Preview 2015 AFL Grand Final - Hawthorn v West Coast, MCG, Sat Oct 3rd, 2.30pm AEST (12.30pm WA, 2pm SA)

[Axcellence]

Gonna be real tough.

Real tough.

I know.. The umpires will be really in a bind. Which pet do they favour more!!

 

[Sauras]

Hawthorn get to play at their home ground, despite finishing lower and losing a game. Looking forward to Eds weekly equalisation article.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

We got this.

More experienced. Bigger bodies. Better skills. More potent attack.

I'm glad we're playing the Eagles because they are good to watch and I like Simpson, it will be entertaining, mainly due to the fact umpires will not be influential, never are in grand finals.

Lake will choke Kennedy...

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Hawthorn get to play at their home ground, despite finishing lower and losing a game. Looking forward to Eds weekly equalisation article.

Get over it. Eds rants are about things that can be controlled. Where the GF is played cannot.

 

[The GOAT]

If Hartung out for Gunston our starting sub will be Duryea. Which is a shame because I love his aggression around the ball.

No chance whatsoever, was close to BOG on Friday. Will be Suckling.

 

[lewigie]

Here we go here we go here we goooooooooo

 

[lewigie]

We got this.

More experienced. Bigger bodies. Better skills. More potent attack.

I'm glad we're playing the Eagles because they are good to watch and I like Simpson, it will be entertaining, mainly due to the fact umpires will not be influential, never are in grand finals.

Lake will choke Kennedy...

Lake got pantsed by Kennedy just two weeks ago.

Naitanui is going to make McEvoy cry. I have complete faith that he is going to drag us over the line and win it for us.

 

[BoxMatrix]

Has been out of form

Was on fire on Friday for the Hawks.

 

[The Passenger]

If we play like last night we get beat, and especially if we start like last night.

That is unlikely to happen two weeks in a row, and we definitely shouldn't be that shoddy in front of goals two weeks in a row. Hopefully a bit of a preliminary final scare is what the guys needed before the big dance.

A positive for us is that we match up well on Hawthorn, just as North match up well on us. We should get much more out of Gaff and Shuey, and better goal kicking from Lecca and JK and more time on the field from NicNat (64% last night)... All that should lead to a much better performance from us next Saturday and we will need that because on last nights effort we are about 4 or 5 goals short of the Hawks on the MCG. Credit to North, as arguably the biggest reason we were down is the amazing pressure they put on our ball carriers. No doubt Clarkson would have watched that closely.

The Hawks will have their own issues with injury (Gunston) and fatigure, having just travelled Perth > Melbourne > Perth. That's as tough as finals run as you can get, and even though they are sublimely fit it should play a factor come the fourth quarter.

Despite two weeks ago Hawks will start deserved favourites, but us taking them down would certainly not be any upset for the ages. It's a very even contest.

If both teams turn up to play it should be an epic grand final. If either team doesn't show up, they'll get shredded and it'll be an absolute belting. You only have to watch Adelaide v West Coast a month back, West Coast v Hawthorn QF, or Hawthorn v Adelaide SF to see what these two teams can do a team that doesn't turn up, and conversely what can happen to these two teams when they don't turn up.

 

[Cynic]

If we play like last night we get beat, and especially if we start like last night.

That is unlikely to happen two weeks in a row, and we definitely shouldn't be that shoddy in front of goals two weeks in a row. Hopefully a bit of a preliminary final scare is what the guys needed before the big dance.

A positive for us is that we match up well on Hawthorn, just as North match up well on us. We should get much more out of Gaff and Shuey, and better goal kicking from Lecca and JK and more time on the field from NicNat (64% last night)... All that should lead to a much better performance from us next Saturday and we will need that because on last nights effort we are about 4 or 5 goals short of the Hawks on the MCG. Credit to North, as arguably the biggest reason we were down is the amazing pressure they put on our ball carriers. No doubt Clarkson would have watched that closely.

The Hawks will have their own issues with injury (Gunston) and fatigure, having just travelled Perth > Melbourne > Perth. That's as tough as finals run as you can get, and even though they are sublimely fit it should play a factor come the fourth quarter.

Despite two weeks ago Hawks will start deserved favourites, but us taking them down would certainly not be any upset for the ages. It's a very even contest.

If both teams turn up to play it should be an epic grand final. If either team doesn't show up, they'll get shredded and it'll be an absolute belting. You only have to watch Adelaide v West Coast a month back, West Coast v Hawthorn QF, or Hawthorn v Adelaide SF to see what these two teams can do a team that doesn't turn up, and conversely what can happen to these two teams when they don't turn up.

Great post.

Going to be much tougher for the Hawks than many, in particular the betting agencies, give the Eagles credit for.

Hawks have nothing to stop Naitanui & Kennedy.

Simpson knows how we play the MCG.

West Coast have a forward line that can match ours.

West Coast's outside midfield are in much better form than ours.

Hawks though aren't going to let this chance slip easily.

 

[Adz]

WC best and perhaps only chance to win a flag with this list. On paper they are a 8th to 12th side.
They'll never have a h&a season quite as good,the 'web' will be figured out over summer and with a plethora of ageing stars, its now or never.

 

[Billy ray]

When was the last time they met at MCG ?

 

[Biggie]

Think Frawley is actually a reasonable matchup for JJK Cynic. Lake always there but I think JJK too big & strong with his multiple leads.

I'm gonna enjoy the week because these don't come round often for us. But I am concerned that we will be simply overwhelmed on the biggest day of the AFL calendar.

Still very proud of the lads, that will never be taken away.

 

[Biggie]

WC best and perhaps only chance to win a flag with this list. On paper they are a 8th to 12th side.
They'll never have a h&a season quite as good,the 'web' will be figured out over summer and with a plethora of ageing stars, its now or never.

* paper.

Real life is where it's at.

Perhaps you should join us?

 

[SA HAWK]

Hard to say really. Could make a case of us winning a close one or getting blown away.

That case could be made either way.

 

[SA HAWK]

Lake got pantsed by Kennedy just two weeks ago.

Naitanui is going to make McEvoy cry. I have complete faith that he is going to drag us over the line and win it for us.

You would think Frawley will play on him kept him goalless in the 2nd half in the other final.

Surely we won't make the same mistake of playing Frawley/Lake forward again.

 

[Wild Bill]

Hawks win and become GOAT.

 

[Wild Bill]

Genuine 50/50 for mine. Was pretty confident with tip and margin against Freo but I couldn't tell you a thing about the outcome of this one.

Hawks start favourites and rightly so. Untouchable at their best.

 

[The_Wookie]

The Foxtel Footy Festival celebrates all that is brilliant about Melbourne! Showcasing the best Melbourne has to offer in food, music, movies, and of course, footy.

All fans are invited and it’s free to attend, because you make the game! Located in Yarra Park outside Gate 3 of the MCG and running for 4 days from Wednesday 30 September until Grand Final day on Saturday 3 October.

Bring the family and come celebrate the greatest time of the year, Finals time. Included activities are outlined in more detail here.


Latest Updates

Melbourne Cricket Gd ‏@MCG 1h1 hour ago

Some early advice for those driving to the MCG for #AFLGFor related @AFLGrandFinal activities:

 

[Cynic]

Big danger of focussing solely on Kennedy.

Cripps & Le Cras are both dangerous and in form.

Darling, despite being in horrible form still warrants attention

 

[syl97]

Hawthorn get to play at their home ground, despite finishing lower and losing a game. Looking forward to Eds weekly equalisation article.

Hawthorn beat the top of the ladder side so got their seeding and benefits. That's how branch play off series work. See Tennis as an example. Nothing to criticise here.

 

[WWSD]

Lake vs Sinclair
Frawley vs Kennedy
Gibson vs Darling
Stratton vs Hill
Duryea vs LeCras
Birchall vs Cripps


Sam Mitchell has had 35,33 and 35 disposals in this years finals series. Considering West Coast don't have a genuine tagger, reckon Mitchell is pretty good odds for the Norm Smith if Hawthorn win.

 

[SA HAWK]

Big danger of focussing solely on Kennedy.

Cripps & Le Cras are both dangerous and in form.

Darling, despite being in horrible form still warrants attention

Their forward line is like ours on their day any of them can kick a bag.

 

[Cynic]

Lake vs Sinclair
Frawley vs Kennedy
Gibson vs Darling
Stratton vs Hill
Duryea vs LeCras
Birchall vs Cripps


Sam Mitchell has had 35,33 and 35 disposals in this years finals series. Considering West Coast don't have a genuine tagger, reckon Mitchell is pretty good odds for the Norm Smith if Hawthorn win.

Cripps on Birchall is worrying as anything. Duryea on Le Cras as well but with how well he played on Friday less so.

 

[SA HAWK]

Lake vs Sinclair
Frawley vs Kennedy
Gibson vs Darling
Stratton vs Hill
Duryea vs LeCras
Birchall vs Cripps


Sam Mitchell has had 35,33 and 35 disposals in this years finals series. Considering West Coast don't have a genuine tagger, reckon Mitchell is pretty good odds for the Norm Smith if Hawthorn win.

Maybe swap Stratton & Gibson over but pretty much what you would think.

Last time Frawley played forward and Duryea was sub can't believe we got it so wrong last time.