Hawthorn smash West Coast to win the 2015 AFL Grand Final

I would say, Bobbo, that if they had kicked straight as well, Freo would have won by over 4 goals. The umps alone, however, explain the loss. Look at those incidents and you'll agree. If you don't want to agree (which is what I suspect), don't look at those incidents.

I wouldn't waste my time trying to argue over those decisions. I accept Freo got a couple of harsh calls but you seem to conveniently forget the missed kicks in front, the dropped marks and poor kicking all night. Just face it Don, Freo lost because they weren't up to it. You focus on the things that suit your world view, being that the umpires cost you the game became Freo are like the Power Rangers who could not possibly lose but for those pesky umpires. Before that game I said Hawthorn would win because Freo won't kick enough points... That's what happened. I'm not gong to claim I knew this for a fact but I sure wouldn't be be trying to argue I was still right if Freo had won comfortably. I wanted Freo to win as I do have a soft spot for them but I was not confident and for good reason.

No worries, sydney sider - I just couldn't resist!

Oops my swans fanship showing. Of course I meant Lance Armstrong

Lance Franklin won the Tour de France? What a champion footy player he is!

13th, I'm old enough to remember the Hawks' last glorious era in the 1980s, when they played in seven grand finals in a row. And much like the current era, every single year they were written off as "too old, too slow." Every. Single. Year. It actually wasn't until they'd played five or six in a row that the majority of fans and journalists started acknowledging that they might actually be a fairly handy team. Needless to say, I'm hoping the current Hawks can replicate that amazing run in this decade!

I've told you often enough. It's called Purple Haze. Some might remember it as Purple Violet Squish.

Well it did change the participants...you can't argue with that...or, at least, no one has explained those 6 goals yet. Never mind...I'm glad you are still valuing my contributions by engaging. I was going to "manage my subscriptions" and unsubscribe to this thread but I really am enjoying the obsession with my diagnostic take on the finals. Just rapt that Freo is still on the minds of so many. It's sort of win/win. Hawks make history and Freo proves itself as better than the Premiers.

Hilarious. It's the day after the Grand Final - Hawthorn has just won it's third flag, again in dominant fashion...and Don is still moaning about umpiring decisions from the prelim. Deluded, bitter, sad little man.

I can't believe they don't wait till after the GF and select the COACH OF THE YEAR after the game ,it's rediculous that Clarkson that has never won it ,I would have thought the guy who coaches the winning side of the Grand Final would win it . I stopped reading Delerious Don Freo ages ago I'm not sure what he's on but I want some

Fair dinkum Freo as your a tosser ,the reason they get kicks and not only at Subi is that their normally first to the ball and play the game fair no other reason ,and the reason Freo don't get them is that youve got idiots like Dawson ,Ballantyne and Silvani running around doing stupid things , lose the the chip off your shoulder ,you could supply smiths crisps for a year

Oh yes, Hawthorn are razor-sharp brilliant and if I was a Hawthorn fan I'd be over the moon (imagine they've gained a few fans, spectators like winners) but it does get boring for everyone else after a few years. When Lance Franklin won the Tour seven years in a row (leaving aside the drug stuff, I'm not for a minute suggesting anything shonky with the Hawks) the Tour got really boring. Now the Tour is back to the unexpected it's much more watchable and exciting. It's disappointing when the AFL Grand Final match, like last year and this year, is a walkover. Many of the games throughout the season by 'lesser' teams were much better to watch. I'm afraid I'd turned off the TV by half-time - so ho-hum for everybody other than the Hawthorn family. The the price of excellence I guess but after a while you wonder if any of the teams lower down will ever come up for air. The NRL, on the other hand, have two new teams fighting for the crown, one of which has never won a grand final. I much prefer watching AFL but I reckon tonight's NRL will be a match to watch. And, of course, last year the Rabbitohs won their first grand final for decades. Is the concentration of the same AFL teams in the top 4/5 a recent phenomenon? Or is this how it's always been? If so why?

Can't do that. A fit Fyfe and that wouldn't have happened. The fact that Mitchell targetted and eliminated Fyfe as a factor is why I don't think it is special. It was by default.

I don't think we were outplayed by the Hawks but the difference was the skill level, we made many dreadful errors, Hawthorn did not. We can't really control the umpiring decisions, yes there were some dreadful decisions but we still could have won if we had of taken our opportunities. We didn't, Hawthorn did, it really is a simple game. And because they took their opportunities they were the better side. Same story yesterday, Eagles had a lot of opportunities as well but didn't capitalise. To be a good side you have to make the most of your dominance and that is why the Hawks are so good. Were once again extremely accurate. We will learn from that but seriously Don at least acknowledge that the three-peat was a great achievement.

I agree, the GF's are becoming very brown and gold. In fact i am struggling to remember what a GF looked like without 22 brown and gold striped men running around. You gotta give it to them though great effort. Frawley finished 2nd in norm smith yesterday, Lake won the norm in 2013, that just shows how influential they have been. Personally I am not a fan of Free Agency as it favours the top clubs, older players in the twilight of their careers jumping ship to a top side just to win a flag, but you can't blame Hawthorn for it, they have just taken advantage of the current system and it has been a real success for them.

That 6 goals worth of errors were there. Freo was in control most of the game. They just didn't score or were denied opportunities even though they did all the football things to win kicks ( Pav's tackle on Lake, Sunny's hold and push in the back. Poppy's over the mark non-50. Then there was the joke 50 at the other end, the dive reversal agsinst Ballas and the after the siren running off the set angle).All of those are indisputable. That's the game. Then you add the crooked kicks and Hawks 2 goals in junk time. Freo was the way better side. You can be generous, 13th, but I certainly refuse to accept that Hawks outplayed Freo last week. They got there on the strength of Matt Stevic and the weakness of the other 2 umps.

Don, I think thats a bit harsh, we were unlucky last week with umpiring decisions but we made many poor skill errors which cost us the game. The Hawks were cleaner and took their chances, full credit to them. Same today, just took their opportunities, class side.

Yes, plaudits to Hawthorn, fantastic achievement and completely deserved. I'm just sick of them winning all my life. I'd love to see Hawthorn finish second-bottom next year (ahead of the drug cheats) and experience being at the bottom for a while, but I know it's not going to happen - especially while the current free agency system which favors the top clubs remains in place. How important have Lake and now Frawley been in the past three finals series? (And they got them as bonus picks without being forced to sacrifice players or draft picks. Farce.)

Don I think your pulling a long bow there, Stevic didn't win them the GF. He certainly helped last week but lets face it, we didn't play good enough footy to win last week. Today was perhaps the best umpired game all season, 1 week after the two worst. Hawthorn were simply too good, too strong today for the Eagles and last week against Freo. I agree with a lot of your analysis on Freo but disagree with you on the Hawks, whilst I don't have much time for Mitchell, they are a champion side and they have done very well to win 3 cups. Come on Don, admit it, the Hawks are the best side.

Keep up the good work donnie boy, your broken record diatribe is making me laugh! A perfect cure for my ( and others no doubt) celebratory hangover