Grand Final - CARN THE BLOODS!

[Matty10]

I'm with Triple B on this one. Hanners has consistently shown remarkably courage and toughness for one so young. He's taken a number of highly memorable marks going back with the flight, or where he knew he was going to get crunched from behind. And while there may be some examples, I can't recall any times where he didn't go as hard as he might in a contest he had a decent chance of influencing.

That is fine, Liz - it looks like you and Triple B had consistently noticed a part of Dan's play differently than I had until the GF. He has been a very good player for the Swans and has been very hard and tough at the ball since the beginning. I just had not made the mental note of his dropping back in marking contests throughout games (one-off incidents aside). As I said, I was full of praise for his game (my comments were not meant to be a slight on his previous performances).

[liz]

Repeat instances of intentionally dropping back was the point that I was making. There have been a few times this year (and last) where I have seen Hannebery not drop back as hard (and he is not a big bloke, so it is understandable to a large degree). Either way, I was full of praise for his effort and bravery in the GF.

I'm with Triple B on this one. Hanners has consistently shown remarkably courage and toughness for one so young. He's taken a number of highly memorable marks going back with the flight, or where he knew he was going to get crunched from behind. And while there may be some examples, I can't recall any times where he didn't go as hard as he might in a contest he had a decent chance of influencing.

[Matty10]

Seriously? Seen it a stack of times and would rate it as a stronger part of his game. Certainly better than his kicking.

Hannebery v Hurley in 2011 surely still resides somewhere in your memory...

Repeat instances of intentionally dropping back was the point that I was making. There have been a few times this year (and last) where I have seen Hannebery not drop back as hard (and he is not a big bloke, so it is understandable to a large degree). Either way, I was full of praise for his effort and bravery in the GF.

[Nico]

My replay highlights were the the number of smothers we did. We were prepared to put our bodies low and in front of the kicker. Anyone have smother stats?

[Triple B]

I had not seen that from Hanners before.

Seriously? Seen it a stack of times and would rate it as a stronger part of his game. Certainly better than his kicking.

Hannebery v Hurley in 2011 surely still resides somewhere in your memory...

[Matty10]

Hanners incredible bravery in that marking contest

What was especially great about that mark is that it was just the beginning of his great game. He dropped back in the hole numerous times during the rest of the match after that spectacular clash in the 1st qtr with no fear for his own safety. It didn't matter that he did not get crunched again - the fact that he was prepared to go regardless of injury (which the clash in opening quarter would have highlighted) said a lot about his game. I had not seen that from Hanners before.

[Big Al]

Grand Final - CARN THE BLOODS!

So many moments and performances that will make this game so memorable.

- Melchos amazing 1st qtr goal
- Hanners incredible bravery in that marking contest
- Jetta v Rioli
- Goodes playing with a torn PCL
- Teddy playing with a dodgy ankle and taking one of the most important marks of the game in the last qtr
- Pykes amazing performance/story
- Mitch Morton's 2 snapped goals and beating 2 Hawks defenders to set up Kizzas equalising goal.
- Marty's tackle
- Melchos incredible, joyous snap that sealed our 2nd Premiership in 8 seasons.

Add the fact that the Grand Final is talked about as one of the best ever and I swell with pride at what we achieved.

[dimelb]

Rewatching the game I was struck by how much our players did off the ball, the one-percenters that don't go into the stats but make a real difference for the team. Goodes was especially notable,as were (as IF pointed out above) Marty and Sam: knocking the ball on, blocking, claiming opposition attention, directing play. I chuckle at Goodesy pointing to the goal for Mitch Morton's benefit, but it seems as if he's saying,"Never mind finding someone else, now's the time for a goal!" And I don't think we had a bottom five or six - Blighty's favourite measuring stick: there was a high level of consistent effort by everyone. A great game to watch, and even recognized by other fans as a great GF.

[Primmy]

On the biggest stage of all Sammy let fly straight between the posts. Grew up big time and with perfect timing.

[Swansongster]

Only just rewatched the match in its entirety over the weekend (after having watched the last 10 minutes about 20 times prior).

Two unsung heroes across the whole match - Mattner and Reid. Mattners defensive work was outstanding, and although his efforts on the wing late in the final qtr are what we'll remember he was tackling and pressuring like a maniac across the game.

Reid didnt have a heap of possessions and the highlight was his uncharacteristic cool finish in the 2nd, but his contests, pressure and tackling were incredible.

It was funny that as the medals were being awarded we had a comment for nearly every player on why they deserved them - McVeighs smothers, BLTs late marks in defence, Richards late contests, Eskis turn and precision pass to setup the Reid goal (oh and his matchwinner), Goodes flattening Buddy and Mitchell, Pyke for being a Canadian premiership player and rucking through when the Mummy was subbed, Hanneberrys mark going back with the flight, etc, etc.

What a game.

I too looked again on the weekend. I think the difference between the two teams was that we had no passengers. Everyone played their role well or better and there were very few clangers to disadvantage.

Their bottom four or five players on the day were way below ours. In fact it would be verging on impossible to pick our worst five on the day.

I loved Hanners' goal in Q4. Turning point for mine.

[goswannie14]

Just as well we won. If it had been a draw, many in our team probably wouldn't have been fit to do it again next week.

But McGlynn would have been.

[Industrial Fan]

And another thought.

Roughhead wins the Staker, "everything turns to @@@@ when I go near the ball" award for 2012. Nevermind Cyril, Roughhead was awful.

[Industrial Fan]

Only just rewatched the match in its entirety over the weekend (after having watched the last 10 minutes about 20 times prior).

Two unsung heroes across the whole match - Mattner and Reid. Mattners defensive work was outstanding, and although his efforts on the wing late in the final qtr are what we'll remember he was tackling and pressuring like a maniac across the game.

Reid didnt have a heap of possessions and the highlight was his uncharacteristic cool finish in the 2nd, but his contests, pressure and tackling were incredible.

It was funny that as the medals were being awarded we had a comment for nearly every player on why they deserved them - McVeighs smothers, BLTs late marks in defence, Richards late contests, Eskis turn and precision pass to setup the Reid goal (oh and his matchwinner), Goodes flattening Buddy and Mitchell, Pyke for being a Canadian premiership player and rucking through when the Mummy was subbed, Hanneberrys mark going back with the flight, etc, etc.

What a game.

[Bloody Hell]

Great first post, says it all really

You'd hope so, he's been thinking about it for 5 years!

[Big Al]

Big Al - hope you had a great day. I've loved your contributions to RWO and it's people like you that, for me, make it so much sweeter when we do the unimaginable and win the bloody lot! Your passion is remarkable and I'm so happy that you got to see it. I hope you are enjoying it because it's fans like you that deserve it.

Thanks Jono...In all the excitement I missed this. It was a remarkable day for all of us. We have the best club in the land and the best supporters.

Long live the Bloods!