2015 Grand Final

[bloodsbigot]

The AFL gifted them a flag by giving us the trade ban. Just saying.

[Mug Punter]

The AFL gifted them a flag by giving us the trade ban. Just saying.

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)

[Mug Punter]

I can see no reason why Hawthorn can't do this again next year. The AFL really need to rethink free agency if they want an even competition.

I don't seem to remember us berating free agency when Tippet and Buddy joined us

Agree with your points though re even playing field but don't hold your breath. If they were fair dinkum about equalisation, the free agency compo pick would be a zero sum game - so if Frawley gave the Dees a first round pick (as it did) then the Hawks should lose theirs...

The AFL can't really be blamed for free agency though, they know the draft is illegal and if the AFLPA had fought for free agency in the courts, as they would have, then the whole box and dice would have collapsed

Will be very hard for anyone to beat the Hawks again next year

[Auntie.Gerald]

no CHF and no FF structure down the middle of the field today was awesome to watch by the Hawks

tactically and technically the Hawks are so superior !!!

[Mug Punter]

3 remarks:

1. Brian Lake: 3 years at the Hawks after looking washed up at the Bulldogs = 3 premierships. Not bad.
2. Who was the genius who thought Partrick Veszpremi was better than Cyril Rioli?
3. One consolation is that those disgusting WCE fans emptied their pockets for a miserable experience.

I was quite happy for West Coast to lose today, their fans disgust me generally and their treatment of Goodesy was appalling

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no CHF and no FF structure down the middle of the field today was awesome to watch by the Hawks

tactically and technically the Hawks are so superior !!!

I don't like them mush but they were awesome today - I am as one-eyed as anyone but for once I'm prepared to recognise an unbelievable display of footy, they would have blown us of the park

[Ludwig]

I can see no reason why Hawthorn can't do this again next year. The AFL really need to rethink free agency if they want an even competition.

Hawthorn have been very clever in their drafting and trading. It hasn't been free agency. They were able to fit in McEvoy and Frawley because they lost Franklin to free agency. They gave up 2 first round picks in 2009 for Shaun Burgoyne, so he didn't come cheaply, and it might not have looked too wise if PA would have taken Fyfe with one of those picks. They have a source of players you find on lots of clubs. They've just been able to find the right mix and have gotten the maximum out of their players' potential. Credit to the coaching staff.

The GF exemplified why Hawthorn are so good. They play by far the best as a team. All their players seem to know where to go and what to do in all game situations. They also seem to find the open man time and time again. WC blew many chances to hit open players for easy goals, but didn't. And Hawthorn's goal kicking and kicking in general is just superb.

Seeing the Eagles going forward this game reminded me of the Swans. How often had we gotten one good kick away from finding a player in a good scoring position, but didn't execute.

I don't think there are any 'magic bullets' coming from trades or free agency this year. We just need to bring some of our promising young players through and coach them to play effectively as a team. Smart footy is winning footy. I think we have more than enough talent on our list to remain in the top 4 even without trading in players. We will be getting Callum Mills at a minimum, which will keep the top end talent flowing.

It was mentioned after the game that Tayler Duryea spent 3 years on the list before getting his first game in his 4th year. He looks a very good player, now after 6 years since getting drafted in round 5 in 2009. Just a thought before considering what to do with Harry Marsh.

Maybe Kirky will do the trick. He should be a good influence on Zak Jones, who can let his emotions get the better of him.

[Mug Punter]

Hawthorn have been very clever in their drafting and trading. It hasn't been free agency. They were able to fit in McEvoy and Frawley because they lost Franklin to free agency. They gave up 2 first round picks in 2009 for Shaun Burgoyne, so he didn't come cheaply, and it might not have looked too wise if PA would have taken Fyfe with one of those picks. They have a source of players you find on lots of clubs. They've just been able to find the right mix and have gotten the maximum out of their players' potential. Credit to the coaching staff.

The GF exemplified why Hawthorn are so good. They play by far the best as a team. All their players seem to know where to go and what to do in all game situations. They also seem to find the open man time and time again. WC blew many chances to hit open players for easy goals, but didn't. And Hawthorn's goal kicking and kicking in general is just superb.

Seeing the Eagles going forward this game reminded me of the Swans. How often had we gotten one good kick away from finding a player in a good scoring position, but didn't execute.

I don't think there are any 'magic bullets' coming from trades or free agency this year. We just need to bring some of our promising young players through and coach them to play effectively as a team. Smart footy is winning footy. I think we have more than enough talent on our list to remain in the top 4 even without trading in players. We will be getting Callum Mills at a minimum, which will keep the top end talent flowing.

It was mentioned after the game that Tayler Duryea spent 3 years on the list before getting his first game in his 4th year. He looks a very good player, now after 6 years since getting drafted in round 5 in 2009. Just a thought before considering what to do with Harry Marsh.

Maybe Kirky will do the trick. He should be a good influence on Zak Jones, who can let his emotions get the better of him.

Great post, agree with all of that.

[Bloods05]

I don't seem to remember us berating free agency when Tippet and Buddy joined us

Agree with your points though re even playing field but don't hold your breath. If they were fair dinkum about equalisation, the free agency compo pick would be a zero sum game - so if Frawley gave the Dees a first round pick (as it did) then the Hawks should lose theirs...

The AFL can't really be blamed for free agency though, they know the draft is illegal and if the AFLPA had fought for free agency in the courts, as they would have, then the whole box and dice would have collapsed

Will be very hard for anyone to beat the Hawks again next year

The problem with free agency is that, as it stands, it is giving successful clubs an enormous advantage over bottom clubs, and it is widening the gap between them. It militates against all the other equalisation measures.

For the record, I have always had reservations about this. Just because we were able to get Tippett and Buddy does not mean it is in the interests of the game as a whole.

The treatment of the Swans by the AFL, however, is another matter entirely. I'm sure it has demoralised the club, and in any case, it has set back our list management by at least a year, which is likely to have long-term consequences. And all because we found what at the time appeared to be a clever way of exploiting the AFL's rules. Which in fact it was, until they chucked a tanty.

[annew]

I was cheering for west coast. But now I want the lead to get bigger so that it's more than our loss last year

Exactly how I felt.

[swannymum]

Boring game for anyone not aligned with either team. Most likely anyone not barracking for Hawthorn normally would have found it a big yawn, and would have at least wanted some competition from the Eagles.

I started reading a book with the sound on part way through the first quarter. Then McAveney's over the top commentary drove me crazy so I decided to mute the sound. After half time just switched it off!

Have avoided watching parts of the news, just wishing it away...

[goswannies]

I worked & recorded the game. Got home about 1/2 way through the 2nd quarter so watched the whole game at 1.3x speed. Bruce's voice is even more annoying when he sounded like a pompous chipmunk! But at least it was over quicker.

[Mug Punter]

Then McAveney's over the top commentary drove me crazy so I decided to mute the sound...

Surely it is time for Bruce to be pensioned off, he adds very little to the commentary and his fawning admiration of Hodgey and the like is just sickening.

Did Bruce ever lace on a boot himself or was he more of a tennis player as a kid?

[bloodsbigot]

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)

With a half-decent ruck and a defender I wouldn't rule it out.

[jetts32]

Good argument Scottee, thanks for your input.

[RogueSwan]

I think yesterday's game showed a couple of things.
Firstly - finals are played differently to regular season games. The "web" did sweet f.a. Did the Eagles try and go man on man at any stage? I think Longmire understands how finals need to be played, it just doesn't look pretty to most.
Secondly - leg speed means very little if you can't back it up with great kicking. No one would consider the Dawks a "fast" team but they can get the ball from one end too the other quicker than any other team.
Thirdly - it obviously pays to be a "dirty" team. Fremantle were a different team until that dog Mitchell went after Fyfe's thigh. I year when Goodesy did nothing wrong and was targeted by mugs Hodge gets convicted of drink driving and it is ask forgotten about after a couple of days.
Okay, I got a little of track there but you can see my point.