GRAND FINAL- WEST COAST V HAWTHORN

[bennymacca]

Americans also blow a whistle, we've copied that.

[Ruben Carter]

If WCE do win, and I highly doubt it - it will have absolutely nothing to do with the weather forecast.

[Lightning McQueen]

Forecast is for 29 degrees Sat, plays into WCE hands.

I reckon it works the other way around, West Coast are a more hard running team with a huge work rate, the Hawks are cavaliers that rely on their skill and precision when moving the ball.

[MJ_23]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

[Spargo]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

None of the incompetent 3 from last Saturday night's "hometown performance" get a gig this week, surprise surprise.

[MJ_23]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

None of the incompetent 3 from last Saturday night's "hometown performance" get a gig this week, surprise surprise.

You didn't lose because of the umpiring.

[daysofourlives]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

I thought Stevic was quite good for you against us in the qualifying final, one of his worse games in years, hopefully it was just a blip and order is restored on Saturday

[Spargo]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

None of the incompetent 3 from last Saturday night's "hometown performance" get a gig this week, surprise surprise.

You didn't lose because of the umpiring.

Never said that.

[kneedeepinthehoopla]

Hawks by 42.

Gunstan norm smith with 6 goals.

Yep, I backed him for norm smith a couple of years ago when he kicked 4, thought I was in the money!

[Rik E Boy]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

I thought Stevic was quite good for you against us in the qualifying final, one of his worse games in years, hopefully it was just a blip and order is restored on Saturday

Stevic is in. The fix is on.

regards,

REB

[helicopterking]

Hodge didn't train today.
Got concussion. They made a mockery of the rule last week by letting him back on.

[daysofourlives]

Hodge didn't train today.
Got concussion. They made a mockery of the rule last week by letting him back on.

Didnt know you were moonlighting as the Hawthorn club doctor

[RustyCage]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

None of the incompetent 3 from last Saturday night's "hometown performance" get a gig this week, surprise surprise.

38-15 was it?

[Spargo]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

None of the incompetent 3 from last Saturday night's "hometown performance" get a gig this week, surprise surprise.

38-15 was it?

You watch the game?

[westozfalcon]

What do Real Madrid, Manchester City, A S Roma and West Coast Eagles have in common?

Answer: By this Saturday they will have all played twice at the MCG this year.

[helicopterking]

Hodge didn't train today.
Got concussion. They made a mockery of the rule last week by letting him back on.

Didnt know you were moonlighting as the Hawthorn club doctor

I am now.
Unlikely to get up for the game is the word.

[RustyCage]

Stevic umpiring

What a joke, how he is allowed to umpire a grand final with Hawthorn in it is beyond me.

None of the incompetent 3 from last Saturday night's "hometown performance" get a gig this week, surprise surprise.

38-15 was it?

You watch the game?

I did. West Coast got their usual home ground umpiring

[daysofourlives]

Hodge didn't train today.
Got concussion. They made a mockery of the rule last week by letting him back on.

Didnt know you were moonlighting as the Hawthorn club doctor

I am now.
Unlikely to get up for the game is the word.

His legend will only grow when he wins his 3rd Norm if thats the case.

[helicopterking]

Hodge didn't train today.
Got concussion. They made a mockery of the rule last week by letting him back on.

Didnt know you were moonlighting as the Hawthorn club doctor

I am now.
Unlikely to get up for the game is the word.

His legend will only grow when he wins his 3rd Norm if thats the case.

You're right, Not many players win a Norm Smith in a losing GF team.

[Booney]

Before the two sides make their way out onto the ground we have to suffer through yet another diabolical AFL pre match entertainment line up. Bryan ******* Adams will sing “Summer or 69”, possibly the worst song ever, however I have heard a whisper Eddie is having Bucks over for a BBQ and has requested “I do it for you” to be rolled out. While thanks to Channel 7 and it’s stupid bloody X Factor bollocks, Chris Isaak will perform one of his hits, “Baby did a bad, bad thing” in what might be a Meatloaf V2.0 balls up. He might play another song, but it’s unlikely anyone but he and Gill will know it.

Really? Gill McLachlan noted that both of these guys are “personal favourites”, any chance you’ve listed to music post 1990 Gill? For crying out loud, Adams and Isaak.......Angry Anderson’s bat mobile looks great all of a sudden(ly). In a token gesture to Gen Y sooks, Ellie Goulding who, I understand, is a multiple track seller in I-tunes will also make an appearance. I can’t wait, at least I’ll know who she is once I’ve seen her.

Once that is out of the way, much like the Brownlow Red Carpet, we can get on with what we are actually there for.

It all comes down to that one day in Septe....October. After 205 matches, after 6,787,633 people made their way through the turnstiles it comes down to two teams on the MCG at 2:30 this Saturday afternoon to decide who it is that goes down in history as the best team of 2015.

Hawthorn, chasing a three-peat to go with the ’08 flag making it 4 in 8 years or the Eagles, rising up the ladder from 9th in 2014 to second at the end of the minor round in 2015 to look at their first chance of glory since the 2006. It’s the big birds going head-to-head.

Stats are stats come this time of year, nerds all across the land are looking to see what advantage either team has by scouring Champion Data’s endless statistical analysis, but let’s be fair, this day is like no other and while numbers can support any argument for either side this game is more about delivering on the day what you have worked on all year.

We know both sides score heavily, the two best of the year, we know the Hawks like to use it by foot with accuracy and deny the opposition the ball by using it with great efficiency. Uncontested marks the cornerstone of their game plan. We know the Eagles will drop off the ball carrier at half back, choke you up in the middle and turn you inside out as they go the other way to a potent forward line. We’ve seen enough, we’ve read enough about these two teams to know how they go about it, how they play when it’s played on their terms and the damage they can cause.

Grand Finals are different though, they can bring extraordinary performances from players, they can make players look around for a shovel to dig a hole and bury themselves in. While these guys are professionals, while they read from the same script of “One game at a time”, “We’ll just go out to do the job like every other week”, we all know that’s bullshit. For those who haven’t been there before this can be overwhelming, it can be simply too much to handle. Fair to say, the Hawks have a decided advantage here. Been there, done that and all.

The occasion can also bring out the best in people, the players with the X Factor (not the the show), the players who can turn a game in minutes or have an impact that changes the course of the game for their side. For the Eagles the likes of Nic Naitanui, Elliott Yeo or Josh Kennedy. The Hawks with “Delicious” Rioli, Luke Breust or Jarryd Roughead.

So who are the players to watch, who can make the difference?

For mine, Nic Naitanui has the opportunity to stamp his name on the history books forever. He’s up against two capable yet cumbersome ruckman in Hale and McEvoy. Neither can go with him in the air, neither can go with him on the ground, neither can match his endurance. He’s unmatched by any Hawks big man (pretty much any big man) and can influence this game from the very first bounce.

For Hawthorn Luke Breust is an intergral part to their machine. He had a dry spell recently and that coincided with Hawthorn spluttering into the finals losing. Goalless in losses to Richmond,West Coast and Port then he bobs up with 6 against Adelaide as Hawthorn right the ship. He’s crucial to Hawthorn playing at their best. They might need to to beat the Eagles.

This promises to be a cracking match, while Grand Finals can often be lower scoring affairs by virtue of the way these teams play it just won’t be the case. The winning side will need 100 points + to take home the silverware.

I think the Hawks, across the board, have too much big game class and the likes of Hodge, Lewis, Mitchell, Roughead and Lake will not take a repeat performance of the losing qualifying final at the hands of the Eagles again this week. Then again, if big Nic Nat has a day out, Josh Kennedy makes the most of his chances and Luke Shuey wins enough in close, the Eagles are a real shot at it.

I think the Hawks, by 13 points.

For those of you who have stuck with my write ups and read them throughout the year, thank you. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.