Norm Smith Medal - they got it wrong

[Powerstufff]

The group of people I was watching with were throwing around a few names as the game went on, and Luke Hodge was the one we settled on by mid 4th quarter. It was no surprise at all.

 

[Mean Muggin]

Tch, tch. Snarky.
All I'm saying is that getting 12 touches in the final quarter leaves was a recent impression in the judge's minds.
He didn't have as big an impact when the hawks were getting their lead, just in the shoring up of chipping around.

Watch the first two minutes of the game when Geelong had two quick inside fiftys, Hodge spoiled / marked and then cleared the ball both times.

Did it all day. Whilst making Stokes look absolutley rubbish, which he is.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

he does what harley has always done, but for some reason, Harley is a good player and hodge is a loose man?

Honestly it's because Hodge is so good at reading the play he's always peeling off his man at the right time - and thus at times it 'looks' like he's playing loose.

He quite clearly had Rooke or Stokes on his arse for most of the day, and when they weren't Hodge was standing 10 metres in front of Ottens (who was by himself - so obviously they were matched up agaisnt each other).

To say he's a loose man in defence is just an ignorant WUM statement.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Tch, tch. Snarky.
All I'm saying is that getting 12 touches in the final quarter leaves was a recent impression in the judge's minds.
He didn't have as big an impact when the hawks were getting their lead, just in the shoring up of chipping around.

Brown was the most impressive in the last quater. He's the one I thought deserved the Norm Smith after his last quater efforts.

Hodge was magnificent throughout the four quaters.

Don't forget the stat that's been conveniently left out there - the 7 critical spoils. Not to mention the 1%ers and 2nd efforts that helped our defence gather/retain the ball, and also his constant directing of the play.

 

[2 eyed cat]

well well well, JTGM you are officially the greatest f-wit on big footy. if ablett doesnt have any of those qualities ill bare my white crack in zimbabwe parliament. what an uneducated tool head you are. i dont think anothe rperson on the planet would agree with you. go and retrive your brain from the toilet you fool.

 

[2 eyed cat]

as for norm snith, no hodge was not best on ground, but he still deserved it cos thats what judges thought, he played great, but campbell brown was better. hodge got a few junk stats in last quarter which they remember. Ablett was BOG no doubt, but they dont give out to losing side often. Well done hodge well done hawks. bring it 09 again.

 

[HChawk72]

Haven't read all the posts but I thought that

SCOTT MCLAREN should have won the Norm Smith.

He was clearly GEELONG'S best player anyway.. Much more effective than "Kleenex" Ablett.

 

[ANGEL DARK]

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)

May have been a loose man in defence but Hodge cut off a lot of Geelongs attacks into the forward line and often helped out his defenders in the air spoiling the ball away.Ablett was good but racked up plenty of stats that wernt as damaging

 

[kleos]

I too would have given it to Brown or Hodge.

I had $10 on Brown at $41 to win the Norm Smith, and i had $10 on Lonergan for the first goal into Ablett to win the Norm Smith at $55, But i don't think Ablett had a great enough impact on the game to deserve it, Mind you i was pretty intoxicated during the Grand final so i could be wrong.

 

[Phil McCavity]

How could Xavier Elllis not get a single vote n the NS medal?

Leading possie winner for the hawks and played four great quarters.

not a single vote...what a joke!

 

[BETON5]

Haven't read all the posts but I thought that

SCOTT MCLAREN should have won the Norm Smith.

He was clearly GEELONG'S best player anyway.. Much more effective than "Kleenex" Ablett.

Sounds good GARRY KLEENEX ABLETT.
he might be offered a contract for using there tissues all the time.lol

 

[buddymania]

Hodge was clearly best on ground especially first half, and clinton young played well until he got injured. The next best were brown, sewell and dew.

Ablett played well and was clearly geelongs best but he didnt deserve the norm smith when they lost by 5 goals.

Some people think ellis should have won it but i didnt rate his game that much. When he came on for young in the third quarter he nearly lost the game for them. Stuffed it up 5 times in a row in which 3 resulted in cats goals.

Probably the best grandfinal that i have seen though

 

[Judd2Sewell]

as for norm snith, no hodge was not best on ground, but he still deserved it cos thats what judges thought, he played great, but campbell brown was better. hodge got a few junk stats in last quarter which they remember. Ablett was BOG no doubt, but they dont give out to losing side often. Well done hodge well done hawks. bring it 09 again.

He had two marks/kicks when the game was done and dusted.

But I too thought Brown was the best on the ground, though I was at the game - and mostly due to his last quater efforts, which really stood out amongst all the emotion and anxiety.

I'm watching the replay now and will probably think someone else was when I'm done. I mean last week against the Saints I thought Sewell was the clear best on, but then after watching the replay I thought Lewis and Mitchell were the best players.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Hodge was clearly best on ground especially first half, and clinton young played well until he got injured. The next best were brown, sewell and dew.

Ablett played well and was clearly geelongs best but he didnt deserve the norm smith when they lost by 5 goals.

Some people think ellis should have won it but i didnt rate his game that much. When he came on for young in the third quarter he nearly lost the game for them. Stuffed it up 5 times in a row in which 3 resulted in cats goals.

Probably the best grandfinal that i have seen though

Ellis was excellent for the whole match, aside from those two (three?) errors which did stand out.

 

[Goochety]

Votes are here:

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/norm-smith-medal-votes/2008/09/27/1222217592483.html

Thanks for the link. Surprising Ellis and Sewell didnt poll better for the Hawkies- Ellis got nothing !

Selwood was very close to Geelong's best IMO.....

 

[Mean Muggin]

I love the way Selwood goes about it. Tough as nails that bloke. Had to admire the way he keeps boucing back up when smashed, A'la Trent Croad when he was coming off injured and tried to take Joel out.

One thing he has over Ablett is he never sooks or whinges about free kicks. Takes it on the chin and moves on.

Selwood was the best in my humble opinion, Geelongs best that is.

 

[Matt Slade]

Luke Hodge deserved to win the Norm Smith Medal. Inspirational one percenters and repelled so many of Geelong's inside 50s, particularly in the first half when the Cats were pressing hard.

 

[FevJunior]

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)

Crawford had a great game so did bateman but hodge was better in the season but not in the final

 

[Matt Slade]

Haven't read all the posts but I thought that

SCOTT MCLAREN should have won the Norm Smith.

He was clearly GEELONG'S best player anyway.. Much more effective than "Kleenex" Ablett.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[walhawk]

Ablett got a lot of the ball but wasn;t that damaging.

I didn't see him either create, or stop many goals.

 

[Mean Muggin]

And what about Hodgey's 40 metre hand ball!

That was good enough to win the Norm Smith on its own!

 

[PottSie2]

Just watched the game, and Ablett was awesome. Gave his all and then some. Hodge was fantastic as well.

Either one deserved it, but probably means more in a winning side than a losing one.

Ablett (barring injury) for the Brownlow next year, damn he is awesome.

 

[Hawkflag]

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.

In a Grand Final, and generally, kicks are worth double compared to handballs...unless you can handball 40 meters...like Hodge did.

 

[FevJunior]

the handball was sick

 

[Mean Muggin]

If anyone else has any more doubts they got it wrong, look no further than Champion Data.

Hodge 155
Ablett 141
Dew 130 something.