It’ll be the sixth grand final for the Darwin-born midfielder and fourth with Hawthorn in as many years.
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Hawthorn, a side which averages 100 points per game could only find 9 goals and 64 points and had 64 marks for the game compared with their 103 average for 2015.
Gibson said the Hawks were as hungry as ever but players were not talking about a historic three-peat.
Despite the brevity of his reasoning, I’m going to give five reasons why the Eagles can win the flag this Saturday. Kennedy’s performances in this year’s finals has put that to bed.
The decision would be easier if the Eagles had a recognised shut-down man. Scott Selwood is one such player, who actually played in the qualifying final before being dropped last week.
Truly inspirational. Don’t be surprised if he wins the Norm Smith Medal.
That image has been overtaken by the huge growth of Hawks fas in more far flung and less wealthy suburbs, but it lives on in ABC Radio personalities The Couldabeen Champions’ character “Haydn from Glenferrie”, an earnest sounding professional type who seems to read from talking points when professing his passion for the team.
He discounted the Hawk’s MCG advantage and said it was crucial the young Eagles stick to their usual routines this week.
Hill was not selected for the 2012 premiership loss to Sydney in his first year of AFL football, but will this weekend have played in more grand finals than a host of champions including Robert Harvey (one), Nathan Buckley (two) and Chris Judd (two). Litherland will still take to the MCG in a few capacity on Saturday, with the quick Hawk selected as his club’s representative for the traditional grand final sprint.
And the AFL has never done the Eagles any favours when it comes to playing at the G.
It’s just his second season in charge of the Eagles, having spent the previous four seasons at the Hawks working under Clarkson.
Hawthorn forward Jack Gunston is set to reclaim his spot in the Hawks’ AFL grand final side after completing a searching fitness test at training on Monday.
The Eagles have not had to leave Perth since August 30 and enjoyed a week off during the finals after beating Hawthorn, who have twice had to make the 4,225-mile round trip to Perth in the past three weeks.
– Could get too wrapped up in their own hype – despite the Eagles inexperience in finals, this will not be a walk over.
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It was just Shuey’s fifth possession, while Chris Masten was also held to six for the half and Andrew Gaff eight.
