Norm Smith Medal - they got it wrong

[Unsociable]

62 inside 50's for 11 goals and the back line without Croad says that Hodge was immense.

 

[konstas_87]

Luke Hodge was great today, not taking away from that, the simple fact is that Gary Ablett, like his father in a losing GF against Hawthorn 20 seasons earlier was clearly best on ground.

Kicks: 12
Handballs: 22
Efficiency: 85%
Goals: 2
Clearances: 8
Tackles: 5

Hodge was basically playing his spare man in defence role again (which he does extremely well), while Ablett carried his team for most of the game.
IMHO Abletts performance today was Judd and Bucklley like (2002,2005)

i partially agree, but its very hard to win the norm smith in a losing team unless its 1 or 2 kicks (ala buckley).
as much as we'd like to think who won doesnt come into it, it does.

Hodge's role at CHB was alot of the reason geelong had to kick to the boundary lines and partially contributed to their inaccuracy.

First half: Hodge, 2nd half ablett i spose...
very tough.

 

[torchbearer38]

In actual fact, if Clinton Young had stayed on the park, he would of had it in the bag

I agree up until half time he as bog

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Ablett had little impact. Hodge had a huge one.

 

[Animosity1989]

The difference between Hodge and Ablett was that when Ablett got hit hard, he layed on the ground like howled like an infant, when Hodge got hit hard, he just got back up (with broken ribs no less).

 

[_RT_]

Luke Hodge was great today, not taking away from that, the simple fact is that Gary Ablett, like his father in a losing GF against Hawthorn 20 seasons earlier was clearly best on ground.

Kicks: 12
Handballs: 22
Efficiency: 85%
Goals: 2
Clearances: 8
Tackles: 5

Hodge was basically playing his spare man in defence role again (which he does extremely well), while Ablett carried his team for most of the game.
IMHO Abletts performance today was Judd and Bucklley like (2002,2005)

If you're going to judge it based on stats then I would suggest Hodges were better than Abletts in terms of how he got them:
Kicks: 20
Handballs: 6
Efficiency: 88%
Goals: 1
Clearances: 1
Tackles: 5
Contested Marks: 3 - Ablett had 0
Contested Possessions:11 - Ablett had 8.

 

[Sharkey]

Suck it up girls.
Hodge was brilliance personified, fully deserved Normie. With busted ribs and all.
Ablett was just ok - lots of possessions but very little damage to the hawks.
Yeah baby.

 

[jacko57]

I too would have given it to Brown or Hodge.

I thought Sewell was a chance ; but no complaints with Hodge getting it.

 

[utility]

In actual fact, if Clinton Young had stayed on the park, he would of had it in the bag

Agreed.

Hodge was BOG because he had the biggest influence on the result.

 

[11sjw]

The only travesty the awarding of the NS Medal illustrated was the umpire's effort of so few votes for Hodge in the Brownlow.

 

[giantsully]

Hodge was my pick, closely followed by Ablett - they got it right.

 

[Macca19]

I thought Hodge was best man on the ground. Ablett probably 2nd best.

I too think that if Young had have played the whole game he would have got it.

 

[mungus]

Hodge was superb today and a deserving winner of the Norm Smith

Well done Hawthorn

 

[flash2]

I would've given it to Dew. He played out of his skin in the 3rd quarter when the game was in the balance.

 

[smashh]

No, Hodge was best on, easy IMO.
I seriously think though, that if Young didn't go off he would have been a chance

 

[spursmania]

In actual fact, if Clinton Young had stayed on the park, he would of had it in the bag

Agree with this, unfortunatly he got injured, Hodge was a deserved winner as would have been Sewell or Brown.
Ablett was clearly Geelongs best

 

[Big Carl]

Nick Rievolt, Max Hughton......

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

Sooooooo predictable

 

[ciaobella]

Not sure what game you were watching. I am pretty sure Hodge beat Rooke, Stokes and Mooney at different times.

Well that wasn't too hard considering they all had piss poor games and that wasn't because of Hodge. And yes, I did see 95% of the game!

 

[Short Corner]

The selection of Luke Hodge as the winner of the NS only serves to remind us why the awarding of votes for the Brownlow Medal must remain with the umpires.
The media get too sentimental and romantic for the stories they want to write for tomorrows papers.
Like the American Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences l think they gave the award for a season rather than the BOG on the day.
For me, Ablett and Selwood were the best players on the ground.

 

[spursmania]

Nice little cameo's in the 3rd Q by Rioli and "pass me another pie" Dew

 

[Sharkey]

The selection of Luke Hodge as the winner of the NS only serves to remind us why the awarding of votes for the Brownlow Medal must remain with the umpires.
The media get too sentimental and romantic for the stories they want to write for tomorrows papers.
Like the American Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences l think they gave the award for a season rather than the BOG on the day.
For me, Ablett and Selwood were the best players on the ground.

And that's why you have NFI.

 

[wallyt99]

Hodge, Brown, Dew and Rioli were all in the Running for BOG.


If anything, I thought Campbell Brown in the second half was CRUCIAL in us winning the game, and also kicked a couple of goals in the first half.

If Ablett was that good, the cats would have won.


Stop crying cats. You can lose to us again next year.

 

[dont bowl there]

And that's why you have NFI.

As much as he is wrong when saying Hodge didn't deserve it they do want a story when picking the Norm. I made a fair bit last year on Stevie J because I though if he was in the top 5 on the ground he would get it for the "Villain to Hero" story. This year the Hodge ribs story is a great one.

 

[Galileo]

Hodge at the crucial times over 4 qtrs was the difference between Geelong breaking away and not. Outstanding games to X Ellis and B Sewell, and feel that my $10 on Cyrill Rioli at 50/1 was not totally misplaced in terms of effort.
G Ablett was magnificent, but hear that argument loud and clear about winning margin, and that is why I feel Hodge was ultimately the difference between the two teams and thouroughly deserved the medal.
Trying to revisit the tactics as to what to do, given Varcoe, Stokes and to a lesser extent Rooke's' performance, and struggling - not sure what Wojinkski off half back offers in that respect. Ling's performance on Mitchell is the key question - think it is break even after half time, maybe even a shade to Mitchell, but think Hodge success was as much a 4 qtr effort as anything.
Funnily enough Dew hadn't had many kicks to half time, but was in the top 6 in terms of contested possession at that point. The single only time someone has been recruited with the idea that he might help you in a GF and actually bloody does!

 

[THEBLOODS85]

Ablett and co in the midfield may have won that battle, but what Hodge did down back was absolutely outstanding. His reading and spoiling at the last moment and putting his body on the line takes a lot more than running around picking up kicks around the ground.
Don't get me wrong Ablett was great, but it is either end of the ground where the game is won.......and simply put, if Hodge was not out there today the Hawks lose!
For mine Selwood was just as good as Ablett, and Scarlett was very good on Buddy.
Ellis, Sewell, Dew and Bateman with his line running were also good.
Young till half time kept the Hawks afloat along with the Cats inability to convert.


Hodge was a good choice!