IT’S HARD to believe the two teams playing off in Saturday’s Grand Final last faced each other in Round 4 this season but that’s what is facing Hawthorn and Fremantle.
So much has happened since the Hawks easily accounted for the Dockers after a dominant first quarter in Tasmania, eventually running out 42-point winners.
It is almost as if the two teams haven’t met at all this season.
On that day in Tasmania, the Dockers were severely undermanned having lost skipper Matthew Pavlich to an Achilles injury during the week, Aaron Sandilands was also out injured and Kepler Bradley was playing centre half forward.
The Dockers also lost key defender Luke McPharlin before the game, which forced late inclusion and AFl debutant Tanner Smith into the centre half back position and the task of standing superstar Hawthorn forward, Lance Franklin.
The Fremantle forward line had little to know height, with Chris Mayne the only player to complement Bradley, though traditionally he is a player who plays smaller than his height suggests.
It was topped by small forwards who at the time were considered inconsistent, with Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Walters and Matt De Boar at the feet of Bradley and Mayne.
It’s fair to say that a backline for Hawthorn of Ryan Schoenmakers, Josh Gibson, Luke Hodge, Ben Stratton and Grant Birchall had a field day, particularly in the opening term.
In that game, the Dockers were outplayed in all facets by a rampant and polished Hawthorn from the outset, though the game was much tougher in the remaining three quarters.
Perhaps, in hindsight we saw the beginning of what was to come from the Dockers later in the year – a side ferocious in defence and ruthless in attack.
It’s not to say though that nothing has changed at Hawthorn though, because it has.
Most notably, Ryan Schoenmakers was playing full back – of course he would do his ACL against the Dockers in that game.
Bradley Hill was playing just his ninth AFL game and Taylor Duryea his second.
Veteran Michael Osborne also played, and incredibly, used as a tagger on Dockers star Stephen Hill.
How they lined up
Hawthorn
B: Josh Gibson, Ryan Schoenmakers, Luke Hodge
HB: Shaun Burgoyne, Ben Stratton, Grant Birchall
C: Liam Shiels, Sam Mitchell, Bradley Hill
HF: Paul Puopolo, Lance Franklin, Isaac Smith
F: Jack Gunston, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust
Foll: David Hale, Cyril Rioli, Jordan Lewis
I/C: Taylor Duryea, Max Bailey, Michael Osborne, Brent Guerra
Emerg: Shane Savage, Brian Lake, Angus Litherland
Fremantle
B: Lee Spurr, Zac Dawson, Michael Johnson
HB: Nick Suban, Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield
C: Tendai Mzungu, Ryan Crowley, Clancee Pearce
HF: Matt De Boer, Kepler Bradley, Nat Fyfe
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Chris Mayne, Michael Walters
Foll: Jon Griffin, David Mundy, Stephen Hill
I/C: Michael Barlow, Danyle Pearce, Cameron Sutcliffe, Lachie Neale
Emerg: Jack Hannath, Hayden Crozier, Tanner Smith
*Luke McPharlin was a late withdrawal, replaced by Tanner Smith.
Changes from those teams based on the Preliminary Final teams
Hawthorn
IN: Brian Lake, Brad Sewell, Brendan Whitecross**
OUT: Ryan Schoenmakers, Taylor Duryea, Michael Osborne
**Whitecross tore his ACL against Geelong and won’t play in the Grand Final
Fremantle
IN: Luke McPharlin, Matthew Pavlich, Zac Clarke, Aaron Sandilands
OUT: Jon Griffin, Tanner Smith, Kepler Bradley, Clancee Pearce
