The Football Factory
@HawthornFC into another GF. Box Hill into another GF. Box Hill Development team into another GF. They do a bit right at that joint. #envy
— Andy Maher (@MGMaherSEN) September 25, 2015
The final analysis
There was something very predictable about that Hawthorn win. For all Ross Lyon’s artfully wired circuitry, his footballing robot has again failed at the pointy end of the season. Hawthorn were the better side on the night, but they were also just a more robust team unit. They know how to win and just expect to. Tonight was business as usual. Clarko vs Lyon? 6-1 to the Hawks coach. He’s up on Rushmore with Kennedy and Jeans if he leads them to victory next week. Probably is anyway.
The Hawks had to dig in early though. Freo really got the jump on them with the first two goals and as that happened, the crowd got involved to such a level that you wondered whether a repeat of the West Coast game two weeks ago was on the cards. Alas, the home side couldn’t sustain that intensity. Nat Fyfe was hobbled all night - brave, but almost incapacitated with his leg injury. It bordered on stupidity. He ended up with 24 disposals and 6 tackles. What a marvel.
Best for the Hawks was Sam Mitchell, who had 35 possessions, 5 clearances, 6 marks and 3 tackles. Somehow he just keeps getting better. He does this for fun in finals. Hawthorn’s defenders were massive, paticularly Duryea and Lake. Luke Hodge was as stoic as ever. Rioli’s 3 goals were no less than he deserved. Jarryd Roughead was his usual quietly industrious self with 2 majors. Isaac Smith was exellent. Everybody simply mucked in and played their part and most importantly, they nailed the chances when they came, kicking only 4 behinds all night.
Fremantle weren’t terrible, either. They won the clearances (+15), contested ball (+17) and stoppages (+12). Yet they were still soundly beaten. They missed far too many chances, they gave Hawthorn far too much space and they simply lacked the kind of sure-footedness and class of the Hawks. As a result they head off for some holidays while the Hawks play off in their fifth grand final in eight years.
That’s nearly all from me, but I might also hang around for this:
I am really looking forward to Ross Lyon's press conference.
— Dominic Kelly (@illywhacker_) September 25, 2015
The Hawks are home by 27 points and will play in next week's Grand Final!
Well, that slid away fast for the Dockers. They were simply beaten by a superior side on the night and now trudge towards the boundary as vanquished minor premiers.
Luke Hodge is very happy with his Hawthorn players. “It doesn’t matter where you play as long as you take your opportunities,” he says. “We knew it was going to be a fairly energetic crowd.”
It’s also fair to say that the home fans aren’t happy. They’ve been rowdy and in some instances, downright disrespectful tonight. In what might prove Matthew Pavlich’s last game, they haven’t covered themselves in glory.
Disgraceful scenes. Two separate fights breaking out at western end of ground. Icing on shit cake. @rustyjacko @corbinmiddlemas #AFLFinals
— Jack Hicken (@jackmhicken) September 25, 2015
Dockers goal! 4th quarter (4:56 remaining) Fremantle 10.7 (67) vs Hawthorn 15.3 (93)
Michael Walters hasn’t had his best game tonight but it hasn’t been through lack of effort. Indicative is the feisty contested mark he takes here 20 metres from goal before slotting his third. It’s only a small consolation. He hasn’t had enough mates.
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (6:50 remaining) Fremantle 9.7 (61) vs Hawthorn 15.3 (93)
Party time has set in. Now Roughead roosts one through from long range. Freo are cooked. They’ve given it everything but this is O-V-E-R. Ross Lyon looks a broken man reclining in his chair. He’ll miss out again.
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (7:14 remaining) Fremantle 9.7 (61) vs Hawthorn 14.3 (87)
The Hawks are home. Taylor Duryea has been super in defence tonight - playing perhaps the game of his career - and now he’s kicked a goal too. It’s just not Freo’s night.
Duryea won't be missing out this time. Good on the kid. Been sensational #AFLDockersHawks
— Robert Shaw (@shawry_analyst) September 25, 2015
Updated
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (8:38 remaining) Fremantle 9.7 (61) vs Hawthorn 13.3 (81)
The Hawks go forward again and it’s inside 50 where they look so potent. But Freo clear. They slap it forward in fact - anything that’ll keep it moving. Mayne sends it long to Fyfe and Frawley in the goal square but Frawley gets the vital hand in to stop the mark. Hawthorn love this stuff. Thrive on it. They always win tight Prelims. Will tonight be any different?
You wouldn’t think so. Rioli’s just goaled again. He’s threatened to break out all night and that short-range snap is a hammer blow. Ceaseless pressure led to that goal and it’s hard to see Hawthorn coughing this one up. Have Freo got one last brave tilt in them?
Hawks goal! 4th quarter (12:38 remaining) Fremantle 9.6 (60) vs Hawthorn 12.3 (75)
Wowsers. Freo go forward again and Barlow marks 55 metres out but butchers a short pass. No matter, moments later he marks again in front of Josh Gibson and this time he’s only 35 metres out on a slight angle. He goes back. He trots in. He stutters. He stammers. He bloody well misses! And so does Walters with a follow-up effort. Hawthorn are under siege. Pass me the oxygen!
Or maybe give it to Luke Hodge. He’s revving himself up on the boundary ready to come on. He’s like James Brown and cape, coming back from the dead to give the night back its soul. Or maybe just an cheeky, off-the-ball bump. The Hawks go forward. Liam Shiels is in but he duffs it, bouncing awkwardly and then getting collected as his shot at goal falls short of the required distance. This game is on a knife edge. The umpires aren’t helping, either. Fremantle have been shafted all night.
Oh no. There’s a horror moment for Sheridan here and it’s cost his side a goal. Cyril Rioli swoops on his dropped mark on the last line of defence and from 45 metres out with a paddock in front of him, bounces through a left-foot snap. Did Tommy Sheridan just cost his side a Grand Final spot? There’s still time for Fremantle but that hurts.
Dockers goal! 4th quarter (17:50 remaining) Fremantle 9.4 (58) vs Hawthorn 11.3 (69)
Well, if Freo are to stagger into a Grand Final they’ll have to make their move early in this final term. The Dockers go forward. Hawthorn defend grimly, all flailing limbs and heavy knocks. Luke Hodge almost wipes himself out leaping across a pack. He’s hobbling towards the bench and as he does Michael Walters conjures something special, plucking the ball out of a ruck contest at the boundary and dribbling through a short-range snap on his left. The Dockers WILL. NOT. YIELD.
Three-quarter time - Hawks lead by 17 points after a goal on the siren
Fremantle 8.4 (52) vs Hawthorn 11.3 (69)
Bang! What a finish to the third term. Matthew Suckling is legged just outside the 50-metre arc as the siren goes and promptly bombs a goal that’s Griffen’s and more! Hawks teammates swamp him. Dockers players want to punch on. The crowd is going berserk. Hawthorn push the lead back to 17 points and we’re in for one hell of a finish. Champagne finals football, this is.
When you put 600 blokes on the mark and it doesn't matter. #Suckling pic.twitter.com/y4jNAMSE0w
— Scott (@RestingPlayers) September 25, 2015
Updated
Dockers goal! 3rd quarter (0:56 remaining) Fremantle 8.4 (52) vs Hawthorn 10.3 (63)
Now the Hawks go forward. There’s fumbling. There’s dropped marks. There’s terrible clearances. Then more dropped marks. Then...a proper clearance. But not really. Hawthorn surge again and Burgoyne marks in space right on the 50-metre paint. He fancies himself to kick the goal and with a boot like his, why wouldn’t you? He misses to the right.
There’s a minute or two in which the ball is in dispute but when Freo go deep inside 50 there’s a commanding mark from McEvoy. But it doesn’t matter. Big Jon Griffin grabs the ball miles from goal, strides out to about the 60-metre mark and thumps through a massive goal! Wow! It’s back to 11 points. That was incredible stuff from Griffin.
Dockers goal! 3rd quarter (5:56 remaining) Fremantle 7.4 (46) vs Hawthorn 10.2 (62)
There’s plenty of heat in this game right now. It’s bruising stuff. If you’re the type of West Coast fan who counts chickens before they hatch you will be rapt. The Sherrin pin-balls from end to end, side to side, player to player. It’s like a punch-up in a phone box. And then Chris Mayne takes a HUUUUUUGE grab! He’s 40 metres out, directly in front and he’s got two Hawks to beat but he leaps high to reel it in and nails the goal. Freo are alive. Only just, but they’re alive!
P.S. Too early for Leigh Matthews Theory?
Still 30 minutes of playing time left. Using Leigh's formula, Freo could still win by 26 goals. #AFLFreoHawks #AFLFinals
— Gigs (@AndrewGigacz) September 25, 2015
Dockers goal! 3rd quarter (11:32 remaining) Fremantle 6.4 (40) vs Hawthorn 10.2 (62)
Ooh, this just got very interesting. Moments after Luke Hodge cops one in the snout, Isaac Smith floats across a contest and slaps Michael Barlow in the face with an open hand as he marks. That’s a 50-metre penalty and Barlow goals from it, but will the MRP take a look at that? Maybe not, looking at the replay. Very low impact. As you were.
Hawks goal! 3rd quarter (12:38 remaining) Fremantle 5.4 (34) vs Hawthorn 10.2 (62)
Ross Lyon left big Ben McEvoy out of a grand final side when he was Saints coach and now he has to watch the Hawk ruckman haul in commanding mark 20 metres out and then slot through a goal. That’s a dagger to the heart of Lyon’s men. It’s a 28-point lead now - the biggest margin of the game.
Hawks goal! 3rd quarter (14:51 remaining) Fremantle 5.4 (34) vs Hawthorn 9.2 (56)
Bang bang. Now Rioli goals, marking 20 metres out on a slight angle before narrowly sneaking through his set shot. The Dockers have to watch this little run. One or two more of those and the lead becomes almost insurmountable given their own scoring issues. It’s also worth pointing out that Sam Mitchell is cutting Fremantle to ribbons at the moment and just to rub it in a little, Seven pan to Ryan Crowley in the crowd. He’s not smiling.
Hawks goal! 3rd quarter (16:07 remaining) Fremantle 5.4 (34) vs Hawthorn 8.2 (50)
If you’re only following this game via my live blog and have the opportunity to get in front of the TV to witness something remarkable, I urge you to do so. Dockers midfielder Nat Fyfe is clearly injured - and badly injured - but he’s willing his side into this game. It’s scarcely believable.
As reader Raymond Reardon rightly points out, there’s a stiff breeze blowing towards Hawthorn’s goal now and they take full advantage here. Well, not really. It probably helped getting it forward but when Brad Hill goals to restablish that 16-point lead, he does so on the run from point blank range. But it’s a decent old gust of wind, I’ll say that. A real doozy.
Dockers goal! 3rd quarter (19:12 remaining) Fremantle 5.4 (34) vs Hawthorn 7.2 (44)
And we’re away in the third term. The Dockers win it forward first and they jag the first goal of the term to when Ballantyne sharks it 40 metres from goal and loops through an artless but effective snap. That came after a tackle on Sam Mitchell, who was dispossessed and probably should have been pinged for holding the ball. The Dockers are right in this.
Nat Fyfe for PM , absolute beast #AFLFreoHawks
— Shane Kersten (@shane_kersten39) September 25, 2015
That Fyfe injury
Yuck indeed. This is Darren Millane level bravery from the Docker star.
Yuck... #Fyfe pic.twitter.com/cEPHEP1H0q
— Scott (@RestingPlayers) September 25, 2015
That first half
Before I start on the stats, it’s worth noting a truly disturbing incident in which Hawk Isaac Smith chased the ball to the boundary and had a Fremantle supporter mime snotting him for his troubles. “That ugly Freo supporter needs to be ejected from the ground for mimicking punching the Hawthorn player,” says reader Brendan Brown, and I have to agree with him. Terrible form.
Anyway, after withstanding a fast start from the home side in the first ten minutes, Hawthorn steadied beautifully to slam through six consecutive goals either side of the first break. They’ve lost the clearances (-7), contested ball (-19) and stoppages (-4) but ran Freo ragged playing keepings-off for large periods of the first half.
Hawthorn skipper Hodge has 18 possessions and continues to dominate September, while Sam Mitchell and Josh Gibson (15 each) have also given solid service. Brian Lake was a bit of a question mark heading into this game after some uninspiring recent performances but he’s been brilliant tonight. The scoring load has been shared evenly but underrated Ryan Schoenmakers has two goals thusfar.
The best of the Dockers have been Lee Spurr (15 touches), David Mundy (17) and Nat Fyfe (13), who is putting in a brave performance on one leg and also, you feel, putting a few of his fully-fit mates to shame. What a star.
Hawks lead by 16 points at half time
Fremantle 4.4 (28) vs Hawthorn 7.2 (44)
Oh my word! Jon Griffin thinks he’s nailed a goal on the half-time siren but his 25-metre set shot swerves right at the last second and slams into the post. He was celebrating it too, the poor bloke. Hawks players warm him like school bullies. That’s a sad summary of Freo’s night so far. Nothing it going their way.
I’ll be back with a few stats from the first half but it suffices to say that Hawthorn are in the box seat right now. They’re fully fit and they’ve weathered a few storms. How could you bet against them getting the job done from here?
Woah., that ball went sideways at the end #AFLFreoHawks
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) September 25, 2015
Hawks goal! 2nd quarter (0:19 remaining) Fremantle 4.3 (27) vs Hawthorn 7.2 (44)
Ouch. The Dockers had landed a significant blow to draw back within 11 points but with the siren only half a minute away Roughead marks and with a genuinely testing set shot from 45 metres out, responds beautifully. That’s a big-game performer for you. Worth his weight in gold, big Roughy. That’s a spirit-sapper for Freo.
Dockers goal! 2nd quarter (1:59 remaining) Fremantle 4.3 (27) vs Hawthorn 6.2 (38)
The Dockers are winding up a little now. It’s a mini-ascendancy. Even Zac Dawson’s botched handballs aren’t costing them goals. Hawthorn are blazing. Rioli drops a mark he’d normally take. Big Pav is getting involved. Only with a turnover, but it’s better than sitting inside 50 waiting for something to happen.
But Fyfe is cooked. He can barely walk, let alone run. If that’s the injury he carried into the game then he shouldn’t have played. He’s not even grimacing and it’s very brave, but also quite foolish given his limited range of movements. If the Dockers scrape through tonight it’s hard to see Fyfe recovering from this. That said, he’s still winning contested ball and reeling in one-handed marks. Unbelievable stuff.
And Pav gets one! Over his head! It’s completely against the run of play but after Sandi shovels him a handball in the goal square he goes the ‘Ablett v SA’ and pops it over his shoulder for a goal. That’s a huge goal for the home side.
Dockers goal! 2nd quarter (9:48 remaining) Fremantle 3.3 (21) vs Hawthorn 6.2 (38)
Hill’s done nothing. Barlow’s done nothing. Mayne’s done nothing. Fyfe looks like he’s not even physically capable of doing something. Sitting down, maybe. Cameron Ling reckons he’s playing with a broken leg. “That’s gotta hamper you,” he concludes, and though neither he nor I are medical doctors I’d have to agree with his theory.
The Dockers have too many passengers right now. They haven’t even scored in the last 25 minutes and as that’s happened the Hawks have slammed through six. Even Hawthorn’s injuries are intimidating; Roughead has conceded to nominative determinism and his cranial region is now bandaged up as though he’s wearing a swimming cap. The Mean Machine? Oh no, they were bald...
Oof. The Dockers have a few chances here and the second of them - to the normally sharp Michael Walters - is an absolute howler of a miss. He was 15 metres from an open goal on a slight angle but shanked it. The umps aren’t helping, either. But finally...a goal! And it’s to Steven Hill, who has now sprung to life and loops through a lovely long left-foot goal from a set shot. It only took ‘em 39 minutes but the Dockers are back on the board.
Hawks goal! 2nd quarter (18:18 remaining) Fremantle 2.1 (13) vs Hawthorn 6.2 (38)
There’s problems everywhere for the Dockers as this second term starts. Nat Fyfe is really struggling with his leg injury and you didn’t have to be an expert in body language to understand the drift of Ross Lyon’s quarter-time address, either. He wants his men to play tighter and stop the Hawks from controlling possession with all that chipping around in space.
But the Hawks do precisely that to start the term. Breust shakes off Cameron Sutcliffe on the wing, squirts a pass to Breust and then Breust hits Schoenmakers in space 25 metres out. The big Hawk stutters in his approach but slams his set shot straight through the middle. The Hawks have six in a row. Schoenmakers has two goals. The Dockers are a rabble.
Okay Docks - this isn't about a couple of bad umpiring decisions now. #AFLFreoHawks
— Geoff Hutchison (@GeoffHutchison) September 25, 2015
Quarter time - Hawthorn have a 19 point lead after five straight goals
Fremantle 2.1 (13) vs Hawthorn 5.2 (32)
There’s a final, belated foray forward for the Dockers but they run out of time so the Hawks finish the first term with all of the momentum and the last five goals of the game. Luke Hodge is loving it. The Hawks skipper smirks as he walks towards the huddle and gives Docker Hayden Ballantyne an absolute mouthful. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go for the home side. Their own fans were at fever pitch 10 minutes in. Now they’re probably a little scared. That siren couldn’t come quick enough.
Hawks goal! 1st quarter (0:54 remaining) Fremantle 2.1 (13) vs Hawthorn 5.2 (32)
The Hawks are on fire. Now it’s Ryan Shoenmakers punting one straight over the umpire’s hat to make it three goals in the space of a few minutes. This is incredible stuff.
Hawks goal! 1st quarter (2:19 remaining) Fremantle 2.1 (13) vs Hawthorn 4.2 (26)
Ouch, another one now for the Hawks and it comes only moments after the restart. They bash it forward indiscriminately and Suckling gathers a handball, ducks and weaves a little and arrows through a neat left foot snap. Now it’s the Dockers firmly on the back foot. They were running rampant early. Now they’re bystanders.
Hawks goal! 1st quarter (2:47 remaining) Fremantle 2.1 (13) vs Hawthorn 3.2 (20)
Hawthorn have really recalibrated here and it’s working. They’ve shut down the Dockers’ run and carry and they’re chipping the ball around to uncontested scenarios until they can find away through Ross Lyon’s defence. Eventually they do, too.
Roughead takes the third consecutive uncontested mark in a chain at half forward and then threads it straight onto the chest of Luke Breust. He’s 30 metres out on a 45-degree angle and even from there, it’s bread and butter stuff for the sharp shooter. The Dockers can’t get their hands on it right now. Danger signs.
My daughter has pointed out that Fyfe looks like Abracadaniel from Adventure Time #AFLFreoHawks pic.twitter.com/JsSJNvF35B
— Luke Herring (@lhjh70) September 25, 2015
Hawks goal! 1st quarter (7:16 remaining) Fremantle 2.1 (13) vs Hawthorn 2.2 (14)
Rioli is like a spinning top around a few stoppages inside Hawthorn’s 50 here, always looking like he’s about to pull off something special. As he’s worked his way into the game, so have the Hawks. Nat Fyfe, meanwhile, is sitting on the pine and looking somewhat pensive. We know he wasn’t fully fit anyway heading into this game but now he’s got further injury concerns with that knock on his hip.
And now the Hawks get the rub of the green again. Hale marks 55 metres from goal and shapes to pass, but the Dockers cough up a 50 metre penalty that makes his kick at goal a certainty. But what was it for? I’ll be honest, I have no idea and neither do Channel Seven. Their cameras didn’t capture it. I can tell you one thing for certain: the Hawks are right back in this.
Hawks goal! 1st quarter (10:45 remaining) Fremantle 2.1 (13) vs Hawthorn 1.2 (8)
Now there’s a brief moment of respite for Hawthorn, who isolate Luke Hodge with Tendai Mzungu and though the latter might have gone conventional with a spoil 35 metres from goal, he climbs all over the Hawks skipper’s back and gives away a free. But Hodge misses! He should have dobbed that. A captain’s point? Not what was required.
There’s a sub-plot to the Freo dominance though; Fyfe has done himself a mischief in the act of applying a hip-and-shoulder on Brian Lake. It’s his hip, unsurprisinly. That’s really stung him and he’s limping noticeably. But for the moment it doesn’t matter. The Dockers remain staunch in defence and ferocious in the content and when they swing it forward through Ballantyne, Gibson clumsily brings Chris Mayne to ground and gives away a free. But Mayne misses a sitter too! Dockers fans wince. Remember their kicking at goal in the 2013 GF? Urgh.
Far worse is what happens moments later when dead-eyed Isaac Smith wins a dubious free kick within range and duly dobs it. What is going on out there? It looked like a howler of an umpiring call but then, Wayne Carey is angry about it so I’m somewhat conflicted. But no matter which way you dice it, it’s on the board for the Hawks. They’ve steadied the ship.
Dockers goal! 1st quarter (17:21 remaining) Fremantle 2.0 (12) vs Hawthorn 0.1 (1)
This game is on steroids. It’s end to end stuff with the Hawks surging forward but just as quickly as they do, Freo slingshot it back down the other end and in acres of space, big Jon Griffin romps his way through for an open goal. The Hawks are under seige. The crowd and the Dockers are all over them. It’s thrilling football from the home side to start this game. Hawthorn really have to settle here.
Dockers goal! 1st quarter (18:49 remaining) Fremantle 1.0 (6) vs Hawthorn 0.0 (0)
There’s plenty of niggle before the first bounce between Hayden Ballantyne and Grant Birchall, but in contrast, the Hill brothers are matched up together and giggling like kids. Beautiful stuff.
And then we’re away. Lachie Neale wins it out of the centre and the Dockers go forward with murderous intent. There’s a crunching tackle on David Hale by Pearce snaps out on the full from 20 metres out. The Hawks clear but soon there’s a kamikaze entry for the Dockers, one that Hawthorn can’t swat away so Michael Walters sprints into space, gets on the end of a handball and drills the game-opening goal on the run. The Hawks have barely touched it! Freo are away!
What a sight this was at the opening bounce - Hill on Hill! LIVE: http://t.co/TD0CYpbYol #AFLFreoHawks pic.twitter.com/xtv8ANULnf
— FOX FOOTY LIVE (@FOXFootyLive) September 25, 2015
Updated
The toss
We’re a few minutes from the opening bounce now as Matthew Pavlich and Luke Hodge meet in the middle of the ground. It’s a SHOCKING toss (where do they find these muppets?) but Pavlich - possibly playing his final game if things go awry - wins it and “Kicks towards Melbourne,” according to Dennis Cometti. That might work on a few levels.
Let’s do this.
The Dockers enter the fray
...and they do so to the strains of AC/DC’s ‘TNT’, which is a perfect time to drink in the splendour of this live performance from the Bon Scott era. Scott was a Freo local, you see. I reckon he would have loved Hayden Ballantyne. And Nat Fyfe’s hair. Particularly Nat Fyfe’s hair actually. I think the Freo fans might also have a bit more life in them than the crowd in this theater.
Clarko and Richo have a talko
The Hawks coach has stopped by for a natter. “We gotta do it a bit harder this time but if we’re good enough we’ll get through,” Clarkson says to Seven’s Matty Richardson. And then, a bon mot to rival any of Ross Lyon’s efforts: “By and large, you’ve got goal posts at both ends and 22 players out there,” he says, which is not technically true in the second instance but I’ll let it slide.
The Hawks, meanwhile, are out on the ground and they’re received with a hearty round of boos from the hostile local crowd. What role will that play tonight, the intimidation factor? Hawthorn were a little rattled here two weeks back against the Eagles. One to watch.
Our first reader email
“How good is it to see all the games played in Perth?” asks Ezra Finkelstein. “The streets are full of Freo purple and WA is fanatic.” Ezra, are you trying to say that the Victorian football mafia have missed a trick in not snapping up one of those $1200 return flight? I think it’s a great novelty, actually. I was watching the MCG ground staff prepping the surface on Wednesday. What a sad sight that was; a bit like the pub with no beer.
Meanwhile, that truly special hour has arrived - a scene we’ve all enjoyed for a full 26 weeks now. Yes, it’s the weekly tweet of footballers stretching.
Dad's biggest fans watching on #brian250 #PlayYourRole pic.twitter.com/SYS1ea4f8M
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) September 25, 2015
Our teams tonight
We’re now just over 25 minutes from the opening bounce and as both sides go through their preliminary warm-ups I can tell you that there’s no late changes to either side, though Freo are claiming that Nat Fyfe will start on the bench. As the kids might say, LOL. Elsewhere, Ross Lyon has moved on but Cameron Ling is filling the void admirably on the box. If the Hawks win this game and next weekend’s Grand Final? “They become the greatest team that has ever played this game,” says Ling. There’s no half measures with Lingy.
Fremantle
Lee Spurr, Michael Johnson, Zac Dawson, Stephen Hill, Garrick Ibbotson, Cameron Sutcliffe, Nat Fyfe, Tommy Sheridan, Michael Barlow, Chris Mayne, Danyle Pearce, Hayden Ballantyne, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Walters, Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Lachie Neale, Matt Taberner, Tendai Mzungu, Jonathon Griffin, Matt de Boer SUB: Nick Suban
Hawthorn
Ben Stratton, Brian Lake, Matthew Suckling, Grant Birchall, Josh Gibson, Shaun Burgoyne, Bradley Hill, Sam Mitchell, Liam Shiels, Cyril Rioli, James Frawley, Isaac Smith, Luke Breust, Jarryd Roughead, Paul Puopolo, Ben McEvoy, Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis, Ryan Schoenmakers, Taylor Duryea, David Hale SUB: Billy Hartung
But all of that pales next to news that Bachelor Sam Wood is behind the Hawks. Surely they can’t lose now?
Even Bachie Wood is playing his role @samjameswood #PlayYourRole pic.twitter.com/KTDAJUhk6a
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) September 25, 2015
Preamble
“It’s a fan engagement business and that’s what we do.”
Who said that? AFL boss Gil McLachlan? Nope. The CEO of one of tonight’s combatants? Nah. An overzealous sponsor? Uh uh. That, dear live bloggers, is Fremantle coach Ross Lyon, presently manning Channel Seven’s al fresco chat panel at Domain stadium before tonight’s HUGE Preliminary Final clash between his Dockers and Alastair Clarkson’s Hawks.
I don’t know about you, to my ears that is a quote to rank with the best of John Kennedy, Yabbie Jeans and Ron Barassi. It’s got me in the mood. I’ve got chills. He’s right: I’m a fan and I’m most certainly engaged. I’m manning the controls at Live Blog HQ. I’m geeing myself up to smash my KPIs and go about my business with utmost professionalism. I’m taking it not just one week at a time, but one goal update at a time. I’m maintining my structures. Not a single letter on this keyboard will be given space to move. Like Lyon, I mean business.
Anyway, enough waffle. If you want to holla at ya boy at any point tonight, get me on russell.jackson@theguardian.com or via Twitter: @rustyjacko
I’ll be back in two shakes of a robot-talking coach with tonight’s teams and any other Ross Lyon zingers.
Russell will be in the chair shortly, in the meantime, here’s Jonathan Horn’s take on Fremantle coach Ross Lyon:
At first, he cut a less than imposing figure. Many of the great coaches sounded like headmasters or auctioneers. Lyon sounded whiney. He had an ironic, world-weary smirk; a boppy, almost mincing gait. He’d sit in the box gnawing on a pen, pivoting every couple of minutes to berate his line coaches. He chewed through boxes of pens and a stack of assistants. He destroyed countless phones.
Who is this peculiar man, we thought. He revealed himself quickly enough. A workaholic. The most unsentimental man to ever wield a clipboard. He certainly wasn’t one for overt displays of emotion. The day after his sister died, he arrived at the club, conducted a match committee meeting, a player’s meeting and oversaw a training session. He delivered a presentation to a major sponsor. He told no-one. “We don’t care how you feel,” he would tell his players, “it’s how you act.”
Read more of this, here.
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