World Footy News

The Geelong Cats went into the 2008 AFL Grand Final as hot favourites to go back to back. But it was the underdogs in Hawthorn who ultimately hoisted the cup. The game was a very tight tussle in the first half in front of a packed MCG crowd of just over 100,000. Kiwi born Trent Croad went into the game with a foot injury but was forced off the ground for the game after doing further serious damage, which looked like it might give Geelong the advantage, but Geelong captain Tom Harley also left the ground after a head clash with Mark Williams just before half time to even up that ledger. Luke Hodge across halfback dominated for most of the day after it initially looked like Max Rooke might have his measure. ‘Clarko’s cluster’, a moving defensive zone set up by the Hawks denied the corridor to the Geelong side forcing them wide throughout the match. This contributed to the high number of missed goals for Geelong, particularly when they had so much of the ball in the second quarter. Adding to the behind tally was the number of rushed behinds (or perhaps surrendered behinds) which allowed the Hawks to control the footy despite being under immense pressure. This gave the ball to Brent Guerra for kickouts and allowed the Hawks to setup some impressive transitions into attack.

Cameron Mooney kicked two great goals early but his kicking later in the game would cost his team dearly. Gary Ablett Junior’s superb ball skills and evasive skill and strength showed through to the point that he could not be effectively tackled. The game was in the balance until past the halfway point of the third quarter. Brad Sewell taking charge in the third quarter when the game was there to be won, and the underdone Stewart Dew going forward (as he could not keep up with the game in the backline) and breaking the game open with goals and goal assists.

With a 17 point lead going into the last quarter, it looked like the match could be set for a close finish, but the Hawks' defence continued to deny the Cats an easy avenue to goal and the Hawks added more of their own to seal the victory and the title. All this was despite Hawthorn being two players down and a number of their team carrying injuries into the game making them vulnerable to a Geelong resurgence. Hawthorn’s grueling preseason trek to Kokoda in PNG was later credited for preparing them to push it out to the end. For Hawthorn’s Shane Crawford it was a long 305 game wait for his first premiership. Luke Hodge, who seven days earlier looked down and out for season 2008, edged out Gary Ablett Junior for the Norm Smith medal for the best player in the match. There is little conjecture that Geelong was the best team in 2008, but Hawthorn was best on the day that counts the most in Australian Football.

We hope that viewers around the world enjoyed the game’s pinnacle match, given the great response to our Grand Final Parties article. We would love to hear any feedback on the international coverage by way of the comments feature below. We also think the Hawks might have picked up some new fans during the International Cup when most of the competing teams saw them play in Round 22 against Carlton and then in the first final against the Western Bulldogs – so we hope they are enjoying the win just as much as those Hawk’s fans in Australia.

Match Details

Geelong 5.3 6.12 9.18 11.23 (89)
Hawthorn 5.2 8.3 14.5 18.7 (115)

GOALS
Geelong: Mooney 2, Ablett 2, Rooke 2, Lonergan 2, Chapman, Milburn, Johnson
Hawthorn: Williams 3, Dew 2, Rioli 2, Franklin 2, Roughead 2, Bateman, Ellis, Brown, Young, Hodge, Mitchell, Ladson

BEST
Geelong: Ablett, Scarlett, Selwood, Chapman, Corey
Hawthorn: Hodge, Sewell, Crawford, Dew, Ellis, Osborne, Williams

INJURIES
Geelong: Harley (concussion),
Hawthorn: Croad (foot), Young (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Vozzo, McLaren, Ryan

Official crowd: 100,012 at the MCG

Saturday's outstanding attendance of 100,012 for the Grand Final between Hawthorn and Geelong took total attendances for the 2008 Toyota AFL Premiership Season to 7,083,015, eclipsing the previous all-time record of 7,049,945 that was established for the 2007 season.