As much as West Coast choked in yesterday’s AFL grand final, Hawthorn were exquisite. Immaculately drilled, wonderfully skilled and possessed of admirable poise, they are the consummate finals team.
Many of the Hawks players were taking part in their fourth consecutive grand final and it showed.
Their calm and execution under pressure spoke of a team which feels at home on the big stage. They made the important spoils, won the crucial contests and made the most of their chances up forward.
It was a similar story the previous week when they had too much composure for the Dockers.
In that preliminary final, too often Fremantle players fumbled or butchered their ball use seemingly as a result of the perceived pressure the Hawks manage to create.
Hawthorn have developed a truly intimidating aura, one which only grows the deeper the finals go. To beat them, you must block out that perception of pressure and fully exploit the periods of the game during which you have the ascendancy.
The shell shocked Eagles could not manage that yesterday. From early in the second term to 10 minutes into the third quarter, West Coast had it all over the Hawks. Except, that is, in finishing.
The Eagles could have, nay should have, reduced the margin to within two straight kicks in this time. While Hawthorn still may have run away with the game it at least would have placed them under heavy pressure.
Instead, West Coast showed all the hallmarks of stage fright as they fluffed chance after chance. This was summed up in the space of two plays in as many minutes early in the third quarter.
The Eagles had managed to close the margin to just four goals when Luke Shuey dashed towards a wide open 50-metre arc with several teammates in open space.
The midfielder, who had an awful day, somehow managed to kick the ball straight to a Hawthorn defender.
Moments later, Jack Darling spilled an uncontested chest mark just 25 metres out from goal. The ball went back down the other end and Hawthorn produced something from nothing to give themselves a tidy buffer once more and kill off the Eagles’ charge.
West Coast can be fiercely proud of their season, having been expected to languish in the bottom half of the ladder.
What a time, though, to produce by far their worst display of the year. Only a handful of Eagles could be happy with their performances yesterday with the rest turning in efforts which ranged from poor to dire.
They will, however, still enter next season as the team which looks most capable of preventing Hawthorn from equalling Collingwood’s famous feat of four consecutive flags.
The Hawks are expected to cast Brian Lake adrift but otherwise their list should look pretty much the same. Old stagers Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis all have had brilliant seasons and were fantastic yesterday.
There is no reason that trio can’t lead Hawthorn to a record-equalling flag next year. In fact, you’d be crazy to bet against them doing just that.
Aside from the Eagles, who have a list brimming with quality, Hawthorn’s other challengers appear thin on the ground.
Fremantle need to overhaul their defensive style of play if they are to overcome their bogey side in the Hawks, while Sydney too are in need of rejuvenation.
No side from outside this year’s top four looks on the verge of becoming a powerhouse, so 2016 may well be the year of the Hawks once again.
marto
Guest
How about 4THORN
marto
Guest
So why let Lake and Hale go if they are better then what is under them??..I know bringing in youngsters et etc ,but i reckon they are playing unreal football..
Don Freo
Guest
Good FOURtune from Stevic.
Penster
Guest
You cannot beat the atmosphere, roar and sight of the MCG on grand final day! Ticket prices would go up if it was moved to a smaller capacity stadium. But it's moot because the AFL is contracted to the MCG including grand finals and all Victorian prelims, until 2037.
Penster
Guest
Fourpeat's sake! Brace yourself for 12 months of Hawfourn, Fourthorn, H4WTHORN, Fourks.
Penster
Guest
Sam Mitchell's knee caps, the geriatric Lake, overrated Rioli, too many home games, not enough home games ..... will he refresh this list in the offseason?
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Flag=pennant. Premiership=championship. These are not difficult terms to grasp. For most people anyway.
Dean
Guest
No doubt he would, the Swans even with their money bags can't be as successful as the Hawks.
Axle an the Guru
Guest
Wonder if Franklin regrets his choice to leave the nest?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Which is what makes the Lions' three-in-a-row more meritorious.
Frank R
Roar Rookie
And Gerard Whately yesterday on Offsiders stated no Hawks player earns more than $700k per year. Come and play for the Hawks, earn less but win premierships.
Frank R
Roar Rookie
Here is the GF record: Premiers and the home-and-away G-factor 2015 Hawthorn - nine games 2014 Hawthorn - 11 Games 2013 Hawthorn - nine games 2012 Sydney - one game 2011 Geelong - six games 2010 Collingwood- 14 games 2009 Geelong - five games 2008 Hawthorn - 10 games 2007 Geelong - two games 2006 West Coast - two games 2005 Sydney - two games 2004 Port Adelaide - three games 2003 Brisbane - one game 2002 Brisbane - one game 2001 Brisbane - two games Speaks for itself.
Frank R
Roar Rookie
Apparently it's not. Didn't bother the Lions when they won their 3-peat. Correct me if I am wrong but they only played 4 games in 3 years at the G during their 3-peat era. And twice they beat MCG tenants Collingwood in the GF!
justinr
Guest
Lake has been the defining figure in turning the Hawks' defense into the controlled, assured backline it is today, compared to the flaky performances of the '11 and '12 finals series. Huge hole to fill if he goes.
slane
Guest
I designed a bunch of memorabilia with 'Cat-Trick' printed on it for Geelongs 3 premierships!
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I have to agree your Holiness. 'Three-peat' obviously rhymes with repeat, & is lame enough in its own right. 'Four-peat' is simply woeful. Enough is enough.
AB
Guest
Actually, yes. Brian Lake famously took a pay cut to get to Hawthorn. And our highest paid player was Buddy Franklin - losing him to Sydney has given the Hawks plenty of flexibility under the salary cap.
Martha
Guest
Surely the Hawks must have backended their contracts so the salary cap will kick in now or did those players just change clubs for the glory...
Perry Bridge
Guest
there was no excuse for the Eagles deplorable skill execution and decision making. During the 25 mins before and after half time the Eagles had all the running, they clawed back 3 goals but should've added at least 2 more. That's without mentioning their first quarter wastefulness. The web defence struggled - as anyones' defensive strategy would - with the disposal inefficiency they displayed. Can't blame the venue for that. Can't even blame the umpires. Note - this week only 8 frees in total F50/D50. (5 WCE and 3 Haw). Last week WCE got 10 in total (5 in each of F50 and D50) - things like that help make a team look more efficient than they might otherwise lay claim to. Yep - they certainly missed Ray Chamberlain.
Perry Bridge
Guest
West Coast were screwed from the moment Ray Chamberlain missed selection. AFL venues vary in size - dimension, oval circularity or ellipsoidicity?? I kinda like it - it does provide a level of 'quaintness'. But - consider FIFA's law 1 - "The Field of Play" Length (touch line) : minimum 90 m (100 yds) maximum 120 m (130 yds) Width (goal line) : minimum 45 m (50 yds) maximum 90 m (100 yds) and for international matches the tolerances go from 90-120 to 100-110 for length, and from 45-90 to 64-75 for width. It's only the goals that are the same dimensions/widths. Let alone though - that the surface may be real grass or artificial turf. Rugby Union stipulates the field does NOT exceed 100 metres in length, the 'in-goal' does NOT exceed 22 metres in length or that the playing area not exceed 70 metres in width. So - they have maximums - and 1.2 (b) does state a desire that all dimensions be as near as possible to those maximums. It's really the NRL and American (NFL) Football that have a strict grid pattern. The AFL laws state simple an oval in shape, and between 135-185 m long and 110-155 wide. Compared to the allowable variation for a soccer pitch - for non-internationals - the variance of width 45-90 metres is a relatively massive scope. At any rate - for AFL with the ball in the air so much - much local knowledge comes into play related to the wind and the stands. Being able to kick goals from certain pockets.