2015 Grand Final

[Meg]

I asked this question in a different thread but more relevant here.

Can anyone who was at the game tell me if the Hawthorn fans were as obnoxious as last year? Or was 2014 a 'special' performance because of our recruitment of Buddy, and our winning in 2012? I could hear the Bronx cheers when Kennedy took a couple of marks late in the match, but in general from the TV coverage it was hard to tell what was happening in the crowd.

[Levii3]

Josh Kennedy played one the worst grand finals ever, showed once and for all who the better Josh kennedy is.

[rb4x]

I wonder how much better the Grand Final would have been if it was played where it should have been, Perth. Hawks would have had to travel again, Eagles would not have, Hawks would have been on a ground that does not suit their style of play, Eagles would have been on a ground they know intimately, crowd would have not supported Hawks, crowd would have supported Eagles. Eagles earnt the home ground Grand Final but were denied by the VFL their rights.

[Doctor]

Surely you are not serious....

I share your feelings re the trade ban but do you seriously think that Patful would have made the difference between us going out in straight sets and us winning a flag?

The Hawks were premiers because they just have a winning culture and are able to go up a gear in September, something we didn't do last year.

They have an incredibly balanced list as a result of good list management and drafting and free agency has been very good to them, as it has to us. They also have a salary structure in place that is quite flat and allows a large number of players to earn , say, $500,000 - $750,000 but none on over $1,000,000 (unlike us)

I agree with all that but a flat salary structure only works if you're already a top club, and probably Victorian based, and can attract players who want to play in finals and are happy to forego bigger offers from other clubs.

[bloodsbigot]

I wonder how much better the Grand Final would have been if it was played where it should have been, Perth. Hawks would have had to travel again, Eagles would not have, Hawks would have been on a ground that does not suit their style of play, Eagles would have been on a ground they know intimately, crowd would have not supported Hawks, crowd would have supported Eagles. Eagles earnt the home ground Grand Final but were denied by the VFL their rights.

Yep. It's horse@@@@ that even though hawks finished lower two years in a row than their opponent that they were able to play the Grand Final on their home ground.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I can't agree with talk about the GF moving away from the 'G'. It's a tradition that will not, and should not ever die. If your good enough, you win anywhere. If you want to win a premiership, you need to do it on the MCG on GF day. That's the way it is, and the way it should always be.

[Levii3]

I can't agree with talk about the GF moving away from the 'G'. It's a tradition that will not, and should not ever die. If your good enough, you win anywhere. If you want to win a premiership, you need to do it on the MCG on GF day. That's the way it is, and the way it should always be.

I the AFL really wants to be a national competition then its something its should consider. The AFL can invest all it wants in advertising in NSW but if it brings the GF to the SCG it will grow the game immensely in Sydney and Western Suburbs and kids playing the game and academy inductions will double. Tradition can sometimes be overrated

[annew]

I can't agree with talk about the GF moving away from the 'G'. It's a tradition that will not, and should not ever die. If your good enough, you win anywhere. If you want to win a premiership, you need to do it on the MCG on GF day. That's the way it is, and the way it should always be.

I agree with this however I believe that the non Vic teams should get more opportunity in the home and away to lay at the MCG instead of at Etihade, Geelong and Tasmania.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I agree with this however I believe that the non Vic teams should get more opportunity in the home and away to lay at the MCG instead of at Etihade, Geelong and Tasmania.

Absolutely, should be a minimum of 4 games ( or thereabouts) for each team.

[Ludwig]

Absolutely, should be a minimum of 4 games ( or thereabouts) for each team.

I agree with this, but it would require redoing all the stadium contracts for the Melbourne clubs. It will mean that Hawthorn, Collingwood and Richmond, the biggest drawing clubs, will have to play a substantial portion of their games at Ethiad, which is hard to see happening.

[annew]

[QUOTE=Meg;684698]I asked this question in a different thread but more relevant here.

Can anyone who was at the game tell me if the Hawthorn fans were as obnoxious as last year? Or was 2014 a 'special' performance because of our recruitment of Buddy, and our winning in 2012? I could hear the Bronx cheers when Kennedy took a couple of marks late in the match, but in general from the TV coverage it was hard to tell what was happening in the crowd.[/QUOTE
Comparing last year to this year it was vastly different. Last year the booing and comments to the swans and Goodes in particular was vitriolic, loud and constant. This year when the empty car went past when the retirees went around the Hawks where I was sitting said lets boo the empty car since Goodes is not here it must be for him (I noticed a cartoon of this was done by Mark Knight in The Age today, which I felt was in bad taste but that was me). Their was not any booing towards WC that I could hear only the usual remarks and outcries at a game, however Hawks fans were still aggressive and believing they were getting a raw deal from the umpires. They are very aggressive cocky fans.

[barry]

The sooner the grand final is movable the better. The arguments against are out of date now.

[dimelb]

The sooner the grand final is movable the better. The arguments against are out of date now.

Agree. It's now a national competition and should be scheduled as such. Another problem with staying at the MCG is that it reinforces the notion of Victoria as the heartland of the game, as if the other eight clubs are too lowly to aspire to such heights.

[Ludwig]

I've rented a room to watch the first grand final played away from the MCG. You're all invited to join me.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I think it's one tradition that should always remain, not a lot is sacred in this game anymore but I believe that should be paramount. A GF week in NSW or QLD would be a farce if we're completely honest.