How good were Hawthorn in the 1970s?

[Black Haze]

Despite making four grand finals and winning three flags in the 1970s, I feel like Hawthorn of that era are underrated due to being overshadowed by their 1980s era where they made seven consecutive grand finals. For those here who are old enough to remember, how good were Hawthorn in the 1970s?

 

[Chip Scab1]

Despite making four grand finals and winning three flags in the 1970s, I feel like Hawthorn of that era are underrated due to being overshadowed by their 1980s era where they made seven consecutive grand finals. For those here who are old enough to remember, how good were Hawthorn in the 1970s?

My dad used to say they were brilliant, to beat us in 1976 and 1978 they had to be a great team.

Matthews assaulting Keith Grieg in 1978 was a bit of catalyst. They also lost the Prelim to North in 1977. They were a terrific side who dealt with their Captain succumbing to Cancer in addition to all that. A terrific team.

 

[HairyO]

If Hudson didnt miss years with his knee we probably would have won at least 2 more grand finals.

 

[Breretonisahood]

Despite making four grand finals and winning three flags in the 1970s, I feel like Hawthorn of that era are underrated due to being overshadowed by their 1980s era where they made seven consecutive grand finals. For those here who are old enough to remember, how good were Hawthorn in the 1970s?

Hawthorn, North, Richmond and Carlton shared the flags in that decade, so Hawthorn didn’t seem as powerful as in the 83-91 period. 70s Hawks was a great side but the loss of Hudson in 72 set them back a couple of years as their fwd line was completely organized around him. Those years (72 and 73) missing finals and then again in 79 maybe took some of the shine off that decade.

 

[Randall Stevens]

My dad used to say they were brilliant, to beat us in 1976 and 1978 they had to be a great team.

Matthews assaulting Keith Grieg in 1978 was a bit of catalyst. They also lost the Prelim to North in 1977. They were a terrific side who dealt with their Captain succumbing to Cancer in addition to all that. A terrific team.

Hawthorn and North had a great rivalry in the '70s. They played off in Grand Finals in 75,76 and 78 and Prelims in 74 and 77. In fact, over the five year period from 1974 to 1978 the two teams played each other twice in each finals series.

The Matthews / Greig incident happened in the '76 GF, not '78. The Hawks won that Grand Final by 30 points, with 35 scoring shots to 20, and beat North five times out of five for the season (including the night series grand final). So it's doubtful that the incident was the determining factor in Hawthorn winning, as good as Greif was (if that is what you are implying by calling it the catalyst). As a sign of the times though, Matthews got off at the tribunal on a technicality that the umpire reported him for striking with the wrong fist. The main driver for the Hawks in '76 - aside from wanting to atone for the year before - was to win for Peter Crimmins, who as you touched on was dying of cancer and passed away two days after the Grand Final.

Both Hawthorn and North were clearly outstanding teams in that era, stacked with Hall of Famers and both led by coaching legends.

 

[terrybull]

I’m glad we never met them in the Finals during this period.

If they beaten North in the PF then the 1974 Premiership would have been Hawthorn

 

[Gone Critical]

They were great but it was a more even mix of teams at the top. The Hawks of 83-91 stood head and shoulders above the rest.

 

[Tiger Snake]

the 1971 team was tough as nails...
they thrashed us at Victoria Park that year... I was blown away at how good and brutal they were...

 

[HairyO]

They were great but it was a more even mix of teams at the top. The Hawks of 83-91 stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Yep. Other teams matched us at times, but none with the consistency.

 

[Breretonisahood]

the 1971 team was tough as nails...
they thrashed us at Victoria Park that year... I was blown away at how good and brutal they were...

71 GF was one of the most savage GFs played by 2 of the roughest, dirtiest teams ever to contest a GF. Great game as well!

 

[Tiger Snake]

Kennedy's commandos were something else in the 70s...
losing Hudson in round 1 1972 stopped them winning an extra flag...
could you imagine the carnage if Richmond and Hawthorn played in a grand final in that era...

 

[Gone Critical]

They were great but it was a more even mix of teams at the top. The Hawks of 83-91 stood head and shoulders above the rest.

As a Pie supporter I would add that the 70s was as good a team as Collingwood has had in my lifetime. Kills me still we didn't win a flag. Especially 70, thanks Tuddy for missing Lofts and getting McKenna and 77, thanks Fab Phil for clocking Tuck for no reason and getting 2 weeks which ended up being 2 GFs.

Measure of how many really good teams ran around in the 70s.

 

[Chip Scab1]

As a Pie supporter I would add that the 70s was as good a team as Collingwood has had in my lifetime. Kills me still we didn't win a flag. Especially 70, thanks Tuddy for missing Lofts and getting McKenna and 77, thanks Fab Phil for clocking Tuck for no reason and getting 2 weeks which ended up being 2 GFs.

Measure of how many really good teams ran around in the 70s.

lol, Norf beat Hawks in 77 prelim then kicked 8:22 in GF1.

Umm Norf kick straight and they eat you, despite missing fabulosa etc. We played 3x GF's (in 3 weeks) and didn't lose 1.

 

[Walshawk]

My dad used to say they were brilliant, to beat us in 1976 and 1978 they had to be a great team.

Matthews assaulting Keith Grieg in 1978 was a bit of catalyst. They also lost the Prelim to North in 1977. They were a terrific side who dealt with their Captain succumbing to Cancer in addition to all that. A terrific team.

Lost the Major Semi to Pies by two points after Carman knocked out Tucky. Unlucky not to threepeat.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Lost the Major Semi to Pies by two points after Carman knocked out Tucky. Unlucky not to threepeat.

2nd Semi? I'm unaware of this terminology.

 

[Blues177]

I was surprised Hawthorn didn’t make the grand final in 1977. Hudson returned and kicked over 100 goals. The hawks performance during that h&a season was better than their 1976 and 1978 form and their 11 goal loss in the prelim was a big shock.
A Collingwood and Hawthorn grand final was predicted during the season. However after having a mid season slump North Melbourne during the finals rediscovered the form they had at the start of the year when they won their first 5 games. Won the flag without Keith Greig who injured his knee mid season.

 

[Breretonisahood]

I was surprised Hawthorn didn’t make the grand final in 1977. Hudson returned and kicked over 100 goals. The hawks performance during that h&a season was better than their 1976 and 1978 form and their 11 goal loss in the prelim was a big shock.
A Collingwood and Hawthorn grand final was predicted during the season. However after having a mid season slump North Melbourne during the finals rediscovered the form they had at the start of the year when they won their first 5 games. Won the flag without Keith Greig who injured his knee mid season.

That PF loss was a shocker. As you said, Hudson kicked 110 for the season and Lethal kicked 91. Hard to believe we could only kick 5 goals in the PF. One of our most dismal losses.

 

[Chip Scab1]

That PF loss was a shocker. As you said, Hudson kicked 110 for the season and Lethal kicked 91. Hard to believe we could only kick 5 goals in the PF. One of our most dismal losses.

I put it down to Norf being crazy good too.

It's basically the greatest rivalry there's ever been, but as it's Norf and Hawthorn, nobody really cares.

74 Prelim, 75 GF, 76 GF, 77 Prelim, 78 GF

1994 Draw

2007

 

[doppleganger]

Hawks were good but not a standout in the 70s

Decade H&A win rate was less than both Collingwood and Carlton.

And Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond and North all played in more finals during the 70s than the Hawks.

80s was unquestionably the Hawks dominant decade, they won more than 70% of their home games and were the constant in finals - that was there Pies of the 20s/30s, Essendon of the 40s dominant era