Preview 2015 Grand Final: Hawthorn v West Coast Eagles - Gunston IN, Hartung OUT

[Hawker55]

I keep hearing Hale late out for Hartung.

 

[moginie]

Did Garry support us as a kid? He's one of the kindest towards us in the media.

Garry's father, Peter, played for us in the 60s.

 

[Hawkk]

Garry's father, Peter, played for us in the 60s.

Also good friends with Clarkson

Ironic with all the merger happenings but Lyon and Schwartz were both fantatical Hawks

 

[Baz_hawk]

I lose it when she talks about moist troughs.

This a mating call?

 

[Jiggystoon]

After last year I thought ppl would know much better then to worry about what "experts" are saying


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[Lethality]

I just hope we play an epic performance tomorrow. Give it everything and we won't lose respect.

 

[Hawkk]

I just hope we play an epic performance tomorrow. Give it everything and we won't lose respect.

You given up Lethality?

Most pessimistic three-peat bid ever

 

[Lethality]

You given up Lethality?

Most pessimistic three-peat bid ever

Yes I am pessimistic, and I feel that effort is one thing we can control.

 

[Keys]

This a mating call?

I swear I read that as Play Your Hole at first

Anyway, here's hoping for a cracking game between the two best sides of 2015. Obviously, I'm hoping for an Eagles win but if it doesn't happen for us there probably isn't a side I'd rather lose to than Hawthorn.

Great club, great team that plays an exciting style of footy with the right mix of aggression and skill, attack and defence.

IMO, Hawthorn have always been the team to beat this year as your best is better than everybody elses although you have been a touch inconsistent at times, most recently in the Qualifying Final. I doubt we'll be as lucky again to catch you below your best like that but I can only hope.

Five Grand final appearances in 8 years for 3 flags is a wonderful achievement - you should be proud of your team

 

[Paul007]

I reckon either in the first 20 minutes we will get on top of them and maintain a 5 - 6 goal lead or otherwise it will go down to the wire and be a heart attack game that could go either way. Go Hawks!

 

[Hawkk]

Yes I am pessimistic, and I feel that effort is one thing we can control.

May I ask why so pessimistic?

I assume its a defence mechanism to protect against failure but its silly...trust me I have been in the same boat all.through 2012, 2013 and 2014

This is probably our last run at flag for a decade you should enjoy it

Uber pessimism aside we have the top attack (plus six points to the Eagles), the second best defence (just shaded by 0.8 points per game by the Eagles), have the game at our home ground (where we have a 80% win / loss record) and squarred our matches with the Eagles 1-1 at Subiaco (where the Eagles had a 85% win / loss). On top of this, its our 5th GF in 8 years and the Eagles first in a decade. Add a full list to choose from and we couldnt ask for anymore heat aside (though need i not remind you that it was 24 degrees in the GF last year?)

I reckon we are fully fanked but we go into the GF as 1.64 - 2.54 (betfair) with 70% of money this week going our way (HUN yesterday)

...yet our board is a morgue and the Eagles board is ultra confident

Have I missed something?

 

[fomoco04]

Good luck tomorrow everyone. If my mob don't take it out I'm more than happy to see the hawks make history. It would be well deserved.

 

[Swansinger]

Liam Shiels will be a key player for you tomorrow.The "usual suspects" will get all the attention , but if one of them has a quiet day , a strong performance from this lad will be vital for you.I reckon he'll have a blinder.

 

[Keys]

...yet our board is a morgue and the Eagles board is ultra confident

I think our board is excited moreso than confident.

There's a belief we can win but not that we necessarily will

 

[Hawkk]

I think our board is excited moreso than confident.

There's a belief we can win but not that we necessarily will

So I guess no one is confident then...

I guess what I'm saying is that I dont get the whole nervous pessimism thing. Its foolish to think we can control anything so you are better off embracing the occasion for what it is as it might take a decade or two to make it back...

 

[Lithium]

May I ask why so pessimistic?


...yet our board is a morgue and the Eagles board is ultra confident

Have I missed something?

I remember those days, making the Grandfinal after an extended stretch on the sideline, looking towards it with equal parts intrepidation and glee, a sort of tentative optimism.
Now though, after 4 years, the 'Shiny' aspect of a grand final has worn off, no longer is this some mysterious prize in reach, this is a glory we've experienced, a glory we crave, anything less induces misery!

 

[Keys]

So no one is confident then...

I guess what I'm saying is that I dont get the whole nervous pessimism thing. Its foolish to think we can control anything so you are better off embracing the occasion for what it is as it might take a decade or two to make it back...

It's managing expectations in a lot of ways - I personally think somehow it's easier to cope with a loss if you convince yourself it's expected. Minimises disappointment especially when as fans we have no control over what happens out on the field

 

[Hawkk]

I remember those days, making the Grandfinal after an extended stretch on the sideline, looking towards it with equal parts intrepidation and glee, a sort of tentative optimism.
Now though, after 4 years, the 'Shiny' aspect of a grand final has worn off, no longer is this some mysterious prize in reach, this is a glory we've experienced, a glory we crave, anything less induces misery!

Its a foolish attitude to have (however understandable) because there is no guarantee that we will get back (cough 1992-2007)...

 

[Thaihawk]

I reckon either in the first 20 minutes we will get on top of them and maintain a 5 - 6 goal lead or otherwise it will go down to the wire and be a heart attack game that could go either way. Go Hawks!

Can't afford a heart attack game. We have to do the same as last year, then my heart remains calm. Incidentally, I have a Thai doctor in her late 20s or early 30s, and she leaves any bar girl in her wake, and I'm supposed to control my blood pressure when she is examining me. Impossible.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

It's managing expectations in a lot of ways - I personally think somehow it's easier to cope with a loss if you convince yourself it's expected. Minimises disappointment especially when as fans we have no control over what happens out on the field

Yeah, there's a bit of a balancing act required.

Right now I hope we win, I'm confident that we can, but at the same time I'm thinking that we could just as likely fall in a heap tomorrow.

I need to keep reminding myself that I should enjoy it, and embrace, as you never know when this opportunity to watch your side in a GF will come again, if at all.

 

[Jaeger]

Eeeek, 12am.... It's gameday people

 

[Paul007]

Can't afford a heart attack game. We have to do the same as last year, then my heart remains calm. Incidentally, I have a Thai doctor in her late 20s or early 30s, and she leaves any bar girl in her wake, and I'm supposed to control my blood pressure when she is examining me. Impossible.

GF like last year don't come around too often. The best we can hope for I reckon is to get an early lead and maintain it during the next 3 qtrs.

 

[JordyLuke]

I am really nervy, but I am an anxious mess at the best of times through the home and away season.

For some reason I felt more confident after watching the GF parade, but whatever the result the boys deserve massive respect.

 

[Fulgent]

I'm another who's very nervous about the game tomorrow. A sleepless night last night and probably another tonight. And it looks like last year's upset stomach has returned. I think our best is still too good but the question is whether or not we'll be able to produce it. I reckon we second guessed ourselves a bit in the QF and I wonder if the players didn't play with their customary aggression due to fear of suspension. I've noticed in quite a few games this year when other teams took it up to us physically and we tried to ignore them rather than fight fire with fire (especially Tigers and Power), we seemed off early and couldn't get into the game. However, as this is (hopefully) the last game of the year the players won't second guess themselves this time. I really hope we set the standard early and keep it up for the whole game.

I also think if we can maintain possession it will go some way to us winning the war of attrition as it requires a lot of energy to chase and close down space, which will hopefully hold us in good stead late in the game.

As for the weather, I think the hot conditions probably favour WCE but I think if it's windy we'll probably hand that better as we are used to the swirly MCG wind. WCE have only played at the MCG once this year and it was a night game so the wind was likely not to have been as much of a factor.

Like many on here, I feel that we may have gone in a bit tall, which makes me wonder if Schoenmakers will be sub. He can go forward and back (on Darling?) and perhaps either play a rucking role late (for Hale) or free up Roughead to do so (or a bit of both). Having said all that, it'll probably be Suckling.

Finally, the QF loss sucked but I'm sure Clarko (and our leaders) will have learned a lot from it and it may ultimately provide the blueprint for a win tomorrow. I think if we play to our potential we should win by 4 or 5 goals but it will probably be a lot closer than that.

 

[grumbleguts]

Come on mods, get with the program it's game day!!!

On another note. West Coast, just imagine the excitement when you guys become a trivia question.

"In 2015 who did Hawthorn defeat to achieve their famour third leg of their fourpeat?"