Talk about the Grand Final

[Toy Saint]

Thought Hannaberry should have won the Norm Smith. He used the ball very well.

Goodes was very brave, tough in the first quarter, injured and battled, then lifted and inspired in the final quarter.

Sydney were lucky to get through with injuries to Mumford, Goodes and Richards.

The umpires were pretty good.

Substituting Mumford added much needed run in the last quarter.

Hawks have been good all year, but looked nervous on the big stage, both this week and last.

[whiskers3614]

Guess the only 2 favourites in the last few years that haven't been beaten?
hint 2009/2010
Geelong choked 2008
Collingwood 2011
Hawks today

[Sainternist]

Gunston with the poster from a set shot from 25 will give him nightmares for years.

Substituting Mumford added much needed run in the last quarter.

A gutsy coaching move.

[kalsaint]

Thought Hannaberry should have won the Norm Smith. He used the ball very well.

Goodes was very brave, tough in the first quarter, injured and battled, then lifted and inspired in the final quarter.

Sydney were lucky to get through with injuries to Mumford, Goodes and Richards.

The umpires were pretty good.

Substituting Mumford added much needed run in the last quarter.

Hawks have been good all year, but looked nervous on the big stage, both this week and last.

I know the umps let things go in finals but a free kick rate of 21 to 10 Hawtorn's way wasnt actually representative in my mind.

Swan's won the game around clearances and tackle count (110) that made the Hawks make mistakes and not kick well (including at goal). They outmarked and controlled more of the play although much of this was in the Hawtorn forward half. Turnovers and pressure mistakes let Swans to an open forward line. Well coached Longmire.

[bobmurray]

Gunston with the poster from a set shot from 25 will give him nightmares for years.

Substituting Mumford added much needed run in the last quarter.

A gutsy coaching move.

Predicted on Ch 7 well before it happened...

[SainterK]

Actually thought Guerra was a big loss.

That first kick out of defence is what initiates the Hawks scoring chain.

They put a lot of work into Birchall...nobody really created much off the backline.

[thejiggingsaint]

A belter of a game. 1st quarter was an arm wrestle, but it just got better and better as the day went on. Two sides giving their all, in a thriller. Well done to both clubs!

[Sainternist]

Did anyone else find it eerie seeing John Kennedy Sr walking around after the game?

He was like a ghost of the past. Still wearing that same trench coat.

[st_Trav_ofWA]

I felt hawthorn thought they had it in the bag after the first qtr the chase and the dedication was not what it was for the second qtr .. Said to my wife at half time after the hawks went goalless that Syd would win ... You just cannot afford to not score a goal in a qtr in the GF and expect to win

[Sainternist]

... You just cannot afford to not score a goal in a qtr in the GF and expect to win

Too true. Final quarter of 2009 immediately springs to mind

[kosifantutti]

... You just cannot afford to not score a goal in a qtr in the GF and expect to win

Too true. Final quarter of 2009 immediately springs to mind

Collingwood 3rd quarter 2010. Sydney 3rd quarter 2005.

[saintsRrising]

Sliding door moments:


Ball bounces on for Jack to gather and goal. Swans win.

Ball bounces at right angles away from Milne. Saints win.
(and we won't mention that punch from Zac or the toe poke from Scarlett that both could have gone anywhere......)

[saintspremiers]

What about the crowd size?

With the reno of the GSS, capacity was down a few hundred and
It was only 400 off 100,000!

Huge credit to the MCC filling up the members. They don't have to allow restricted members access but they did, and full stadium was the result.

Big numbers of Swines supporters at the ground also.

[saintspremiers]

Sliding door moments:


Ball bounces on for Jack to gather and goal. Swans win.

Ball bounces at right angles away from Milne. Saints win.
(and we won't mention that punch from Zac or the toe poke from Scarlett that both could have gone anywhere......)

Cut the stuff about the Milne bounce. There was 90 seconds left on the clock. Anything could've happend!

[matrix]

great game
actually really enjoyed watching it

another side misses too many shots at goal and a grannie goes begging

swans played well
congrats

wonder if boltons going around again?

[3rd generation saint]

Thought Rioli was well held, and played really poorly.
He was one of the catalysts for their 2008 win, couldn't touch it yesterday.

[matrix]

birchell as well
i reckon i saw him get a run on from the back flank once maybe twice yesterday

[spert]

That game just proved to me that Goodes is the man who gets them going- the most important player in that team..did a number of smart things at the right time, just when the Hawks were looking good. I also reckon we need to work on our midfield after looking at those two teams yesterday- intensity, clean clearance work, good disposal.

[gringo]

Thought Rioli was well held, and played really poorly.
He was one of the catalysts for their 2008 win, couldn't touch it yesterday.

Rioli is the most over hyped player in the comp. Looks stylish with his 12 disposals a game but rarely dominates-excepy against us this year. Lewis jetta on the other hand is a gun he is a genuine game breaker- run and carry, long goals sets up play and closes into space. I had my doubts on him early on but he's a beauty. Hopefully Milera can become a similar player, both have the same kind of height and speed and Jetta is still slight. He should model his game on the Jet.

[Megsie]

Hawks arrogant sniping frauds.
Sydney financially propped up for 30years by afl.
Needed to fulfil their benevolent duty do win a another GF

[oh when the]

Sydneys handball skills are way better than any other club they can be swamped by other players
but can still handball to get it cleared

[SaintPav]

Hawks could have helped their cause by trying to shut down O'Keefe.

[Spud]

great game
actually really enjoyed watching it

another side misses too many shots at goal and a grannie goes begging

swans played well
congrats

wonder if boltons going around again?

Both he and Goode's said they will definitely be back next year.

[gringo]

Sydney remind me of the Saints, they do it the hard laborious way. No easy gains just grind out the win. LRT is actually a decent player these days and reminds me of Gilbert, if Gilbo can get himself back to that level we will be a much better team.

[8856brother]

Hawks smashed them in the contested possessions and clearances. I mean really smashed them when you look at th stats. Normally a good indication. Not yesterday. Great gutsy win. Brings back some shocking mempries though. Used to love GF day. Don't enjoy watching them any more.

Hope time heals.