The grand final lead up has spooky similarities to that of last year.
As the 2013 grand final draws rapidly closer, could we be destined for a mirror image of last season’s decider?
With the biggest day in the football calendar drawing ever so close, of course footy is all the rage. In almost every newspaper, news website, radio talk show and social media avenue; previews, predictions and analysis of the upcoming game are being discussed in great detail.
It’s hard not to have football on your mind all day, every day.
And with a grand final with so much to look forward to like this Saturday’s that case is even stronger.
In one corner is the team from out west, Fremantle. A defensive minded, almost army like in the way they are drilled football side. And in the other corner we have the offensive fire powered juggernaut that is Hawthorn.
Sound familiar? A grand final featuring two very contrasting brands of footy. One that relies on hard-nosed, pressurised acts, versus another which hurts you with their devastating skills and scoring capabilities.
Sounds to me like a match that was played some 360 odd days ago.
The 2012 grand final. Sydney’s defensive minded assault against Hawthorn’s slick ball movement and preciseness.
But the similarities don’t stop there. In fact it only opens the door to a flurry of eerily similar stats and information as we get ready for an epic grand final.
Let me run through a host of statistics, facts and gathered information from September 2012 to September 2013.
Hawthorn wrapped up the minor premiership in 2012 (17-5) and were widely considered the best team in league. The Hawks also took out first place after the home and away season in 2013, winning the minor premiership (19-3) and cementing themselves as the team to beat.
We then look to both Fremantle of this year and Sydney of 2012. The Swans finished up 2012 in third spot (16-6). Fremantle also ended up third (16-5-1) at the conclusion of this year.
As we look to the finals, the trend continues as all parties follow a spooky form guide.
The Hawks won their Qualifying Final in 2012 in resounding fashion, brushing off Collingwood 135-97. They also breezed through its 2013 qualifier, disposing of Sydney 105-51 to earn a week’s rest and a home preliminary final for two successive years.
Fremantle and the Swans also shared very similar qualifying final results, with the two sides both hitting the road to face off in hostile conditions.
The Swans of last year stormed into South Australia and knocked off the second placed Crows at AAMI Stadium to book a home preliminary final.
And well, we all remember what the Dockers produced in the first week of this year’s finals campaign. An unbelievable victory against the cats in Geelong at Simonds Stadium, a venue the cats had won 49 of their last 51 games at.
Let’s now move to the preliminary finals, where things really get a tad weird.
Hawthorn lined up against Adelaide in their 2012 grand final qualifier, but were challenged greatly by the Crows, clinging onto a five point win (97-92) despite having 10 more scoring opportunities (32-22).
Than look to the preliminary final just gone. The Hawks again just barely got over the line, defeating Geelong by the exact same margin as that of a year ago, five points (102-97).
This next stat is what is most creepy. Just like the 2012 preliminary, Hawthorn had 10 more scoring opportunities than their opposition in 2013. But not only that, it was the exact same number of shots to both sides, both years!
Hawthorn had 32 shots to the Cats 22, the exact number from the 2012 contest when the Hawks had 32 to the crows 22 as mentioned earlier.
On the other side of the ledger, both Fremantle of this year and Sydney of last had comprehensive home preliminary final victories.
The Swans eliminated Collingwood by 26 points (96-70) in 2012, Having 11 more scoring shots (31-20) than the ‘pies. And Fremantle, who ousted the swans by 25 (99-74) also completely dominated with 10 more scoring opportunities (29-19).
As we now move into grand final week, it is again a much of a muchness. A distinct resemblance that is still clear in every footy fan’s mind.
You have the clear premiership fancies in Hawthorn up against a hard-nosed, blue collared team many believed and believe now are no real threat.
But you have to look at the respective side’s form guide.
The Hawks in both years almost fell short of even making the big dance. Whereas Sydney of a season ago and the Dockers of this year have flown through the entire finals series and into the grand final with flying colours, playing irresistible football that definitely warrants and as Sydney showed last year, can produce a flag, even against a formidable force.
Now with all of these facts and stats put forward, you may still just say that superstition has nothing to do with football and the stats of a year ago mean nothing, which they could very well end up doing. But you cannot take away that there is a striking resemblance between the two grand final lead ups and we could very well be destined for another upset on the last Saturday in September.
One thing though I think we can all agree on is we all hope that that the 2013 grand final can live up to the greatness that the 2012 grand final did.
And I hope we are all enthralled and glued to our seats for two and a half hours on Saturday afternoon, beginning at approx. 2:45pm.
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