Autopsy The Grand Final - Take it apart here

[Schopp]

I know our teams have a strong rivalry but I want to pass on my comisserations. A lot of similarities to 2008 in that you lost a GF many thought you couldn't and some inaccuracy at crucial times cost you.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Clarkson and your players will use this to drive you over summer and I expect the Hawks will be even harder to beat next season. Your core group is still young enough to have a couple more flag tilts left and I imagine you'll pinch at least one more. The losses of Guerra and Whitecross really hurt your depth and the likes of Hodge, Roughead and Rioli will all want to make amends for their own performances today. On the plus side Sewell was epic, Hale played probably the best game I've seen him play for the Hawks and Gunston will kick 50+ a year for you from now on.

Keep your chin up Hawks. I know it hurts (I unfortunately know the feeling) but it definitely gets easier and trust me - when you know the pain of losing one, you appreciate the next one even more.

Well said summarises my thoughts on today. Whitecross is a hard competitor and good kick, Guerra likewise. Cyril was he a bit injured? He copped a nasty knee from Reilly to the back (which I thought was deliberate) toward the end last week - granted Nick Smith is a gun tagger who is quick and wears guys like a glove.

A couple of similarities to last week:
1. Hawks just looked a bit flat or something, can't quite put my finger on it, perhaps the opposition lifted a fraction and finals pressure.
2. Ultimately kicking in front of goal seems a different kettle of fish in big finals/gf's remember a certain no 19 the Hawks had a couple of decades back you could count on who crucified teams with clutch goals under pressure regardless of ease/difficulty.

 

[bugalugs213]

Throwing the ball away from th eplayer has been 50 all year . Silly return from Mithell I think. umpires had nothing to do with it

Yeah not like Mitchell to serve up that crap, he's got all summer to think about it though eh?

P.S Cricket season can **** off.

 

[Hawkforce]

We were the better team. Our players missed shots on goal at you would expect them to kick at least 50% of the time. Swans took their chances, they got lucky.

That does Sydney a huge disservice. 110 tackles is an amazing effort. Considering we smashed them in their "strength" - contested possession - and in clearances, the only way they could possibly win was by tackling pressure.

And, boy, did they do that.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Didn't need to lose one before 2008.

Different circumstances, we were the underdog then so less pressure. If we make it to the GF next year I think our loss today will make us a bit hungrier.

 

[PDear]

Gutted. Congratulations to the Swans - deserved winners. We cannot expect to win when we miss the unmissable goals, fall asleep for 40-odd minutes & allow the Swans to kick 8 unanswered majors. We played in bursts. I'm very proud of our boys & the season they had. I hope this is used as a springboard at next years assault towards the flag.

 

[Terry Tan]

Today, it was a battle of the champion team (Swans) vs a team of champions (Hawks). That was the difference, and got the Swans over the line.

Also, the Hawks goal kicking all year has been inaccurate and finally bit them in the backside in the most important game of the year. Franklin is no doubt a great player, but misses too many shots at goal. And for all Rioli's magic, he doesn't do enough.

Before the match, I heard the Hawks ceo being interviewed on radio. He seemed extremely confident and apparently the Hawthorn council had already been advised of post gf celebrations! wtf, sounds like over confidence was running through out the club and could have cost them a flag.

 

[Maybloomer]

Throwing the ball away from th eplayer has been 50 all year . Silly return from Mithell I think. umpires had nothing to do with it

FWIW. I was side-on to that play and Mitchell actually lobbed it at McVeigh but McVeigh was moving backwards the whole time. It looked worse on the replay and it was more bad luck than bad discipline

 

[The Convert]

FWIW. I was side-on to that play and Mitchell actually lobbed it at McVeigh but McVeigh was moving backwards the whole time. It looked worse on the replay and it was more bad luck than bad discipline

Fair enough. it looked trrible on the tv

 

[emblurr]

Tell you what needs to be looked at. The handling of of Luke Hodge's head injury. My father is a surgeon who is often the medico in country league football games. He was saying they should have stitched it up at half time instead of just putting the styroplast and bandages on and missing game time at crucial moments from the repeat bleeding.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

Before the match, I heard the Hawks ceo being interviewed on radio. He seemed extremely confident and apparently the Hawthorn council had already been advised of post gf celebrations! wtf, sounds like over confidence was running through out the club and could have cost them a flag.

That was just some forward planning to minimise disruption for local residents IF we made the Grand Final. Any club in the same position would do the same.

 

[Jaeger]

Tell you what needs to be looked at. The handling of of Luke Hodge's head injury. My father is a surgeon who is often the medico in country league football games. He was saying they should have stitched it up at half time instead of just putting the styroplast and bandages on and missing game time at crucial moments from the repeat bleeding.

Interesting.

Goodes kicked a goal in the last quarter just after Hodge went off with the blood rule.

 

[hk89]

We were the better team. Our players missed shots on goal at you would expect them to kick at least 50% of the time. Swans took their chances, they got lucky.

Can't agree with that. Sydney pressured us all day, and clearly the players felt that when kicking at goal, either direct pressure in play or scoreboard pressure after our 2nd quarter capitulation. Sydney didn't get lucky, they played very well.

 

[hk89]

Before the match, I heard the Hawks ceo being interviewed on radio. He seemed extremely confident and apparently the Hawthorn council had already been advised of post gf celebrations! wtf, sounds like over confidence was running through out the club and could have cost them a flag.

Of course they did, they had to notify residents of potential road closures, the communications clearly stated "in the event we win". It is called planning, not cockiness. I understand a two-bit outfit like the tigers have become might not do forward planning. If you fail to plan, you plan to come ninth, oh that's right, you couldn't even achieve that this year!

 

[hawker92]

Didn't even seem like a grand final. Our skills were shit and there's weren't much better.
Not kicking straight kills you in close games.
We were the best team in 2012, don't forget that.
I now know how Geelong of 08 feel. A shit performance in the prelim and inaccurate kicking in the GF. Gutted, it has finally set in after 7 hours.
Bring on cricket season and pre-season for our boys. Our list is too good not to have a decent crack again next year.
Sydney has won their token premiership and will now float around the 8 as per usual.

 

[Terry Tan]

Of course they did, they had to notify residents of potential road closures, the communications clearly stated "in the event we win". It is called planning, not cockiness. I understand a two-bit outfit like the tigers have become might not do forward planning. If you fail to plan, you plan to come ninth, oh that's right, you couldn't even achieve that this year!

In afl, I know finishing 2nd or even 9th doesn't mean anything...but at least you were the minor premiers so cheer up

 

[hawker92]

P.S Umpires were fine

 

[Fox71]

I'm a Swans fan, just want to say to you Hawk fans great game & great season for you guys..
We all want our team to Win, & it could of gone either way.
I will honestly say though, I thought Brad Sewell deserved to win best on ground..
Also, that injured player Guerra was a big loss for your team.. Anyhows all the best for 2013.

 

[hfc93]

That would have to be one of the worst feelings sitting at the ground and hearing the siren go and hear the roar of thousands of swans fans. Just sat there in disbelief for a good 10 minute trying to work out what had actually happened. They outplayed us and deserved to win. They were great all over the ground today especially in defence, getting back in numbers and helping each other out (something we didn't do enough of!!!). I thought we were great in the first quarter finished it off strongly but then don't know what the hell went wrong in the second. Kicking was all over the place and our pressure and tackling was not up to a GRAND FINAL standard!
Great comeback in the third got us all excited but boy did that brain fade from Mitchell cost us. Stupid things like that let down a team especially since we worked so hard to get back the lead, not having a dig at Mitchell i love him to bits and always seems as one of our more composed players but that little mistake i believe was a turning point.
Last quarter I thought we had them but again they proved to be to strong. When Buddy marked and we were only 7 points down (correct me if I'm wrong) and he passed it to Gunston it was the wrong decision. Buddy is a leader at our club and he needs to take the role to kick that goal and put us within a point with 5 minutes to go. Not pass it 15 metres over the top to Gunston. If buddy kicks that goal our whole team lifts as one of our leaders has kicked a goal to put us right back in the contest instead he passed off he didn't want to take the responsibility and gunston missed.
Anyway thats how it went in the end im very proud of the boys, disappointing not to win but we will be right up there again next year.
GO the hawks!!!

 

[Dewwwww]

Going to be a very flat next 5 months! If we had of taken our chances today (and kicked straight) we would be holding up a premiership cup right now. At least we know know how Geelong felt in 2008 when we stole their cup. Sydney were the best team. Rd1-8. Us from 8-23.... Then Sydney were the team of the finals. They deserve there win and congratulations to them. On a side note was in the media corporate tent after the game (chan 7/triple M / SEN / etc) and out of everyone in there the nicest and most approachable guy was Nic Nat. For a 20-21yo kid the bloke is all class. Was more then happy for a photo with the fans (more then I could say about the other flogs) and was very approachable. Won me over and I now have a bit of a man crush and look forward to him dominating the 2013 season!

 

[dipper86]

Time to unleash......I witnessed today one of the softest grandfinal efforts......Clinton Young take a bow. Because we were winning I bit my tongue, but i always had in the back of my mind how soft this player truly is.....as good as his strengths are his weaknesses out weigh any positives this player poseses. In finals football he is a colossal vagina.

Another Big shout out to the pretenders that showed up today Rioli Roughead and Lewis....when the team needed leadership and for someone other than Sewell and Mitchell to stand up...... you were no where to be seen.

 

[Watsclarkosmob]

There is no where more lonely than being in middle of the MCG after you have lost the grand final...

 

[Watsclarkosmob]

so much anger...so much...

 

[Watsclarkosmob]

I have nothing, i am hurting so much....today will go down as one of the worst in my life...grand final loses are something I am not use to and never will be...how can footballers be on six figure pay checks and cost clubs and fans premierships...doesn't help the clock on the pubs tv was cut off, still felt we could win it but time eluded us..

 

[Watsclarkosmob]

Go Storm?

 

[Watsclarkosmob]

Should, but can't win them all..