Grand Final predictions

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,825]

Eagles by 32.

Why???

They beat 'em 3 weeks ago.

Hawks can't kick 15.4 every week.(if they'd kicked 10.9, last week, they'd probably have lost)

WCE have 2 Demon supporters(Gaff and Shuey)

WCE play pretty well on the G.

Hawks have played 3 finals, and a couple of them are under injury clouds. Hodge took a really heavy head knock last week, as well as a leg injury.WCE had a week's rest.

There's a WA ump out there to make sure they get a similar deal to what they get at Subiaco.

The "web".....which we are copying in 2016.

Anyone else prepared to stick their neck out and tip against the favourites?

[Gorgoroth 13,188]

Hawks 17

Norm smith to Mitchell 31 possessions

Hodge kicks first goal in the 4th min.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,850]

West Coast by 12 points. Jack Darling to really stamp himself as a superstar of the game and kick 5!

Hawthorn are pretty much becoming the AFL's version of Real Madrid/Manchester United. Fourth straight GF!!! Sick of them. I don't particularly like West Coast, they've always seemed to have an arrogant culture, but I hope they can get the job done.

[daisycutter 29,918]

who would be favoured by 30c. i'd have thought the eagles

plus

Hey Eagles, hey Eagles, hey Eagles, hey Eagles

We're flying high, we're flying high
We're flying high, we're flying high

We're the Eagles, the West Coast Eagles

[Emerald 1,744]

The left side of my brain says the Hawks by 10 goals.

The right side of my brain says the Eagles by one point as the final siren blows,Frawley has a free in front of goal and kicks it out of bounds.

[McQueen 17,867]

Demons by18 points.

Jesse Hogan first goal.

Jack Viney - Norm Smith.

Close game but the toughness and absolute viciousness of the Demons led by Viney was the telling factor.

[deeflog 679]

Hawks 17 pts

Bruest most goals

Isaac smith norm

[biggestred 5,267]

I think ill watch netflix.

[pineapple dee 2,892]

I'll start to watch hoping for a repeat of the latest Eagles v Hawks game. If it's going pear shaped, I'll go off to the tote and have a crack at the quaddie . Frankly I'd rather gouge my eyes out with cucumbers than watch those arrogant flogggs win another flag.

[Earl Hood 6,152]

The predicted swirly conditions with 30 km northerlies should upset Hawthorn's precision kicking

The predicted 30 degree heat should favour the Weagles who are used to heat

The Dawks have played one extra game and travelled twice interstate

There are fitness questions about Gunston and Hodge

When you factor all those variables into it my prediction is:

The Hawks by 6 goals!!!

[PaulRB 6,435]

On a day where a little help from mother nature help the Demons kick with the wind for three quarters it seemed that the grand final drought which stretched back to 1964 was going to be ended in the same year as the finals drought which began the same year.

John Northey played his first tactical wildcard before the first bounce when he allowed anyone who wanted to visit the rooms before the bounce to do so in order to motivate his squad. His big on-field move was Rodney Grinter? lining up in attack. His aggression was a welcome addition to the forward line, and he flattened Hawk Chris Mew with a knockout bump.

Having kicked with the wind in the first term the wind decided to swing around and the Demons were kicking with it again in the second. As the lead stretched out to over three goals during the term the Hawks had their first big win for the day when Robert Dipierdomenico ironed out Robert Flower with a hard bump. The Melbourne captain was forced to leave the ground with a damaged shoulder and it seemed that he was about to be cheated out of a Grand Final appearance in the cruellest possible way.

22 points in front at half-time and while things looked good for Melbourne, there was still a half to play against one of the best teams of their generation. Hawthorn had looked terrible in losing to Carlton the week before, but they were sitll the reigning premiers. The two sides broke even in the third term, leaving the Demons still 22 points up at three-quarter time and suddenly the Demons fans dared to dream. Surely the suffering of the past 23 years was going to come to end in spectacular fashion?

Melbourne had winners all over the park, Sean Wight beat Dermott Brereton handily, while taggers Bret Bailey andDean Chiron blanketed their opponents. Todd Viney and Ricky Jackson were also prominent. Wight's domination of Brereton would ironically play a part in Melbourne's downfall when the controversial Hawk ended up at centre-half back, following a failed move to full-forward, and helped turn the tide for his team.

With both Brian Wilson and Jackson having left the ground injured the Hawks stormed back into the match and crept to within nine points. Initially they botched their chances, but drew to within a goal with just 30 seconds left in time-on. Melbourne's legs were tiring, but if they could just hold on for another minute or so they'd have a week to recover before the big one.

Three times in the frantic last quarter the Demons could have sealed the match. Simon Eishold missed an absolute sitter, Ricky Jackson set up Graeme Yeats 30m out from goal and watched him miss, and Tony Campbell did likewise with seconds left after Greg Healy had pounced on a centre clearance.

After Campbell's miss Michael Tuck kicked in to Peter Schwab, who handballed to Chris Langford. He kicked towards Buckenara who became entangled with Rod Grinter and hit the deck. A free kick was paid outside 50, but in the chaos of those final moments Jim Stynes chased his opponent across the mark. Buckenera received a 15m penalty and, unaware that the siren had sounded, goalled to put the Demons out in the most heartbreaking circumstances. Even Hawk Robert DiPierdomenico admitted his side were lucky. "We're thieves" he said.

John Northey, still in shock at his side's loss, said "Now we've got to go through the trauma of 12 months to get back where we are now". He was famously pictured pointing at Stynes in the rooms, saying "Don't you ever do that again, Jim". Ironically Buckenara would never have been there if he'd accepted a big money offer from West Coast to return to Perth at the beginning of the year.

Robert Flower, who weeks before had merely wanted to play one final, had now been robbed out of the ultimate test. Despite his injury he had returned to the ground during the last quarter when Jackson went down with cramp and played at full-forward. He was matched up against Chris Mew who was dazed after feeling the full force of a Rod Grintershirtfront earlier in the match.

Nobody will ever know if he would have been able to play a week later. Wilson for sure would have missed the Grand Final if his side had made it, he had broken his collarbone.

Tears flowed in the dressing room as talk turned to 1988, but Northey wasn't having any sort of praise for his side. "It's the biggest disappointment of my life" he said. "It's the chance of a lifetime - who knows whether we'll get another opportunity. They might say we've done well over the season. That's a lot of [censored]. We have let everybody down. The players will suffer today, they've got to".

Best were Jackson, Wight and Viney.

[hardtack 10,983]

I get the feeling this will be a major boil-over (hope I'm wrong). Hawks by 60+.

Edited to add:

Norm Smith = Sam Mitchell

First Goal: Luke Breust

Most Goals: Gunston.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Demons by18 points.

Jesse Hogan first goal.

Jack Viney - Norm Smith.

Close game but the toughness and absolute viciousness of the Demons led by Viney was the telling factor.

Whom did we beat? Collingwood hopefully...

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

On a day where a little help from mother nature help the Demons kick with the wind for three quarters it seemed that the grand final drought which stretched back to 1964 was going to be ended in the same year as the finals drought which began the same year.

John Northey played his first tactical wildcard before the first bounce when he allowed anyone who wanted to visit the rooms before the bounce to do so in order to motivate his squad. His big on-field move was Rodney Grinter? lining up in attack. His aggression was a welcome addition to the forward line, and he flattened Hawk Chris Mew with a knockout bump.

Having kicked with the wind in the first term the wind decided to swing around and the Demons were kicking with it again in the second. As the lead stretched out to over three goals during the term the Hawks had their first big win for the day when Robert Dipierdomenico ironed out Robert Flower with a hard bump. The Melbourne captain was forced to leave the ground with a damaged shoulder and it seemed that he was about to be cheated out of a Grand Final appearance in the cruellest possible way.

22 points in front at half-time and while things looked good for Melbourne, there was still a half to play against one of the best teams of their generation. Hawthorn had looked terrible in losing to Carlton the week before, but they were sitll the reigning premiers. The two sides broke even in the third term, leaving the Demons still 22 points up at three-quarter time and suddenly the Demons fans dared to dream. Surely the suffering of the past 23 years was going to come to end in spectacular fashion?

Melbourne had winners all over the park, Sean Wight beat Dermott Brereton handily, while taggers Bret Bailey andDean Chiron blanketed their opponents. Todd Viney and Ricky Jackson were also prominent. Wight's domination of Brereton would ironically play a part in Melbourne's downfall when the controversial Hawk ended up at centre-half back, following a failed move to full-forward, and helped turn the tide for his team.

With both Brian Wilson and Jackson having left the ground injured the Hawks stormed back into the match and crept to within nine points. Initially they botched their chances, but drew to within a goal with just 30 seconds left in time-on. Melbourne's legs were tiring, but if they could just hold on for another minute or so they'd have a week to recover before the big one.

Three times in the frantic last quarter the Demons could have sealed the match. Simon Eishold missed an absolute sitter, Ricky Jackson set up Graeme Yeats 30m out from goal and watched him miss, and Tony Campbell did likewise with seconds left after Greg Healy had pounced on a centre clearance.

After Campbell's miss Michael Tuck kicked in to Peter Schwab, who handballed to Chris Langford. He kicked towards Buckenara who became entangled with Rod Grinter and hit the deck. A free kick was paid outside 50, but in the chaos of those final moments Jim Stynes chased his opponent across the mark. Buckenera received a 15m penalty and, unaware that the siren had sounded, goalled to put the Demons out in the most heartbreaking circumstances. Even Hawk Robert DiPierdomenico admitted his side were lucky. "We're thieves" he said.

John Northey, still in shock at his side's loss, said "Now we've got to go through the trauma of 12 months to get back where we are now". He was famously pictured pointing at Stynes in the rooms, saying "Don't you ever do that again, Jim". Ironically Buckenara would never have been there if he'd accepted a big money offer from West Coast to return to Perth at the beginning of the year.

Robert Flower, who weeks before had merely wanted to play one final, had now been robbed out of the ultimate test. Despite his injury he had returned to the ground during the last quarter when Jackson went down with cramp and played at full-forward. He was matched up against Chris Mew who was dazed after feeling the full force of a Rod Grintershirtfront earlier in the match.

Nobody will ever know if he would have been able to play a week later. Wilson for sure would have missed the Grand Final if his side had made it, he had broken his collarbone.

Tears flowed in the dressing room as talk turned to 1988, but Northey wasn't having any sort of praise for his side. "It's the biggest disappointment of my life" he said. "It's the chance of a lifetime - who knows whether we'll get another opportunity. They might say we've done well over the season. That's a lot of [censored]. We have let everybody down. The players will suffer today, they've got to".

Best were Jackson, Wight and Viney.

The horror...The horror...

[McQueen 17,867]

Whom did we beat? Collingwood hopefully...

My wish would be Freo.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Hawks by 27

Mitchell wins the Norm Smith

Bruest kicks the first

Josh Kennedy most goals

[Nasher 33,617]

Hawks up by 40 at half time

Nasher turning the TV off and putting some music on instead.

[MadAsHell 4,217]

Eagles by 9 points

Kennedy Norm Smith for his 8 goals

Frawley wins the Dyer award for worst on ground.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I've never been less interested in a Grand Final.

[What 18,810]

Good point but it is unusual for a million dollar midfielder not to vote. Backs are always up against it in the Brownlow.

Want the Eagles to smash them

But want trade week to start even more. Get this boring ass game out of the way and let the real fun begin

[hardtack 10,983]

Hawks up by 40 at half time

Nasher turning the TV off and putting some music on instead.

Aren't HG & Roy doing commentary on ABC sports radio?

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

I get the feeling this will be a major boil-over (hope I'm wrong). Hawks by 60+.

I share your thoughts. Two weeks ago were the Eagles that good or were the Hawks slightly off, maybe a bit of both. Since then the Hawks have reasserted its dominance while the Eagles looked vulnerable against North. The fact the Hawks have played the extra final means little now. Basically a full list and one more push for a chance of being one of the greatest teams ever.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

I've never been less interested in a Grand Final.

Why not, a chance to see a champion team 3-peat without COLA or academy players. Plus only 1 player through free agency.

[JV7 2,375]

The things I'd do to see us in grand final.... One day we can only hope

[Ted Lasso 19,568]

Hawks by 23

Roughy for norm smith

Lecras for first goal