West Coast coach Adam Simpson was torn.
On one hand, he wanted to acknowledge the giant steps taken this year by the Eagles, who came all the way from ninth in 2014 to a spot in the grand final.
But there was no sugar-coating what happened at the MCG on Saturday, when the Eagles were thumped by 46 points by Hawthorn – a margin which, if anything, flattered the losing team.
A few minutes either side of halftime aside, the Hawks dominated a match in which several of West Coast’s biggest guns including 2014 Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis, Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy and ruck star Nic Naitanui failed to fire a shot.
“(I don’t know) whether it was that we got overawed or that they were just too good and we didn’t take our chances,” said Simpson, a former Hawthorn assistant coach now in his second year in the top job with the Eagles.
“I must admit there was a moment there in the third quarter where we really started to get some momentum but they make you pay.
“We missed an opportunity, kicked a point or dropped a mark and then straight up the other end (Hawthorn kick a goal through Ryan Schoenmakers) and that’s what great teams do.
“They are the moments you need to take.
“We are going to go through this together.
“It’s a really tight group and we’re hopeful that there is more success to come.
“But there are no guarantees that you can get there every year.
“We will improve. We need to improve, but we let an opportunity slip today.”
In search of a role model for what West Coast should aspire to, Simpson said they needed look no further than Hawthorn, who claimed a third straight flag for the first time in their history and a fourth in eight years under the stewardship of master coach Alastair Clarkson.
“We had a bad day but it’s also a reflection of what Alastair has built up over the last 10 years,” Simpson said in the aftermath of the 16.11 (107) to 8.13 (61) loss.
“Now they are in that mode of finals and grand finals on a yearly basis, they’ve got the week down pat.
“That’s the challenge for every club, to get into that space where you are consistently playing in prelims and grand finals and their players can draw on that experience.”
Just three members of Saturday’s West Coast team – Sam Butler, Xavier Ellis and Sharrod Wellingham – had played in a grand final before, a stark contrast to a Hawthorn outfit where James Frawley and Schoenmakers were the only first-time flag winners.
The only likely departee of note is midfielder Scott Selwood, an emergency on Saturday, who is expected to join older brother Joel at Geelong.
YearoftheEagle
Guest
Eagles shot themselves in the foot when it mattered the most. Forward line was non-existent and wasn't helped by the shocking delivery. Even when they got the ball in there with room to spare they stuffed it up. Wanted this game to live up to the hype and go down to the wire no matter who came out the victor, unfortunately the Eagle played like rabbits in the headlights which led to another boring and predictable finish. Nothing untoward Hawthorn supporters, just wanted it to be a great advert for our great game. Hurn still insist they weren't overawed by the occasion but I think he is kidding himself and the team he leads, they didn't play that badly for any of the final series and saved their worst for the GF. Only upside for the Eagles is the age of the group and the players they will get back next year. Still need an injection of speed and class through the middle which they should get via the trade period. Premiership window has opened just hope they can get it together and achieve some success. Hawthorn are a class above the rest and at this stage will be very hard to stop going around again. Congratulations to a remarkable team.
WhereIsGene
Guest
The Eagles were pitiful, that was truly a peahearted display. Hurn is their captain? Really?? Surely they can do better. ANYONE would be an upgrade. Hard questions need to be asked of Darling, Kennedy & LeCras over the summer. Collectively they soiled themselves.
Stewart
Guest
Call on Hutchings was a perfect call, watch the replay. He didn't punch it out of his hand, he lost it out of his hand in the tackle and punched it away. It's a shame bad hand passes don't get called more often. The mistakes of WC cost them, not the umpires, should have left it at that.
Nifty
Roar Rookie
Simply beaten by a better team on the day,they had their chances early and kicked badly and choked under the pressure Not much else to say, I'm very proud of what Simmo and the troops have achieved this year ,they will learn from this Congrats to the Hawks a professional outfit
diamond jack
Guest
a master class in coaching really. out coached and out played. overawed by the occasion. if you talk the talk you have to be able to walk the walk. but theyre young and now have that experience under their belts, augers well for next season with mckenzie, lycett, liam duggan and mitch brown back. we need to play the MCG more. our new stadium has an exact MCG size oval i heard?
Edgar Slosh
Roar Guru
A hard pill to swallow. But they will come again. Once their injured defenders return they will be stronger
Kal kid
Roar Rookie
Shuei ( sp) butchered 2 goals at pivotal moments, one should have been a handball to a bloke in the goal square when he tried a dribble kick and secondly had team mates to the left and right and one in the goal square and kicked a perfect pass to the only Hawthorn player effectively inside the 50 metre arc. Perceived or real pressure they were pivotal moments and effectively cost the WCE a premiership or at least a tilt at one. Games change on small moments like that. Umpiring on Hutchings dropping the ball was a bad decision and cost the WCE as well.