HAWTHORN 2.3 5.5 8.8 11.11 (77)
FREMANTLE 0.3 1.6 6.10 8.14 (62)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Roughead 2, Franklin, Rioli, Smith, Breust, Hill
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Walters 2, Mzungu, Mayne, Pearce
BEST
Hawthorn: Lake, Gunston, Lewis, Rioli, Hodge, Birchall
Fremantle: Mundy, Fyfe, Crowley, Johnson, Barlow
Hawthorn won the 2013 AFL Premiership with a 15-point victory over Fremantle on Saturday, in the season’s decider.
Hawks serve the pressure
After all the talk about Fremantle’s pressure leading into the Grand Final, it was Hawthorn that proved the better pressure side on the day and outplayed the Dockers at their own game.
Media and football commentators had been sent into a frenzy since Fremantle’s Preliminary Final victory over Sydney, such was the manic pressure the Swans were under for the entire game.
But quietly confident in their own pressure skills, Hawthorn had the game style and pressure of their own – both defensive and score board to beat the highly fancied Fremantle.
The Hawks had 18 tackles to 12 in the first quarter and the stat read 33-29 at half time but simply, Hawthorn’s pressure was far superior than the numbers suggested.
Fremantle’s kicking efficiency at quarter time was 47.6 per cent and 53.3 at half time – almost each and every one of their disposals was under pressure.
Hawthorn on the other hand had no such trouble with their opposition, choosing to chip the ball around patiently before a suitable option presented itself.
That kick and mark style meant the Dockers were unable to apply pressure, given the Hawks rarely over possess the footy by hand. From the opening minutes of the game, Hawthorn carried out that style of play and did it perfectly.
They finished the game with 103 marks to 70.
It was what set up the victory.
Taking your chances
Hawthorn knows all too well the consequences of missed opportunities in front of goal and Fremantle were left to learn it the hard way on the last Saturday in September.
The Dockers kicked 0.3 in the first term – but it was missed from skipper Matthew Pavlich and gun midfielder Nathan Fyfe that truly hurt.
Both kicked from slight angles and from distances easily managed but neither managed to goal and settle the nerves of their team.
The inaccuracy continued in the second term as they kicked several balls out of bounds before Tendai Mzungu finally broke the drought at the 12-minute mark.
Essentially though and despite a third-quarter revival, the damage had been done.
Hawthorn, as it had set out to do all year took their chances almost each and every time they presented, starting with Jack Gunston’s opening goal of the Grand Final and then again with Gunston and Cyril Rioli in the second term.
And when the Dockers were pressing – Jarryd Roughead kicked two crucial goals to stem the flow and reassert the confidence within the players. They were goals he’d have been expected to kick and he delivered.
The moments
There’s always a moment in Grand Finals where fans know they’ve got the game won or there’s a moment that typifies the attitude of the Premiership team.
Over the years there have been many – most recently Heath Shaw’s smother on Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 Grand Final replay.
One came at the eight-minute mark of the final term as Luke Breust – who had struggled in front of goals during the finals sharked a hit out and broke through the pack with the goals in front of him.
Hawks fans let out a pre-emptive roar, anticipating what was about to happen.
Breust snapped around his body and kicked what was probably the sealer to put the Hawks 24 points in front.
But, there was to be another moment when the Hawthorn players thought they had the flag.
Hawthorn led by 16 points with 1.20 remaining on the clock as Ryan Crowley marked a Michael Johnson kick and looked destined to stroll in and kick an easy goal.
Even though the Dockers probably wouldn’t have had enough time to kick another two goals, this moment put the result beyond doubt.
He played on immediately, looking back and Ben Stratton and believing he was too far behind to make an impact.
But, as has been the Hawthorn way all season, to step up in moments and do whatever it takes for the team, Stratton ran as fast and as hard as he could to run down the Fremantle tagger and affect the kick.
He lunged for Crowley and grabbed him, indeed forcing the kick wide and through for a behind.
The camera panned back to the pair – who lay on the MCG turf knowing that was the Grand Final.
Dream becomes reality
Brian Lake couldn’t have imagined his Grand Final day any better.
After 217 games – 197 of which were with Western Bulldogs, he finally achieved what he had dreamed of for so long, to play in a Grand Final and win a premiership.
It was fitting he would turn out to be the best player on the ground and rightfully rewarded and recognised with the Norm Smith Medal.
A fan favourite – with both the Hawks and Bulldogs fans, it took little time for his new teammates to embrace him when he arrived at the Ricoh Centre and that admiration and camaraderie shone when his name was called out by Greg Williams.
Lake was dominant in defence and aside from a five-minute period of Pavlich dominance, controlled the back half with ease.
He took 10 marks, had 22 disposals and had five rebound 50s.
He was consistent across the four quarters and set up his day with an impressive opening term in which he had seven disposals and was an impenetrable force across half back. His opponent, Pavlich also failed to touch the footy in that quarter.
Gunston shines
In a forward line brimming with talent and names like Franklin, Roughead and Rioli it can be hard to break through and be noticed.
On Saturday, Jack Gunston etched his name into the memories of each and every Hawthorn supporter for his four goal effort in the Grand Final.
He was the most dangerous forward on the ground in the first three quearters and had three goals to half time.
He set up the day for Hawthorn – he kicked the opener and a further two in the second term before kicking a fourth to steady the side and give it momentum heading into the final term.
Unlucky not to win the Norm Smith Medal, Gunston arrived as a footballer on Grand Final day and luckily for the Hawks and its fans, they have much to look forward to with the player who wears the famous number 19.
What the coaches said
Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson: "When you're playing quality sides, you've just got to take your chances when they come.
"We stressed that to the players at three-quarter time, to try and take your chances early in the last quarter and put some scoreboard pressure on the Fremantle side."
"A couple of those early goals (in the last quarter) were really important for us to have that buffer."
Fremantle’s Ross Lyon: "Four out on the full set shots, in a tight, tough contest in the conditions out there today, we all know, we've seen it – it's occurred again today.
"Would we have won? I'm not sure. But we certainly would've been able to put a little bit more pressure on them, particularly early, and not as much effort to come from behind.
"I think the start will haunt us for a while, but it’s a great lesson for our club. It's about the basics under pressure.
"Missed shots at the end of the day separate quality."
