It was surprising the number of AFL pundits and fans who tipped the Hawks would be vaporised by Sydney in yesterday’s grand final. Many of us are too quick to write off our champion teams.
I have been guilty of it myself.
When Geelong were bundled out of the finals in week one in 2012 and yet another of their champion players retired in Matthew Scarlett, I expected them to become a middle-tier side.
They spent the next two seasons hurling eggs at my face as they finished second in 2013 and third this year. Unfortunately, I am not the fastest of learners.
Even though one month out from the finals I tipped Hawthorn to win the flag and their skipper Luke Hodge to collect the Norm Smith Medal, I second guessed myself yesterday, plumping for the Swans by 11 points.
Like many others, I got affected by the hype. The Hawks were an ageing side past their peak. The Swans were better than in 2012 when they knocked off Hawthorn. The Hawks backline was undersized. Sydney had too much firepower. Sydney had more midfield depth. Sydney had more of everything. These were common themes in the lead up to the grand final.
I forgot the reason that I had originally tipped Hawthorn, not Sydney, to lift the cup – because the former was a ‘team’ in the truest sense of the word, engineered and instructed by one of the best coaches in AFL history.
This Hawthorn outfit, which has been driven by the same core of players since their first of three flags in 2008, stands with the recent Geelong and Brisbane dynasties as one of the greatest in history.
To lose the best forward in the competition to the side which beat you two years’ previous, and yet rebound from that setback to smash your Lance Franklin-led foes is an extraordinary feat.
Despite the best efforts of Franklin, who performed admirably kicking four goals, the Swans were dismantled by a champion team.
At the heart of this wonderful performance, yet again, was a group of veterans who have formed the nucleus of this phenomenal Hawthorn outfit throughout their glorious era.
Hodge will finish his career as not just a triple premiership player but as one of the most accomplished and inspirational captains Australian rules football has seen.
His longtime offsider Sam Mitchell was instrumental yesterday, as was fellow midfield veteran Jordan Lewis. Either of that pair would have been worthy winners of the Norm Smith.
And what about their fellow three-time premiership player Jarryd Roughead, who has continued to live in Franklin’s shadow despite his former teammate now being based thousands of kilometres away?
Roughead’s five-goal bag yesterday was a crowning achievement in what has been a remarkable finals campaign by the versatile forward.
But it was not just Hawthorn’s old stagers who powered them to victory. The Hawks have a plethora of stars with many seasons left in their careers.
They have two of the best young goalkickers in the land in Jack Gunston and Luke Breust, plus damaging speedsters Brad Hill, Cyril Rioli, Isaac Smith and Will Langford.
Why were some of us doubting them again? And, of course, all of these fine players – there are many others I haven’t mentioned – are marshalled by an innovative genius in coach Alastair Clarkson.
After 10 seasons at the helm, Clarkson has three premierships to his name. There will be plenty of people predicting that his side will be reeled in next season by the star-studded Swans or the fast-rising Port Adelaide.
They may well be. But Clarkson won’t be resting on his laurels, content with the finest premiership win of his coaching career.
He’ll be back doing what has made him such a brilliant coach – analysing the patterns of the game and predicting where next it will head. Then he’ll renovate his side’s game-plan once again, ensuring his opponents are never quite sure what to expect.
One thing we can all expect, however, is that Hawthorn will not suddenly fall off the map, even when in the coming seasons they lose champion veterans like Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis, Shaun Burgoyne and Brian Lake.
Hawthorn have built a stellar winning culture similar to what we have seen develop at Geelong, especially if Clarkson remains in charge – surely he will field huge offers from rival clubs in future years – the Hawks will continue to be a top-tier side for years to come.
John F
Guest
in 2007, I was at work on the day before the Grand Final and some Cats supporter who happened to be a statistician told me at the time two things. Geelong ranked 1st for Attack and Defense, Port ranked 2nd for attack and 12th for defense ! Also, Port went 4-0 <6pts, 5-1 <12pts, 8-1 <18pts! Luck had alot to do with them finishing top 4 and even making a GF ! he said some more complicated math stuff that went over my head at the time (still would) and said he was backing them for a 100+ win at 31.00 or something very close to that price! He said he was backing them for at least $100 ! I never saw him again ! FAST FORWARD 7 years later, and I'm left scratching my head ! Could this result be predicted with an level of accuracy ? A look at Sydney's data in 2014 suggests they have been invincible since losing to North in R4 ! Only the pre-season, early season form and some obscure history can account for this remarkable result ! Hawks went 4-2 last year in <12pts, and 5-0 this season . Geelong also went 7-1 <12 pts this season. History suggests they are both dropping down the ladder , how far ? Hawks 14-8 make a PF, Geelong 10-12 and miss finals or they could play off in another granny, but I would say that's almost a farce if did eventuate ! Hawks winning another flag 2015-2020 ? MAYBE No certainty in sport and no dynasties either !! :) EXCEPT Manchester United :)
TD
Guest
Yeah - where was your culture in 2012 - in the yoghurt?
Aussie in London
Guest
Ohhh yeah, I'm looking forward to O'Brien coming through, he looked alright when he made those couple of experiences earlier this year. But Will Langford is shaping up to be a brilliant footballer isn't he? He had a blinder on the big stage, but really progressed well in the second half of the season. Big things to come I feel. Tim, I ask this in the hope that you have your finger on the pulse of the VFL as well, any other lads from the BH Hawks you like the look of. Just on that, big congratulations to Footscray!
Its a team game
Guest
Yes very comparable, except that Collingwood had to front up to about 5-6 other clubs each year if that in the early years. I think it was somewhere on the Roar that the Magpies only won oncce in a 12 team competition, twice in a 16 team competition and nil in an 18 team competition. But as Jacques says below, they shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as Hawthorn, who are closing fast on their premiership tally
penguin
Guest
Good article. Hawks dismantled Sydney, who coming into the game were rated the best team of the year. Magnificent players, culture and coach. Nothing but respect for the Hawthorn footy club! And their youth were fantastic. The team to beat next year, despite Ports firepower and the Swans forward line.
Radelaide
Guest
I think it goes beyond that New York, after the last 2 weeks the Hawks have the belief they can beat anyone in finals. Their composure under pressure has been born of winning 3 of 4 GF's in 6 years.
New York Hawk
Guest
Agreed, Cats and Lions better due to shorter time frames.
New York Hawk
Guest
I suspect you are right Radelaide. Port is top shelf destination club alongside Hawthorn, Geelong and Sydney. Looking forward to 2015! One question, surely the Hawks now know they can belt Sydney on any given day and this will have a massive psychological edge for them in 2015, no?
New York Hawk
Guest
Love your work Jacques. Only thing to add is Swans supporters should now know of our superior culture and not complain about a long-serving player of ours potentially ruining their culture the next time you poach one staggering arrogance and ignorance on that issue. Buddy probably enhanced your culture.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
I go for North Melbourne.
Malahka
Guest
Doesn't take much to drop from the best team to a very good team. Look at Geelong. Similar to hawks where people say their next level are great and whatnot but it is still the core of players that are absolute guns that count. Hawks will have retirements plus the coaching staff raided plus less motivation in the off season. Doesn't take much to drop off.
Aaron
Guest
With that said both the Swans and Hawthorn are getting old, while the hawks stomped the swans they were lucky to beat port the week before
Brian
Guest
Some of the buddy bounty already went on big boy mcevoy. Hopefully big boy and ceglar can kick on next year as hale nears the end.
AR
Guest
A lot of people don't realise, but Hawthorn currently has the previous 3 Liston medal winners (the VFL B'n'F) sitting in the wings of the Box Hill Hawks team - Ross, Hallahan and Woodward. There's also Jed Anderson, Sicily, Obrien, Litherland - young guns who would be in just about every other clubs 22. And then guys like Whitecross, who have been injured all season...all of them scary talent trying to break into the senior team. And of course there's the Buddy-money, still yet to be spent. There's a strong chance Dangerfield could be the one who gets offered $4m over 4 years. The point is, the Hawthorn dynasty is not even close to being over.
Mango Jack
Guest
Simpkin didn't even play, Jacques. As for Spangher, he was OK. He adds height in defence and is a useful 2nd man in against power forwards like Buddy.
slane
Guest
I'm assuming you mean Dustin Martin? It's easy to say that Hawthorn wouldn't put up with his antics but in the harsh light of day they did put up with it from Buddy for close to two seasons. Clarkson was just smart enough to begin planning for the time when Buddy did eventually go. I singled out Luke Hodge because I believe he is the caliber of champion that can create great club culture wherever he plays and I believe that is what is lacking at Richmond.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
You're right Slane, that's what they need but you can't buy that sort of commitment. Its the club culture that he comes in to that makes him who he is. Carlton purchased Judd but the culture there isn't a winning culture and his talent is wasted. Not the case at hawthorn where Hodge is surrounded by players committed to club and coach. A club like hawthorn wouldn't put up with the antics of Damien Martin of a year ago, he would have been traded for that sort of insolence. That is just one point of difference.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Not sure Lewie is considering retirement yet!!! In isolation, the Buddy deal has paid off handsomely, only thing is they forgot that they haven't got 22 of him, and the others, captain McVeigh included, didn't want to know about putting their body on the line for a perceived culture. What a contrast the two captains are. Hodge the warrior and leader and club legend. There's no way he would have done a McVeigh and dissapear on the day. Their culture has been exposed as just a myth, they were smashed everywhere, mid field, forward line and their back line were just deer in the headlights.Only three or four could look their supporters in the eye, ex hawks Buddy and Kennedy in that list.
Slane
Guest
Not saying there is a chance of it happening, just saying I'd love it if he did!
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
God I hope not. That rabble doesn't deserve to be named in the same sentence as the reigning premier. I'll give you an idea how your current coach and McGuire's love child has NFI about anything, in his best 3 for the Norm Smith medal Luke Hodge didn't get a look in. Your whole club is ajoke and it starts from the top