Norm Smith Medal - they got it wrong

[wolvesjr34]

I actually think Sewell deserved that honour, as he was crucuial in getting us some clearances during that period in the third quarter where we showed Geelong we meant business. But Ellis also impresse dme, has justified his position in the draft. Rioli was excellent and Dew was a champ.

Hodge winning, however, won me some money so yay for that.

 

[Keys]

Hodge had a massive influence on the game that went went beyond simple statistics.

Fully deserved his Norm Smith

Had Clint Young not been injured it night have been different

 

[PJ Power]

Hodge absolutely deserved it. As others have said he epitomised why Hawthorn won today.

Hodge is an absolute champion. Time and time again he inspires when injured. Tremendous leader of men, speaks maturely. As brilliant as Judd is, I have Hodge on a par.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Don't worry about Hodgey's stats in terms of sheer numbers, it doesn't matter if he got a few of them in the final minute kicking the ball around. The fact is that he had a profound influence on the game with his marks, spoils, 1 percenters and tackles, as well as his kicking. Also went forward to get a goal from outside 50.

 

[MaxHunt]

This was a hard Norm Smith to pick - not unlike 05. Ellis, Bateman, Ablett, Dew, Sewell, and Ablett were all good. Brown did get towelled up early by Mooney and was lucky Mooney couldn't kick straight.

It did seem like there were 2 Ablett's out there for a bit.

Hodge - was BOG. There's no argument.

 

[PJ Power]

Had Clint Young not been injured it night have been different

Clint Young had at least six clanger kicks in the first half that could have been very costly but for Geelong's poor conversion attempts.

Hodge set the tone. Brown was terrific and Dew provided the ten minute burst that often cracks GFs open.

 

[Hodgepodge]

And for the final time, Hodge was not a spare man. He just makes it look like he is, by running off his opponent to help out.

 

[relapse]

You are probably correct. Might have stopped his crying too

After his sooking at the brownlow both year is there a bigger sook in football today ???

 

[Virgil]

I noticed Ablett missed quite a few targets with his kicking today. He instinctively thought to bounce the ball and carry rather than look for a long option, and by the time he was forced to kick the options had dried up.

Have no problem with Hodge winning it, he was very good, given far too much freedom. For Geelong I actually thought the best player was Selwood.

 

[damochandler]

hodgey was outstanding there in no doubt. they could have given it to brown or sewell imo

 

[TheBigUnit]

I would've given it to Ablett, he was the standout BOG for mine. No-one really stood out from Hawthorn for me as much or as consistently as GAJ did - much more of a team effort from them.

 

[strath39]

what about Suart Dew

 

[Stereophonic]

After his sooking at the brownlow both year is there a bigger sook in football today ???

yeah there is a couple...

 

[Corzafa]

Young or Ellis should have won it, with Dew as a smokey for his third quarter. I thought Dew was fantastic today.

 

[bunsen burner]

what about Suart Dew

Dunno, but didn't see Mark Blake do anything all day. Didn't even notice him, as if he disappeared. Wouldn't be surprsed if Dew ate him early in the game.

 

[bigdroppunt]

Hodge was very worthy of the norm today.....my 2nd BOG was Dew.....he kicked the goals that sunk us..

 

[Stereophonic]

Earlier in the match, I thought Cyril Rioli for opening up the game and taking it by the scruff of the neck, but definately Ablett by the end

 

[Soul_Pie]

Could've gone either way, in my opinion. If it had been a bit closer and Ablett had nailed his third goal then he might've got it.

 

[Shaker_Maker]

And Judd and Buckley shouldn't have won their's. I know the Norm Smith is technically for BOG, but really unless there is an amazingly standout performance (ie. Ablett in 89) it should always go to the winning team's best player.

Disagree - this is the same logic that suggests the 3 Brownlow votes must go to the winning team, hence the "oh, he can't win the Brownlow because his team didn't win enough games" comments we hear every year.

Both awards are supposedly for the best INDIVIDUAL player on the ground, not best from the winning team.

Sooner this logic ceases the better. As good as Hodge was, the bloke who played the best game today was Ablett.

 

[Wilso]

Imo there was only 4 people who could have won it

Ablett: Being on the losing side factor probably cost him

Sewell: Was hugely influential when the game was on the line, if he had a few more touches in the last quarter or kicked a goal if would have been a shoe-in.

Dew: Similar to Sewell. Good first half, brilliant 3/4 but didnt do anything in the final term

Hodge: Had the better 4 quarter game of the 3 hawk contenders and a
deserved winner, the stats dont show how important he was, the amount of times he got back to make the contests in the defensive 50 and put in a spoil was brilliant.

As for those who say Ellis, im a big fan of ellis but he butchered the ball a fair bit today and put his teammates under pressure numerous times

 

[Mordecai]

The amount of goals Hodge thwarted was great.

There is also a great narrative around his game as well. That is given his ribs.

All of the stories on him will now end with "... and they he awarded him the Norm Smith for that".

Right decision.

 

[dont bowl there]

Sewell was BOG for mine but Hodge was right up there so it was a fair enough call.

Would have been great to see Ablett win it and have to try and contain his smile.

 

[Thommo 42]

The term 'spare man' in defence is way overused.

He generally had an opponent for most of the match, who he towelled up completely (Stokes) yet found time to get across and beat Mooney and Lonergen in the air when required.

Hodge was outstanding

 

[buckstheking]

After his sooking at the brownlow both year is there a bigger sook in football today ???

Nick Rievolt, Max Hughton......

The saint boys are the club house leaders, in the sook dept.

 

[SBI]

I'd have given it to Sewell. Was awesome in the third when the game was there to be won.

Still, Hodge was a good choice.