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As they prepare to reprise a classic grand final in which blood was spilled and legends were made, Hawthorn and Geelong say bravery rather than brutality will decide who wins tomorrow’s AFL premiership decider.
Both Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson and Cats counterpart Mark Thompson are playing down the chance of any fireworks like those which sparked the 1989 grand final between the two clubs into an explosive all-time classic.
Geelong hardman Mark Yeates’ infamous hit on Hawthorn’s Dermott Brereton at the centre bounce that year left the Hawks forward winded, concussed and vomiting and set the tone for Hawthorn’s six-point win.
The current Hawks’ reputation for uncompromising football, and Geelong’s proven ability to deal effectively with such tactics, have prompted plenty of pre-match speculation that tomorrow’s match at the MCG will mimic 1989.
But Clarkson said the team that would win the match was the one that put their heads over the football first, rather than trying to remove those of their opponents.
“We’re not going to win the game of footy by fighting. We’re going to win the game of footy by winning the hard ball and trying to get a score on the scoreboard,” Clarkson said.
“I’d be very surprised, despite all the speculation about 1989, if both sides didn’t settle pretty quickly tomorrow and get down to what they do best – play good, tough, hard footy.
“We have to settle and focus on the ball as quick as we possibly can. We don’t need to be giving a side like Geelong any head-starts.”
With Geelong winning 42 of their past 44 matches and a juggernaut seemingly destined for back-to-back premierships, teams have attempted to unsettle the Cats using roughhouse tactics this season – most notably Port Adelaide and Fremantle.
Both times they backfired spectacularly, with the Cats rising to the challenge for comfortable wins to show they have the hardness to go with their undisputed talent.
Thompson said his side’s ability to play quality football under physical pressure would have shown the rest of the competition such tactics were not worth trying.
“We’re pretty proud of the way we go about our football,” Thompson said.
“Generally speaking, I think we’re respected for the type of footy we’ve been playing.”
The two best teams in the competition have only met once this season in July, with a weakened Geelong winning by 11 points.
But the Cats have included three of their stars missing for that match – Gary Ablett, Cameron Ling and Darren Milburn.
While star Cats forward Paul Chapman has been included for his first match in three weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury, Hawthorn star Luke Hodge may come in for some extra attention early on as Geelong look to test his suspect ribs.
Hodge appeared to injure his ribs and coughed up blood after a heavy collision in last weekend’s preliminary final, but has declared he is not carrying any ill-effects from the incident.
The wild card is likely to be the AFL’s most exciting player – Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin – who was kept quiet in last weekend’s preliminary final but is capable of kicking a bagful given the big stage.
The Cats are overwhelming favourites with bookmakers at around $1.45 to Hawthorn’s $2.90.
A crowd of close to 100,000 is expected for the first all-Victorian AFL grand final in eight years.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a mostly fine grand final day for Melbourne, with a maximum temperature of 26 degrees but the prospect of late rain.
Key match-ups for today’s grand final
Lance Franklin (Haw) v Matthew Scarlett (Geel)
The AFL’s best fullback has publicly put up his hand to guard the game’s most exciting forward and if that occurs it will be the most enthralling contest on the field. As good as Scarlett is, Franklin’s pace, athleticism and height means the Cat will need some help from his defensive colleagues to contain him. Andrew Mackie and Harry Taylor are others who could take their turn on the Hawks superstar, while Darren Milburn and Tom Harley can be expected to drift off their opponents and block Franklin on the lead. Scarlett will also have to be closely guarded by the Hawks, given his ability to read the play and go on rebounding runs to drive the ball into attack.
Cameron Mooney (Geel) v Trent Croad (Haw)
Mooney’s five goals and 12 marks in last year’s grand final demonstrates his big game capabilities. He had a quiet game in the preliminary final win over the Western Bulldogs, with just one goal and 13 touches. But that was a rare down game for a player who generally kicks multiple goals. It is worth noting, though, that Croad had the better of Mooney in their round 17 clash, when the big Cat had one of his poorest games of the year. While Mooney has the size and aggression to push many defenders around, Croad is one who has the strength to match it with him.
Brad Ottens/Mark Blake (Geel) v Robert Campbell/Brent Renouf (Haw)
Ottens has proved himself one of the game’s premier big men and his ruck work is one of the reasons the Cats boast the most feared midfield in the competition. It is no coincidence that Geelong have produced their best form of the season in the second half of the year, after Ottens returned from injury. He is also very capable of causing damage as a key forward. Tough, strong Campbell has developed into a solid No.1 ruckman for the Hawks and can also play a key defensive role if needed. The influence of the clubs’ No.2 ruckmen could tell an important tale, with both having plenty to prove. Blake was famously left out of last year’s premiership side in favour of Steven King, while Renouf will be playing just his eighth AFL game in the grand final after replacing Simon Taylor late in the season.
Gary Ablett (Geel) v Brad Sewell (Haw)
Ablett narrowly missed out on the Brownlow Medal, but is still the midfielder widely regarded as the most dangerous in the competition. The Cats will give him the ball at every opportunity and teammates will do what they can to give his opponent a hard time. But Ablett is more than capable of burrowing into the packs, extracting it himself and using his great core strength to break away from opponents. Solidly-built Sewell, his likely opponent, is a very strong tackler and will not let Ablett break away easily. He can also win plenty of the hard ball himself, making their battle crucial.
Luke Hodge (Haw) v Max Rooke (Geel)
The courageous Hawk defender plays the loose man in defence role better than anyone else, with his ability to read the play, mark strongly in front of opposition forwards and deliver the ball beautifully on his left foot. It means the Cats are likely to play a forward on him who is willing to sacrifice their own attacking game for the sake of keeping Hodge quiet. The selfless, team-oriented Rooke appeals as the ideal choice. The tough Cat is one of the few AFL players who could claim to throw themselves as fearlessly at the ball and opponents as Hodge does. Rooke’s capacity to deliver a bone-rattling bump will also test Hodge’s recovery from a suspected rib injury sustained last weekend.
Sam Mitchell (Haw) v Cameron Ling (Geel)
The Hawks rely heavily on skipper Mitchell as their main ball-winner to dive into packs and dish the ball out to get their running game going. He averages almost 30 disposals per game and unless he gets close to that mark in the grand final it is unlikely Hawthorn will win a big enough share of the ball against the superb Geelong midfield. But Ling is the AFL’s best tagger and his opponents rarely get anywhere near those sorts of numbers. Mitchell picked up 33 touches last time the two sides met, but Ling was out injured that night.
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