The 2015 AFL grand final is done and dusted, and the Hawks are once again a happy, happy team. What does their win mean for the history of the game? And what does it mean for the future?
MORE AFL GRAND FINAL
>> HAWTHORN SMASH WEST COAST, WIN THE FLAG
>> HAWKS MAKE HISTORY WITH 3-PEAT
>> GRAND FINAL PLAYER RATINGS
>> CYRIL RIOLI WINS THE NORM SMITH
The best of all time
It’s a legitimate question, and one that you will hear asked time and time again over the coming weeks. After winning a third premiership in as many years – and their fourth under Alastair Clarkson – should this Hawthorn side be considered the best of all time?
It’s a good question but like a lot of good questions it really has no answer, simply because of how hard it is to compare sides across the gap of time. No one can really say with any certainty whether this side is better than, say, the Brisbane Lions of 2001-2003, let alone Collingwood of 1927-1930.
After achieving just the sixth three peat in the history of the game – and only the second of the last fifty years – it’s fair to say this Hawks side has put themselves into that conversation. And really, that’s an enormous achievement.
Can they do four?
That Collingwood side of 1927-1930 is the only team in VFL/AFL history to have gone one better than the three flags in a row that Hawthorn has today achieved. The big question now is whether the Hawks can equal their achievement in 2016.
You’d have to think it’s a very reasonable proposition. Like most premiership sides, the Hawks should enter next year as the premiership favourites, and after another dominant Grand Final day display from them, you have to wonder who is going to be able to beat them next time around.
The Eagles will be raring to take another run at it, the likes of Sydney and Fremantle will be up there again, and teams like Port Adelaide, North Melbourne and Richmond will all be hoping they can take the next step.
In the end though, we might be about to spend 2016 watching Hawthorn make history – again.
Come to Hawthorn, win a premiership
This could pretty much be the club’s recruiting slogan after three consecutive years of flags all of which have been heralded by a big off-season recruit.
Brian Lake sums this up better than anyone else – feeling a bit washed-up at the Bulldogs at the end of 2012, he accepted a tempting offer from the Hawks at the end of that year and has never looked back.
He may have just played the last game of his career but if he only had a three-year ride at Hawthorn, well, he had about the best three-year ride anyone could possibly ask for.
Who will be the next big name player to join the Hawthorn family and experience great success, along with the likes of Lake, Ben McEvoy, James Frawley, Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson, David Hale or Jack Gunston? Patrick Dangerfield’s phone will be ringing off the hook.
The vest gets the vest
For all the fans who sat through the Grand Final with the kind of interest you would watching the same movie for the thousandth time, don’t worry, there is still some aspect of today’s game you should be excited about – the last sub vest, hopefully ever.
Safe to say that fiddling with the rules has never been a popular decision in the eyes of the AFL community but the sub vest has attracted more ire than most.
It doesn’t do any major damage to the game really but, especially in big games like this, it can just feel a bit silly to have a player forcibly sit out the match until late in the game.
Imagine how Matt Rosa for example must have felt coming on late in the match today knowing that the Grand Final was already lost and he had no real role to play. Not a great feeling.
In 2016, the sub vest is gone, hopefully for good. Get excited.
What now for the Eagles?
There’s few feelings as devastating for a team than to have come so far in pursuit of the premiership only to fall short at the final hurdle, and it’s made all the worse when the side puts in a poor performance like the Eagles did today.
They had a few patches of good play but really they were under the thumb for the majority of the day and they will spend a lot of time reflecting on the early opportunities that were missed.
The likes of Luke Shuey and Jack Darling in particular had some real nightmare moments in the first half that if they had gone differently – well, who knows what might have happened.
The Eagles shouldn’t feel too down and out in the end. They’ve got an excellent side and they look to be embarking on a really successful period for the club. They’re a good chance to be back here again next year, though there’s a lot of work to do between now and then.
mattyb
Guest
Only one objection to your comment Penster,the probably.And if Malthouse can double dip to be the longest serving coach then John Todd should probably be allowed to as well.
Penster
Guest
If you're going to compare current AFL teams with VFL sides, then you probably have to also include SANFL & WAFL teams.
Jacques of Lilydale
Guest
You missed a pretty compelling performance then Justin.
slane
Guest
It's also a fallacy that player talent has been 'spread thin'. Firstly it makes the false assumption that AFL players are born AFL players and their clubs have nothing to do with turning them into AFL players. Secondly, with the amount of money now spent in talent identification/acquisition coupled with the amount of money spent training these players we should expect to see more AFL quality players than ever before. Thirdly, we haven't had a 12 team comp since pre-1987 and considering the semi-professional nature of the competition at the stage it's ludicrous to suggest the competition would be harder to win. All Tommy Hafey needed to do to create a great Richmond Tigers Premiership team was to get his players to drink a little less and start working out like he did.
justinr
Guest
I think it's a fallacy that an 18 team comp is harder to win than a 12 team comp; the spreading of playing talent would suggest that it may make it easier. I think the only real talking point about the GF is the pathetic performance of West Coast. I switched off ten minutes into the 2nd quarter.
Kavvy
Guest
Agreed above it's hard to compare eras but this team definitely now above Brisbane and Geelong of recent eras. The Collingwood fourpeat includes a "challenge" grand final against Geelong in year 4 so if the Hawks won it next year they'd do what no team has done ever
Me Too
Guest
Hard to compare eras, but this Hawks team is certainly in the conversation, and above Geelong and Brisbane in the modern era. Statistically harder now to win them supposedly - but we've seen three teams win three or four within the last fifteen years. Certainly if they fourplay they will be considered the greatest ever.
Perry Bridge
Guest
the records relating to premierships need to be taken in context. Collingwood did 4 straight in a 12 team league - with 3 brand new clubs just entered to be relatively easy beats. For Hawthorn to do 3 straight (unlike Brisbane - not a merged side with concessions) - and achieve 4 in 8 years - is astounding, in what is now an 18 team competition (although 16 back in 2008). As a North fan, I didn't know enough to hate Hawthorn other than on the back of 1978. We had an era then and so did they. But, then Hawthorn smashed it in the 80s and managed to snaffle a flag in 1991. North had another era in the 90s, but, here's ruddy Hawthorn back again for another era. It's so critical to get to the GF's when you're up there - and the more you make the more (other than Coll 1959-1989) you should win. Gotta respect (and hate) Hawthorn. But yes - when you get there to play the big game on your home ground is a big boost - certainly.
mattyb
Guest
Going by record books you still have to say the greatest Victorian side in history would be Collingwood,4 in a row,or Melbourne 5 from 6.I'm thinking Port Adelaide won 6 in a row in the 50's so if that's correct you would have to say they are the greatest of all time. Biggest talking point from the grand final in my eyes is the home ground advantage Hawthorn were given.It does taint their premiership slighly and also adds to Brisbanes achievements.
Tony
Guest
Brilliant playing by Hawthorn. So many highlights & amazing feats by their players. Kept me wide-eyed all day.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
WC didn't put any pressure on. I'm not sure zone defence is any use unless you are controlling the middle. Free Hawthorn players everywhere. Hawthorn won uncontested marks by miles. Unlike last year they didn't even bother hammering key opponents. Too easy.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Felt that the Eagles were very nervy. However - felt that if they could keep it at 5 goals at half time then they were a chance - pull back 2 in the third and be within 3 goals at 3/4 time and it would be on for young and old. The Eagles, with the week off during the finals would be full of running, while Hawthorn having played every week of the finals series would surely struggle to hit the line and we'd all ponder the wisdom of leaving out the pace of Hartung. The first part of this played out - despite the efforts of the Eagles as they tried their darndest to stuff it up but, managed via Yeo to thread the goal after the siren and they were 31 pts down at the half - having had most of the play for the 10 mins leading in and Hawthorn were looking as though they just desperately had to get to the long break. The Eagles then came out after the break and carried on, got the first goal to make it 3 straight - however - for the play they'd had it should've been 5. Hawthorn answered and then the Eagles again got it back to a 4 goal margin and was it Jack Darling who dropped (looking into the sun) a chest mark and Hawthorn after that put it out of reach before the last break. So - it was effectively game over about 2/3s through the 3rd quarter. It shouldn't have been if the Eagles had been just a fraction more polished. One thinks in particular of Priddis missing, and Shuey a couple of times going by foot when he had better options by hand. Rioli deserved the Norm Smith - he was 'special', and 'delicious' - I have to admit although at other times I'll suggest he's a bit over rated.
WhereIsGene
Guest
WE ARE THE GREATEST TEAM IN AFL HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BigAl
Guest
Yet another blowout, yet another blow out in the biggest game of the year ! The elephant in the room as far as issues the AFL has to face. " It aint over till it's 30% over " - is not a good look !
anddecent
Roar Rookie
AFL GF= zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz