Thought the Tigers got a good go as well so I reckon its level. Can I ask out of interest why the AFL would want the Hawks to beat the Tigers? The Tigers would get many more supporters to games than the Hawks if they were successful for a start. I reckon just watch the game and forget the umpires. Its a hell of a lot more fun especially when the Tigers lose.
They don't necessarily want Hawthorn to win, I just feel the umps are seriously intimidated by the senior Hawks players....
Prime example was Jack Riewoldt getting tackled into his back in the forward pocket during the 1st quarter. Umpire called play on then called for a ball up. The exact same thing then happened to Isaac Smith from that very ball up, with Jordan Lewis screaming at the umpire, who then rewarded a free to Smith for in the back.
Those moments were as close to a a carbon copy of each other as you could get & they occurred 10 seconds apart with the same umpire in control. The only reason the free was paid was because a senior Hawks player demanded it & the ump shit himself
Even on the commentary, Duck Carey said why's the umpire paying that one, the same exact thing just happened to Riewoldt a split second ago....