Here's a question for you Hawthorn greatest team of all backers.

[Gollo]

Oh dear - another sad and bitter thread. What a surprise! Boo Hoo Hoo !!!
Threads like this just makes the three peat so much sweeter

At least be humble about it, geez.

 

[HolyWars]

But with everyone going on about how the hot weather would strongly favour a younger, faster, fresher team in WC, shouldn't that nullify the MCG advantage?

The real advantage was what happened to Hawthorn in the 2012 GF. That is the key to why they have done the threepeat, I have no doubt about it.

Hawthorn would have still won in Perth.

 

[Jess Moondragon]

yeah west coast are shit. Only lost 5 games for the year beating everyone in the comp and flogged the hawks in the finals.

Dumb campaigner

Relax dude. What I meant was are WCE really that good for a runner up, did Hawthorn get lucky that they didn't have to play a genuine flag quality team in the GF. Obviously WCE were the 2nd best team this year, but maybe it was a dud year.

 

[Full Wingspan]

Would Brisbane have been that good if they didn't have some extra cash and a few benefits from the Fitzroy saga?

Terrible argument.

Roughly 400k in the salary cap to offset some of the inherent disadvantages of operating a football club in a frontier state (still lost no.1 draft pick Des Headland during our glory years).

Some of the factors of our success include giving Martin Pike a final chance at redeeming his somewhat controversial AFL career, recruitment of Blake Caracella, getting Lynch on a 10-year contract (which almost back-fired on us due to his chronic fatigue) and retaining the same core of players that we drafted and developed into superstars on our own.

Benefits from the Fitzroy 'saga'? One player and a few Victorian based supporters and members?

 

[Back One Out]

The real advantage was what happened to Hawthorn in the 2012 GF. That is the key to why they have done the threepeat, I have no doubt about it.

I've thought about this recently and I'm in total agreement with you.

The 2012 GF loss was gut-wrenching, but it has spurred the players on to winning the next 3 flags
Nobody wants to go through that experience again - not the coaches, players nor fans.

Cameron Mooney always talks about Geelong's 2008 heartbreak and how this drove them on to winning premierships in 2009 and 2011. Same thing for them. A club doesn't necessarily have to lose a Grand Final in order to win one, but it sure helps provide the perfect motivation for players and coaches to stay focused and win at all costs.

 

[skilts]

If Hawthorn are a shit team, who only won because they played on a paddock covered with Victorian blades of grass, how bad does that make West Coast? It is rarely a good idea to question the quality of your opposition when you have been pantsed, thrashed and rogered by them. It makes your team look like shit, because you have succumbed to a bunch of incompetent drongos.

 

[HolyWars]

I've thought about this recently and I'm in total agreement with you.

The 2012 GF loss was gut-wrenching, but it has spurred the players on to winning the next 3 flags
Nobody wants to go through that experience again - not the coaches, players nor fans.

Cameron Mooney always talks about Geelong's 2008 heartbreak and how this drove them on to winning premierships in 2009 and 2011. Same thing for them. A club doesn't necessarily have to lose a Grand Final in order to win one, but it sure helps provide the perfect motivation for players and coaches to stay focused and win at all costs.

Yep.

I think the club really felt like they had heavily underachieved after that loss since 2008 (and so did many of us). They have been hellbent on getting the absolute maximum flags possible out of the older core group before they retire (Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Gibson and to a lesser extent Lewis and Roughead). The addition of Lake in particular cannot be understated in terms of the importance to achieve these flags.

 

[Back One Out]

Yep.

I think the club really felt like they had heavily underachieved after that loss since 2008 (and so did many of us). They have been hellbent on getting the absolute maximum flags possible out of the older core group before they retire (Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Gibson and to a lesser extent Lewis and Roughead). The addition of Lake in particular cannot be understated in terms of the importance to achieve these flags.

I remember feeling shattered after that game because I thought that was it, we'd blown it, we probably wouldn't get another chance and we'd go down in history as the underachieving chokers who fluked a Bradbury flag in '08. I still can't believe we've won the next three.

I've heard a bit of talk about where this side sits in the pecking order… Are they better than the great Brisbane teams? Are they better than the mighty Hawks of 86-88-89-91 ? I reckon people dwell a bit too much on the individual player talent when they think of this stuff. What sets this team apart is how great they are as a team, just how smart they play, how intelligently they combine with each other, the trust they have in one another. They play with an enormous confidence bordering on arrogance. But not lairy, show-pony shit - I mean, they're just so unfazed by anything the opposition throws at them, whether it be in attack, in defence or in the middle. They just always seem to have the right answers and use the ball to telling effect.

The 80's Hawks are like gods in my eyes. They'll always be number one, but I suspect this team would carve them up.

It's football on another level.

I laugh when people say the competition is weaker. These threepeat Hawks would crush the 2008 premiership side.

 

[thebarry111]

Here are the facts:

1. West coast finished higher on the ladder
2. West coast earnt a home final against hawthorn and won.
3. Coming into the grand final the Eagles were the higher ranked team
4. The Eagles are then forced to play on a ground in which they have played once that year.

On those facts you work out how fair it is. Either interstate teams must play more games at the mcg or the final must be played at a neutral ground.

 

[Wild Bill]

Would Hawthorn have their three-peat if their grand finals weren't played at their home ground????


There already is a thread about the grand final being at a neutral venue, or who is better Brisbane, geelong, hawthorn etc, however what about this....

Hawthorns three grand final wins have come against interstate teams who have had to play on a pitch which has different dimensions to their own, a stadium where they had only played minimal times during the year, and not to mention the significant crowd advantage and influence the hawks have.

Lets look at 2013 grand final. Hawks win by 15 points. Played against a team that had barely played a game at the MCG all year, and traveled from Perth, where they played over 50% of their games on a pitch with much smaller dimensions.

2014 Grand final. Hawks win by 63 points. Annihilation, and you'd have to be stupid to say that the MCG is a 10 goal advantage for the hawks, but had the game been played in Sydney with a majority of supporters being Sydney supporters would it had been Sydney who crumbled under pressure early on, and then were forced to chase the game, or would it potentially been the Hawks who crumbled under the pressure of playing on a foreign ground, with no home crowd support??

2015 Grand Final. Hawks win by 46 points. No excuses for the Eagles here but an embarrassment really. Many fumbles, easy mistakes, made Hawthorn look like they couldn't do no wrong. However, just 3 weeks back at the Eagles home ground we saw the complete opposite occur?? Is it just a coincidence the Hawks had a bad game 3 three weeks ago, and three weeks later the Eagles just happen to have a bad game?? Or could it be similar reasons to 2014. Early on pressure of a grand final, playing on a ground which they are not used to, infront of an intimidating home crowd. Meanwhile the hawks had the advantage of playing on their home ground, infront of their home crowd, and were able to settle quicker, and hence get out to a marginal advantage and force their opponents to try and chase for the rest of the game??

Firsly before i get criticized like i said the game could have been played at Pattersons and the way the eagles played, and the way the hawks played their wouldnt have been much difference, but for all those saying Hawthorn is the greatest team of all, bar their 2013 season, they haven't been the best team throughout the home and away seasons of 2014, and 2015 yet were fortunate enough to play the grand final on their home ground, in front of their home crowd.

Had all three of these three finals been played in Perth, and Sydney would the hawks still be 3-0?

Yes. That is why they are goat. Anywhere anytime.

 

[thebarry111]

Yes. That is why they are goat. Anywhere anytime.

What happened first round of finals. Anywhere, anytime doesn't really cut it when you only win on your home ground

 

[go you pups]

What happened first round of finals. Anywhere, anytime doesn't really cut it when you only win on your home ground

Eerrrrr Freo

 

[Hodgey 15]

At least be humble about it, geez.

That is my humble

 

[Back One Out]

Here are the facts:

1. West coast finished higher on the ladder
2. West coast earnt a home final against hawthorn and won.
3. Coming into the grand final the Eagles were the higher ranked team
4. The Eagles are then forced to play on a ground in which they have played once that year.

On those facts you work out how fair it is. Either interstate teams must play more games at the mcg or the final must be played at a neutral ground.

Says the Geelong fan who watched his team host Freo at Simonds Stadium for a Qualifying Final.

West Coast finished 9th in 2014 and were handed the b-grade or c-grade 2015 fixture from the AFL
The only 2014 finalist they played twice was Fremantle. No away away games vs last year's top 3

So why should people make a fuss about them finishing 2nd with a 16-5-1 record ahead of Hawthorn with a 16-6 record ?
As it was, the Eagles had the enormous advantage of 2 home games at Domain Stadium and no travel just to qualify for the GF


2014 ladder/WCE 2015 fixture
1. Sydney - home
2. Hawthorn - home
3. Geelong - home
4. Fremantle - home, away
5. Port Adelaide - away
6. North Melb - away
7. Essendon - home
8. Richmond - away
10. Adelaide - home, away
11. Collingwood - away
12. Gold Coast - home, away
13. Carlton - home
14. W.Bulldogs - home, away
15. Brisbane - away
16. GWS Giants - home
17. Melbourne - away
18. St Kilda - home, away


2014 ladder/Haw 2015 fixture
1. Sydney - home, away
3. Geelong - home, away
4. Fremantle - home
5. Port Adelaide - home, away
6. North Melb - away
7. Essendon - home, away
8. Richmond - home
9. West Coast - away
10. Adelaide - away
11. Collingwood - away
12. Gold Coast - home
13. Carlton - home, away
14. W.Bulldogs - home
15. Brisbane - home
16. GWS Giants - away
17. Melbourne - home
18. St Kilda - away

 

[Bardo State]

I really think home ground advantage isn't nearly as prominent as people make out. Sometimes a parochial crowd can sway the odd umpiring decision, most notably at West Coast home games. But the noise is rarely ever very one sided at a Grand Final. A few metres here or there mean bugger all in the long run.

 

[Lurkalot]

Either interstate teams must play more games at the mcg or the final must be played at a neutral ground.

Yes, let's move the stadium venue when just the one week away from the actual Grand Final. Brilliant, peanut!

 

[And_ROOS]

Poor Hawks, three in a row and offended because they still aren't in the GOAT conversation.

It must hurt that Geelong couldn't do three in a row and yet your team is in our shadow.

 

[Mr Lizard]

Geelong couldn't do three in a row

lol, 2008

 

[And_ROOS]

lol, 2008

Funny how Geelong and Brisbane had to compete against quality teams, and you Bradbury a premiership hat trick due to a watered down comp and AFL fixtures gifting shit teams along with yours a top 4 spot

 

[Mr Lizard]

Bradbury

lol, we Bradburied in 2008 when you fell over at the last hurdle. You would have had three in a row yourselves but for that.

If you had won in 2008, people would probably be rating your side the greatest of all time.

 

[And_ROOS]

lol, we Bradburied in 2008 when you fell over at the last hurdle. You would have had three in a row yourselves but for that.

If you had won in 2008, people would probably be rating your side the greatest of all time.

Funny how people already are? We won our flags against quality teams in an compromised competition. Maybe next year you will play someone half decent instead of these interstate scrub teams.

Just a shame then that out of 4 flags only one of them is currently credible

 

[Mr Lizard]

Funny how people already are?

There, there, shhhhhh now

You are the greatest team of all

You play the game the way the game should be played

Rest your weary head, let those heavy eyelids fall

Doodooz, doodooz

 

[toomanysquibs]

Funny how Geelong and Brisbane had to compete against quality teams, and you Bradbury a premiership hat trick due to a watered down comp and AFL fixtures gifting shit teams along with yours a top 4 spot

No-one will remember the 3 premierships Geelong won in a decade or two, when a superior 4X premiership team played during the same era, and beat that middling Geelong team by 4 goals plus in a final where Geelong were gifted momentum changing frees all afternoon.

You got beaten by the better team in 08', more talent, better coached.

Geelong, blown out of the water in 08', by the core of this current Hawthorn team - who go on to win 3 in a row, when the Catters couldn't even get back to back.

Nice one

 

[dipper86]

Poor Hawks, three in a row and offended because they still aren't in the GOAT conversation.

It must hurt that Geelong couldn't do three in a row and yet your team is in our shadow.

2014 - Harley on national TV.....Hawthorns ability to get back to back has bettered Geelongs era.

2015 Ling on national TV........... Hawthorn GOAT.

Your past 2 premiership captains.....how embarrassment, owned by your own football club, that makes me smile.

 

[HairyO]

Sook Coaster thread gets infested with Handbaggers. Love it.

We all know that the path to improvement is by complaining about everything but your own performance.

Salt.