adrift but otherwise their list should look pretty much the same. Old stagers Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis all have had brilliant seasons and were fantastic yesterday.

There is no reason that trio can’t lead Hawthorn to a record-equalling flag next year. In fact, you’d be crazy to bet against them doing just that.

Aside from the Eagles, who have a list brimming with quality, Hawthorn’s other challengers appear thin on the ground.

Fremantle need to overhaul their defensive style of play if they are to overcome their bogey side in the Hawks, while Sydney too are in need of rejuvenation.

No side from outside this year’s top four looks on the verge of becoming a powerhouse, so 2016 may well be the year of the Hawks once again.

close