02 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2015 HERALDSUN.COM.AU AFL GRAND FINAL 2015 PREMIERS HAWKS SIZZLE HAWTHORN’S modern he- PETER ROLFE AND roes have confirmed their CHANEL KINNIBURGH place in history with a third straight premiership, but plan- side to become just the fifth ning had already begun last team ever to win three grand night to secure trophy number finals in a row. four. The victory was Haw- ’s men thorn’s fourth flag since 2008, partied alongside supporters at eclipsing the stunning Geelong Crown’s Palladium after they era of three premierships be- smashed a disappointing West tween 2007 and 2011 and the Coast Eagles side, winning by Brisbane Lion’s three-peat 46 points in front of 98,633 at between 2001 and 2003. the MCG. Yesterday’s triumph took Taking selfies and singing their tally to three flags from Daryl Braithwaite’s hit, Horses, four straight grand finals. the team celebrated the win, And it will lead to obvious which takes the Hawks’ overall comparisons between today’s premiership tally to 13. champions and the brown and With the three cups taking gold juggernaut of the 1980s pride of place on the stage, and 1990s, which won five triple premiership captain premierships between 1983 told the crowd of and 1991. 700 he was a happy Hawk. It was the hottest Grand “It was a battle, with the op- Final on record with the mer- position, the weather and by cury topping 31.3C, eclipsing half-time, you could see on the previous top temperature everyone’s face that it was a big of 30.7C in 1987. game, it was tiring. We strug- Prime Minister Malcolm gled a little bit but the boys dug Turnbull was in the crowd, but deep,” Hodge said. he was more interested in “Football as a sport is a chatting with Hollywood star rollercoaster, you have the Chris Hemsworth than watch- highs and the lows as we’ve ing the game in the second had both this year. It feels so term. special to be a part of such a North Melbourne big man great team.” Majak Daw blitzed the field in Four-time premiership the traditional Grand Final coach Alastair Clarkson paid sprint, while UK singer Ellie tribute to the “brown and gold Goulding was let down by her army” of supporters, his “very sound team during the pre- special band of boys” on the match entertainment. field and assistant coach Brett The singer’s backing track Ratten, whose son was tragi- started, then stopped, then cally killed in a car accident started again in an awkward this year. moment that echoed Meat But despite the celebrations, Loaf’s embarrassing perform- players were already talking ance at the 2011 Grand Final. about adding 2016’s premier- Canadian singer Bryan ship to the haul. Adams saved the day with a Hawthorn’s Cyril , who rendition of Summer of ’69, had been named while Kate Ceberano fudged medallist, said he would lead some of the words in the na- the charge in pre-season. tional anthem in an otherwise “We will work as hard as we well-received performance. can to get fit. This game Hawthorn has entered a changes a lot and we just have special place in footy folklore, to evolve with it as a team.” joining Carlton, Collingwood, Rioli became the third play- Melbourne (twice) and Bris- er from the Northern Terri- bane as the only teams to win tory’s — three straight flags. population about 3000 — to Not bad for a team meant to win the Norm Smith, following merge with Melbourne in 1996, in the footsteps of his uncles pushed to the brink of financial and Michael ruin only to bounce back in the Long. most remarkable fashion on Sam Mitchell was also look- and off the field. ing ahead. The record books now say “I don’t really compare the Hawthorn is the fourth most wins — people always ask successful team in history, which one was your favourite trailing only Essendon, Carl- and my answer is always the ton (both 16) and Colling- next one,” he said. wood (15) for premiership The Hawks beat the heat, success. history and an Eagles team [email protected] outclassed by a far superior @rolfep MORE AMAZING 2015 AFL GRAND FINAL PICTURES HAWTHORN 5.0 9.3 14.5 16.11 (107) heraldsun.com.au WEST COAST 1.5 3.8 5.9 8.13 (61) Norm Smith medallist: (Hawthorn) First goalkicker: (West Coast) Crowd: 98,633 Victorious Hawthorn players celebrate with their fans after the game at the MCG last night. Picture: NICOLE GARMSTON Hawks win their 13th AFL flag

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