I was at that game and my memory does not reflect what you posted.BigMart wrote:BTW did we not try that tactic in 1971 - with no effect
In fact the complete opposite occured.
Just before 3 quarter time Hawthorn player Porter struck Big Carl in the head as he was running through the centre of the ground, a kick behind play.
It was the only time I can ever revall Carl being affected by a punch - he actually staggered after the blow was struck. Up to that point he had been the most influential big man on the ground and he was not the same player in the last quarter.
So to use that game as an example of 'knocking a bloke out' to win the GF is, IMHO, wrong. In fact it seemed to work for Hawthorn. We had them on toast at that point and tehy cut loose in teh last quarter (primarily Keddie on Colling).
The example you should have used, again IMHO, is the Hawthorn v Geelong GF when Brereton was knocked out at the first bounce. No question Geelong tried to 'unsettle' Hawthorn who absorbed the punishemnt and still won.