Saturday’s AFL grand final was disappointing for neutral fans hoping to see another close contest between these great sides.
The Hawks dominated from ten minutes into the first quarter and did not release their stranglehold.
The so called ‘Bloods culture’ was nowhere to be found as Swans players went missing, the tackling and pressure they have become renowned for evaporating as Hawthorn waltzed into their attacking 50.
The most damning statistic from the game is that despite having almost 150 more possessions the Hawks also beat the Swans in the tackle count, something that rarely happens but shows the lack of desperation from Sydney to get the ball back when possession was lost.
While the Swans midfield was crushed and rendered completely ineffective, a telling comparison is between both sides’ bottom six players.
So often it is the roles played by a team’s lesser lights which propel a side to victory. Having a look at what I consider to be each side’s bottom six players going into the game (noting Cyril Rioli is only among them due to having such a long layoff) and seeing the impact both sets had on the contest proved to be decisive.
Rioli was a member of Hawthorn’s bottom six on Saturday, at best expected to play a minor role and at worst to give his hamstring an almighty twang. His first half was manic as he tackled, smothered, harassed and almost took mark of the year. While he only had nine touches before being subbed, his presence and ability to effect the contest was huge.
His green-vested replacement Taylor Duryea came into the game during junk time but still incredibly had nine possessions in just 21 minutes of play, while inexcusably five Swans who played more game time had less.
Paul Puopolo is another unsung Hawk whose frontal pressure was extraordinary and while only a minor player his attack on the football was relentless. A specific example in the second half was when Puopolo took on three Swans at ground level on his own and refused to let the ball out of the forward 50, winning his side a stoppage and the congratulations of his teammates.
Hawthorn’s cult hero may be a journeyman with limited ability, but the role Matt Spangher played on Saturday and throughout the entire finals series was critical. While his 15 touches were impressive, it was his critical intercepts and countless courageous acts backing into packs which won him respect.
Following the brave decision to recall Rioli, Alastair Clarkson made another critical decision to give Ben McEvoy his first senior game since Round 21. The thinking behind the call was that McEvoy could drop deep into defence but he equally pressed forward, causing the Swan key defenders all sorts of match-up problems.
Last but not least Will Langford, who surely can no longer be considered in the bottom six, again played the game of his life, shutting down his opponents while gathering 20-odd possessions and kicking three goals. Had others not excelled in the second half Langford could well have had the Norm Smith.
These six all gave great effort and helped their superstar teammates achieve greater heights by doing the grunt work.
Sydney however had only a handful of winners on the day and while they were roundly beaten all over the ground, their bottom six provided so little it was no surprise to see the final margin.
Least culpable would be the substitute Craig Bird, who at least came on with some fire and managed to get himself involved in the game with his tackling and pressure.
Jake Lloyd and Harry Cunningham both seemed completely overawed by the occasion, but that can happen with younger players. At least they showed some willingness to tackle and will be better for the experience.
Three of Sydney’s bottom six were also their worst performed on the day and highlighted how big a gulf there was between the Swans’ genuine stars and their role players.
Gary Rohan should use this week to catch up with Rhyce Shaw for a beer and ask him how he got over his nightmarish 2003 final appearance. Rohan not replicate his previous week’s efforts, and seemed frozen under the spotlight with numerous poor decisions with ball in hand. His turnover to Luke Hodge directly from a kick out highlighted how out of his depth he was and sounded the end of the Swans’ chances.
The final two players are quite experienced and premiership heroes but both will have a long summer ahead. Lewis Jetta and Sam Reid had games remembered for all the wrong reasons as Jetta was virtually anonymous with four touches while Reid was only marginally better. For two senior players their output was terrible and while Jetta is a required player I have huge concerns over Reid’s ability to turn potential into real quality.
While during home-and-away games individuals can lift a team to victory the grand final is too difficult a stage for just one person to perform. Lance Franklin played well, but he got such little support that the burden of trying to carry the Swans to a flag became too great even for him.
The Hawks, so well served by their bottom six players, showed how critical a role is played by those lesser lights.
John Uhr-Henry
Guest
Monstrous,you are obviously a Swans supporter and have got "Muck on your liver"over Hawthorn`s great win. Hawthorn like a few other great sides get their player squads together where ever they may come from and coach and train them to fulfill the clubs ambitions for each football season.All teams assemble their players to the best of their abilities and strive to mold them into the best team they can put on the field. Also Hawthorn play well within the rules whether its financial or player`s participation and with great management that`s why Hawthorn is the greatest club in the league. I guess a lot of other clubs who wish to prosper and play at the business end of the season need to follow suit. Sour grapes writers like you need to take stock.
Kepu
Guest
the Swans struggle on the MCG - they barely beat melbourne there this year..
Monstrous
Guest
Hooay henry I can use stupid short hand collective name calling as well. The Hawthorn Harlots - Burgoyne, Lake, Gibson, Hale, McEvoy, Gunston, Guerra and 1 other have all come from other clubs and would be on good money and in their top 12 players and before Franklin left so if they have backloaded their contracts they will struggle in the future. You have fallen for Eddies fifth column tactics to pretend to align with the Melbourne clubs so as to weaken the northern States because he is a Nine employee and Nine are keen to keep AFL down in the northern states less it take way from RL.
Gecko
Guest
Good article Nick. In fact interesting that Longmire chose to go into the game with a lot of fairly inexperienced players: Lloyd, Cunningham, Rohan and Rampe and none of them stood up. The bottom 6 were not, however, the primary reason for the Swans' downfall. Their midfield was.
John Uhr-Henry
Guest
A fantastic win by a champion team unlike a team of so called champions better known as the Bondi Billionaire`s.They thought all they needed to do was to turn up and the game was their`s..Instead of a champion team they were a mob of "Show Ponies" who got what they deserved. The planning and coaching by our great Hawthorn Coaching panel ensured the game would be won on our terms and with the Hawks guys playing tough in your face relentless football the Bondi Billionaires had no answer to Hawthorn`s dominance all over the ground. It very true the Swans only played as good as the Hawk`s let then and when the going got really tough the Swans players were no longer in the contest.Its a big myth about the Swans having a shocking day.As I previously said the Swans played as well as Hawthorn let them and the game plan that Hawthorn established was well above the Swans capabilities. Back to Back was a fantastic achievement and Double Back to Back is well on the cards for season 2015.Enjoy the year Hawkers and good luck to Jordan Lewis for his Best and Fairest and his wedding in a week or two.
Monstrous
Guest
The AFL needs a good RL referee to guarantee a contest - anyone rhyming with shame will do...
Shouts Chen
Guest
South Rabbitohs should break a flag drought.
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
All this game tells us about the Bloods Culture is even a team with a strong and enduring culture can put in the game from Hades and be completely embarrassed by a top team having a dominant day. Patrick Smith,s dismissal of team culture based on one admittedly horrible day is a shoddy piece of journalism. By far the better team won on Saturday. No one who saw the game will ever deny that. With a very few exceptions the Sydney team performed so poorly it beggars belief but it happened and we Swans supporters have had to suck up that pain and heartache just like the Hawks in '12 and Dockers in '13. I've already renewed my membership for 2015 because I believe in my Club, I believe in our Culture and I believe in our direction.. Well done Hawks. Enjoy these times to their fullest.
BenG
Guest
Souths were awesome in the prelim, same as the Swans, which is not a good sign for them... Two-thirds of the Swans just had a collectively bad day, end of story.
jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Yep to all that Me Too, better let Sheek in on it as he's in denial
jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Oh well Sheek, back to back premierships is a pretty good start. Hawthorn have so many young guns they have blooded this year that the pressure is on to retain a spot in the team week to week. I'm basing it on that, the young talent they have blooded through their system will guarantee they will be extremely competitive and hungry next year. I saw enough of Port Adelaide to see the potential to go all the way to the GF, especially if they get Ryder. The bloods culture is a bit of a myth that was seriously exposed on Saturday. A product of the Hawthorn system, Buddy Franklin, took the bull by the horns and said follow me, no one did. Luke Hodge did the same and the result is there for everyone to see. Not sure Sydney will recover from that belting mentally.
Lroy
Guest
Well I was a neutral, love a good contest but actually I enjoyed watching the Hawks brutalize the Swans. They played old school football, no soft free kicks and nonsense like that. For the purist it was like watching a clinic. Just showed how good these guys really are...
jacques of Lilydale
Guest
My money's on the Rabbits this weekend
Me Too
Guest
Good luck to Souths! Good luck to Inglis!
Me Too
Guest
The better team won, absolutely no doubt about that. The better team were more mentally prepared, better on the park, better in body, and better in their heads. No Port supporter would even suggest that Geelong weren't the better team simply because they failed to turn up on the day. They stunned the Swans with their intensity and Sydney never recovered - a great team would - as the Hawks have shown in previous victories against Geelong and the Swans when well behind. The reality is the Hawks finished the year equal on wins, with a much worse injury list, a much harder draw - not just in who they played but the circumstances - back to back 6 day breaks, fill in coach, consecutive interstate games. Add the Hawks record against the Swans since that 2012 final, which no doubt had fired their ambition. It now stands at 5-1. That loss came with many of their best players absent. Hawthorn are clearly the best team of 2014 and proved it emphatically on GF day.
fiver
Guest
Hopefully Souths don't replicate the Swans this weekend, as they would be going in as red hot favourites.
sheek
Roar Guru
Jacques, How do you know what's going to happen next year? Hawthorn were going to build a dynasty after 2008. it took then five years to win again. Fremantle were going to use the pain of last year's narrow defeat to go all the way this year. Adelaide made the prelim final in 2012 & were going to be a power in the next few years. Richmond & North Melbourne were going to build on their good work in 2013. I wish I knew as much as you.....
sheek
Roar Guru
Jacques, Don't read too much into this. I'm not denying the Hawks anything. But don't try telling me there's 60 points difference between these two teams. And then your response to Christo basically agrees with my premise - that the Swans didn't turn up. So which way you want it? Let's not squabble over split hairs.
Perry Bridge
Guest
The Swans were perfect in the Prelim - North tried but the Swans were perfect. In the GF Hawthorn were excellent and the Swans - it's actually debatable as to whether they really tried?? Take out Franklin and the Swans impact would be far, far worse - Franklin allowed the scoreboard to 'flatter' - which is saying something in a 10 goal loss. Jack was caught in the headlights. As too Grundy. McVeigh ineffective. Kennedy tried but struggled to break clear. Pyke rucked okay but, interestingly - with McEvoy in - the ruck stocks on display were more negating than anything. Certainly Rohan and Jetta in particular gave nothing - and without their outside run the Swans looked listless. So different to the previous week where they looked too fast and too strong for North who had likewise looked too fast (for 3 1/2 qtrs) against Geelong the week before. And - sometimes this happens this time of year - once you've peaked during the finals - the hardest, the absolutely hardest thing is to follow it up the next week. North had peaked in the semis - and were spent come the Prelim. The Swans appeared to have peaked in the prelim - and were flat. We know that the Swans aren't that bad. However - we also can see that Hawthorn did very similar things just a couple of months earlier and the Hawks seem to be kryptonite to the Swans.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
Come on Sheek, how can you be a guru with a statement like that? Give credit to a team that blew the opposition out of the park. They weren't asleep, they were scared, full stop. Scared of the contest, including their overrated captain. This wasn't North Melbourne they were playing. Hawthorn brought their A game and put serious heat in the midfield and put the so called bloods culture to the sword. It takes an extraordinary team to do that. The favouritism that Sydney went in to the game with was deeply disrespectful to a competitive outfit such as hawthorn and disrespectful as well to Luke Hodge who played his 250th game for his club, all we heard all week is what the overrated Swans midfield and Buddy and Tippet were going to do the Hawks. 2 mill recruits doesn't buy a premiership when the rest of the list is not committed. Long way back from that debacle