Like how Essendon were on top from 1999 to 2001, Brisbane and Port from 2001 until 2004, West Coast and Sydney in 2005 and 2006, Geelong from 2007 until 2011. All of these were before free agency.

I get what your saying but apart from brisbane none of them won 3 in a row, my point is we will get more teams winning 3 flags in a row by getting free agents who want success, unfortunately all the bottom clubs will be good for is developing players for the top clubs

How many of us would be so negative if we were in Hawthorn's situation? I'd be loving it. Sure the comp is bias, sure we lose players to big clubs, but truth be told, ours is a situation of our own making. We should be consistently in the top 4 with the opportunities we've had. Extremely poor decisions have cost us dearly. I don't begrudge the power clubs, I'm just very jealous.

As a Melbourne supporter, however, I took little interest in today's game. Helped a mate move a couch.

Dreary? Like NM pipping Essendon at the post? Like two upsets in the semi final round? Like Port Adelaide and Hawthorn playing some absolutely breathtaking football, and Port nearly stealing the preliminary final?

Dreary, like me barracking for Melbourne and not having an emotional investment in any of the finals clubs. Again. Or caring a toss about who wins out of Essendon and North, or Freo and Geelong getting booted. The only consolation would have been Port beating Hawthorn. There's a lot of good footy played, but until it's Melbourne playing it I won't buy into the nebulous concept of good football played by other sides. Oh, and my wife barrack for Sydney, so Chez Tea is a dismal place tonight.

I get what your saying but apart from brisbane none of them won 3 in a row, my point is we will get more teams winning 3 flags in a row by getting free agents who want success, unfortunately all the bottom clubs will be good for is developing players for the top clubs

Hawthorn haven't won a hat-trick yet either.

There's only ever been five in football history, and two of them are ours.

Watched today purely from habit cause I don't think I've missed 1 since about '75.
Was impressed by the Cherry Pickers today.
Beat the cocky Salary Cappers up both physically and on the scoreboard.
Something I could only dream of us doing.

Collingwood and St Kilda played in the 2010 grand final but both missed finals this year.

It's not that bad.

Last ten years, six teams share 60% of finals appearances, and an even higher share of wins.

The six bottom teams over the decade (not including GWS and GC) barely break 10% between the lot of them.

It's that bad.

Last ten years, six teams share 60% of finals appearances, and an even higher share of wins.

The six bottom teams over the decade (not including GWS and GC) barely break 10% between the lot of them.

It's that bad.

If Melbourne didn't stuff up our top draft picks we'd be playing finals.

Because Hawks are the benchmark, I would rather someone with average or above average disposal but is a competitor and always makes a contest than someone with elite disposal but plays so wide that they're in the carpark and avoids the contest.

...and they have their own number 4 who is in for his elite disposal and not his contested ball winning. It's about team 'Al', not just one player and you need a good mix.

How many of us would be so negative if we were in Hawthorn's situation? I'd be loving it. Sure the comp is bias, sure we lose players to big clubs, but truth be told, ours is a situation of our own making. We should be consistently in the top 4 with the opportunities we've had. Extremely poor decisions have cost us dearly. I don't begrudge the power clubs, I'm just very jealous.

As a Melbourne supporter, however, I took little interest in today's game. Helped a mate move a couch.

id be bored. I just want one premiership

Like many that have already replied I watched the first quarter and then did other things. I was barracking for the Swans. The one thing I am not looking forward to after Hawthorn's victory is Dermie going on about it for months...

Like many that have already replied I watched the first quarter and then did other things. I was barracking for the Swans. The one thing I am not looking forward to after Hawthorn's victory is Dermie going on about it for months...

I think we are lucky as he usually disappears after the season finishes. Besides he was the one that tipped the Hawks wouldn't make it to the finals this year.

Just to let you know I watched some of the game between doing other things but then had to go pick up the wife and assorted nephews after the match, they are all mad Hawks fans. But the catch was I had to walk thru the G after the match with all thebHawks fans then sit thru the after concert waiting till the Hawks players appeared on stage. Talk about self flagellation while all the way having to appear mildly happy that the Dorks won to keep my wife and in laws happy! After all I would hate to be seen as a nasty, vindictive bastard who wishes nothing but total evil to the Hawks.

Just to let you know I watched some of the game between doing other things but then had to go pick up the wife and assorted nephews after the match, they are all mad Hawks fans. But the catch was I had to walk thru the G after the match with all thebHawks fans then sit thru the after concert waiting till the Hawks players appeared on stage. Talk about self flagellation while all the way having to appear mildly happy that the Dorks won to keep my wife and in laws happy! After all I would hate to be seen as a nasty, vindictive [censored] who wishes nothing but total evil to the Hawks.

You had to pick them up?

I would have refused. This is why trains exist.

You had to pick them up?

I would have refused. This is why trains exist.

Must remember that for next year when the Hawks play off yet again! They will go for a threepeat because no one ever gets serously injured in that club.

Must remember that for next year when the Hawks play off yet again! They will go for a threepeat because no one ever gets serously injured in that club.

Are you serious? The Hawks dealt with serious injuries all year long. Mitchell, Gibson, Rioli... at least half of their starting 22 suffered setbacks yet still they managed to persevere. Makes the premiership that much more incredible, from my point of view.

Of course not! Ground is a blight on the league. Would prefer to watch footy at Dederang!

Who wouldn't? The Dederang-Mt Beauty footy ground's a ripper!

Are you serious? The Hawks dealt with serious injuries all year long. Mitchell, Gibson, Rioli... at least half of their starting 22 suffered setbacks yet still they managed to persevere. Makes the premiership that much more incredible, from my point of view.

I think we have different definitions of what is a serious injury. My definition is an injury that affects your playing career, not a strained hammy. Fact is they had a full list to choose from at the business end and all appeared fully fit. That doesn't happen that often after 24 games in a season.

Pointing to various teams having periods of dominance in the pre-FA agency days proves nothing about the impact of FA in future.

I don't need a crystal ball to predict that after a few years when FA is well established that the periods of dominance will increase and be restricted to fewer teams unless the AFL takes steps to equalise things properly.

Slight revision. Brendan Fevola called Kurt Tippett a spud. Tom Jones called Campbell Brown a [censored]. The Grand Final wasn't a complete bust.

Tom Jones would appear to be an excellent judge of character

A remarkable football team is Hawthorn. Look at the year they had with injury and losing their coach for a significant slab of the year. I admire them greatly and they are surely the template for how any sporting organisation navigates its way through supposed adversity. My only regret here is that we had Clarkson as our runner and failed to identify his people management skills and throw in Chris Fagan for good measure, who the Hawks targeted for obvious reasons. Well done Hawthorn Football Club. I am envious, but hope we can aspire to the same level of what makes a true footy team.

have to say, we have not watched one minute of the game , not even listened to it , been to the show and it was packed , never seen so many people there , even driving home , more traffic than I thought we would see.

It seems more and more people are getting bored with the same teams fighting it out , last few years seems its either hawks, geelong , sydney , add in collingwood ( bar this year ) and the care factor is getting less

My work normally closes today but its been open as my staff wanted to and been busy all day

is it just me ? feeling this way ? I have spoken to many customers this week and they still have a BBQ or something to go to but most didn't care who won or even played ?

If you don't even watch the GF regardless of who is in it.

1. You never played the game (at any level) enough to appreciate it.

2. Your are a bitter Melbourne supporter.

3. You just don't like watching good footy.

In my opinion grand final day is better than christmas. Big day with the boys, and even better, the umpires put the whistle away and let the big boys play.. Players go harder, every contest counts and no cares about getting suspended because its do or die..

If you don't even watch the GF regardless of who is in it.

1. You never played the game (at any level) enough to appreciate it.

2. Your are a bitter Melbourne supporter.

3. You just don't like watching good footy.

In my opinion grand final day is better than christmas. Big day with the boys, and even better, the umpires put the whistle away and let the big boys play.. Players go harder, every contest counts and no cares about getting suspended because its do or die..

There is a contra arguement that goes "It is too painful to watch for a MFC supporter"

2. Your are a bitter Melbourne supporter.

That would be me.

I watch the grand final to punish myself for stupidity investing so much emotion into a vicarious pastime.

There is a contra arguement that goes "It is too painful to watch for a MFC supporter"

Coup's avatar looks like a young fella talking od ...so he hasn't suffered long enough to understand that for a Dee supporter, such pain goes beyond feeling bitter! Hopefully he will never need to know what that is like and the team comes good.

Nonetheless, this masochistic Demon watched the GF all thru.