WHEN the Hawks beat the Eagles by 14 points at the same venue in round 19, they had dominated the clearances 57-44 and the centre clearances 15-6.
West Coast had been without star ruckman Nic Naitanui that night, and Hawks pair Ben McEvoy and Jonathon Ceglar had led their team to a 62-52 hit-outs advantage as Scott Lycett handled the Eagles' ruck duties almost singlehandedly.
With the return of Naitanui for the qualifying final – and Callum Sinclair coming in for Lycett – the Eagles won the hitouts 59-46 (with 40 to Naitanui), but the Hawks again won the clearances (50-40) and centre clearances (15-7) decisively.
For once, however, the competition's best ball-users let themselves down with their disposal, with West Coast's fanatical all-ground pressure rattling the normally composed Hawks into a spate of uncharacteristic turnovers.
In the game-shaping second quarter when the Eagles slammed on five goals to none to take a 32-point lead into half-time and kept up the pressure in the third term, kicking five goals to two to go into three-quarter time with an unassailable 50-point lead.
Having kicked just four goals to three-quarter time, the Hawks salvaged some pride in the final term as the sting went out of the game, kicking five goals to cut their final losing margin to 32 points.
Key players
Luke Shuey was outstanding for West Coast with 25 disposals, 11 contested possessions and an equal team-high six clearances. Significantly, the midfielder was at his best in the Eagles' five-goal-to-nil second quarter, winning 11 possessions (eight contested).
Kennedy (three goals) was also instrumental in setting up the Eagles' win, combining well with fellow forward LeCras (two goals) as the home side took 17 marks inside its forward 50 (five each to Kennedy and LeCras) to the Hawks' 10.
Naitanui (12 contested possessions) dominated Hawks ruckmen McEvoy and David Hale, particularly after half-time, while Eagles captain Shannon Hurn was an important playmaker with 26 disposals off half-back.
Sam Mitchell stood out for the Hawks with a game-high 35 disposals and 10 clearances, while skipper Luke Hodge worked his way into the game after a quiet first half to finish with 29 disposals and one goal.
What both sides learned from the game
The Eagles know that even if Naitanui dominates Hawthorn's ruckmen in the Grand Final, that won't necessarily give them an advantage around the stoppages.
Led by clearance king Mitchell, the Hawks sharked Naitanui's hit-outs time and time again in the qualifying final to dominate the clearances. Presumably, the Eagles will have spent considerable time on the training track trying to make their hit-out patterns less predictable.
The Hawks learned that to win the Grand Final they have to handle the Eagles' pressure a whole lot better. In the qualifying final, Hawthorn missed targets by hand and foot that they would normally hit in their sleep, as the Eagles' pressure – and, at times, inferred pressure – took a toll. The Hawks simply have to show more composure in the Grand Final.
What it means for the Grand Final
Probably not that much – at least not mentally.
The Eagles' qualifying final win – and subsequent week off – could give them a physical advantage. However, the Hawks are too experienced and mentally tough to carry any psychological scar tissue into the Grand Final.
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