AWARDS, RESULTS & FAREWELLS The Hawks make it three flags in a row as the AFL bids farewell to some of the game’s greats, including Goodes, Judd and Fletcher. n this era of drafts and salary cap, The Western Bulldogs improved the three-peat was thought to be dramatically and the All-Australian unattainable. But the powerful selectors recognised the performances Hawthorn unit under the tutelage of Robert Murphy, Easton Wood and of coach Alastair Clarkson continues Jake Stringer, with Murphy awarded the to astound. accolade of captaining the team. IIn 2015, the Hawks made it three in a row Footy mourned the tragic death of with their demolition of West Coast. Cyril Adelaide coach Phil Walsh mid-season, Rioli won the Norm Smith Medal, following causing the abandonment of the Crows’ in the footsteps of his famous uncles, the round 14 fixture against Geelong. late Maurice Rioli and Michael Long, as past After breaking the long-standing record winners of the medal. of Collingwood legend Jock McHale for most In winning its 13th flag, Hawthorn games coached, Mick Malthouse lasted only sits behind only Carlton, Essendon and three more matches before losing his job at Collingwood for AFL/VFL premierships. Carlton and a similar fate befell Essendon’s KEY TARGET Despite not making it to the Grand Final, James Hird later in the season. Josh Kennedy became it was a big year for Fremantle. It produced The game farewelled several big only the second Eagle to its first Brownlow medallist, midfielder Nat names, notably dual Brownlow medallists win the Coleman Medal, finishing the home and Fyfe, and took out the McClelland Trophy Adam Goodes and Chris Judd and Bombers 8 away season with 75 goals. for the first time. games record-holder Dustin Fletcher. Ò 120 AWARDS, RESULTS & FAREWELLS 121 THE PREMIERS 2015 TOYOTA AFL GRAND FINAL NORM SMITH MEDAL JOCK McHALE MEDAL HAWTHORN 5.0 9.3 14.5 16.11 (107) In keeping with the title of the book detailing the club’s Winning the Norm Smith Medal runs in the family for Hawthorn After securing his fourth premiership in eight seasons, Alastair official history, Hawthorn did it the hard way in 2015 to win WEST COAST EAGLES 1.5 3.8 5.9 8.13 (61) star Cyril Rioli. Clarkson became the most successful coach in Hawthorn’s history. its third consecutive premiership. Two of his uncles, the late Maurice Rioli and Michael Long, Clarkson moved ahead of legendary mentors John Kennedy snr BEST: Hawthorn – Rioli, Mitchell, Smith, Hodge, Gunston, Burgoyne, Frawley. After being soundly beaten by West Coast in the second West Coast Eagles – Gaff, Shuey, Butler, Hutchings, Priddis. were previous winners. Former Tiger Rioli took it out in 1982 and and Allan Jeans, who won three apiece with the Hawks. qualifying final at Domain Stadium, the Hawks had to overcome GOALS: Hawthorn – Gunston 4, Smith 3, Rioli 2, Hodge, Roughead, Birchall, ex-Bomber Long in 1993. He joined a select group with four flags as a coach – Jeans (one the in-form Crows in the second semi-final and return to Perth to Schoenmakers, Hill, McEvoy, Suckling. West Coast Eagles – McGovern 2, Darling, The Hawk polled 13 of a possible 15 votes, finishing four ahead with St Kilda), Ron Barassi, David Parkin, Dick Reynolds, Tom Hafey, defeat the Dockers, becoming the first Victorian team to win an Hill, Hutchings, LeCras, Shuey, Yeo. of teammate Sam Mitchell. Kevin Sheedy and Leigh Matthews. interstate preliminary final. Umpires: J. Dalgleish, B. Rosebury, M. Stevic Defender James Frawley, who kept Coleman medallist Josh Only Jock McHale (eight), Norm Smith (six), Jack Worrall (five) There were other hurdles along the way – Jarryd Roughead Kennedy goalless, was third with four votes. and Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes (five) have coached more premierships. having a melanoma removed from his lip in July and dealing with Crowd: 98,632 at the MCG The triumph on Grand Final day capped a superb season for In 11 seasons at the helm, Clarkson has evolved and helped the tragic death of assistant coach Brett Ratten’s son, Cooper, in Rioli, who was named All-Australian for the second time. shape the modern game. Testament to his influence is that five a car accident in August. But the Hawks’ esprit de corps enabled He was presented with his award by dual Norm Smith senior coaches in 2016 – Damien Hardwick (Richmond), Leon them to triumph in the hottest Grand Final on record, with the TEAMS AS SELECTED medallist and former Adelaide star Andrew McLeod. Cameron (GWS), Adam Simpson (West Coast), Luke Beveridge temperature hitting 31.3 degrees. HAWTHORN v WEST COAST EAGLES Clearly the crowd favourite for the medal, Rioli dedicated it to (Western Bulldogs) and Brendon Bolton (Carlton) – have worked Before Hawthorn’s remarkable run, the three-peat had been his cousin Fabian ‘Brocky’ Brock, who was killed halfway through under him as assistants. F L. Breust J. Roughead P. Puopolo achieved on only five occasions. Melbourne did it twice (1939-41 the season. While Clarkson had a health issue that prevented him coaching B S. Wellingham W. Schofield S. Hurn (c) and 1955-57) and Carlton (1906-08), Collingwood (1927-30) and Rioli kick-started the Hawks’ third consecutive Grand Final win for five matches in 2014, his 2015 campaign was also far from the Brisbane Lions (2001-03) also accomplished the feat. with a brilliant first quarter, booting his team’s first goal with a trouble-free. The coach had a post-game altercation with a fan in HF C. Rioli R. Schoenmakers J. Gunston Despite conceding the opening goal of the game to Luke HB M. Hutchings J. McGovern B. Sheppard left-foot snap after four minutes and following it up with his Adelaide in April but that was a small hiccup compared with other Shuey, the Hawks were rarely challenged, with the Eagles letting second eight minutes later. He then set up Bradley Hill for an off-field setbacks he had to cope with. themselves down by a lack of composure and poor finishing in C B. Hill S. Mitchell I. Smith easy goal late in the term. The tragic death of assistant coach Brett Ratten’s son, Cooper, front of goal. C A. Gaff M. Priddis E. Yeo Rioli finished with 18 disposals, 12 marks (five inside 50), four in a car crash in August affected all at the club. Cyril Rioli sparked Hawthorn in the first quarter, booting two of goal assists, three inside 50s, two tackles and two goals. Clarkson then lost the services of Bolton, who won the senior its first three goals and setting up an easy one for Bradley Hill. He HB G. Birchall J. Gibson S. Burgoyne job with the Blues. finished with 18 disposals, 12 marks and four goal assists to be a HF J. Cripps J. Darling M. LeCras NORM SMITH MEDAL VOTING After finishing third with a 16-6 record, the Hawks had to worthy Norm Smith medallist. PLAYER CLUB VOTES make the AFL’s toughest road trip to Domain Stadium twice Sam Mitchell was unlucky not to snare the medal in another B B. Stratton B. Lake J. Frawley during the finals, losing the first final to West Coast before sublime display and, in his first Grand Final, James Frawley did an F S. Butler J. Kennedy J. Hill Cyril Rioli Hawthorn 13 (3, 2, 2, 3, 3) becoming the first Victorian team to win an interstate preliminary excellent job to keep Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy goalless. Sam Mitchell Hawthorn 9 (2, 3, 3, 1) final by defeating Fremantle. The 2013 Norm Smith medallist Brian Lake, in what was his Foll D. Hale J. Lewis L. Hodge (c) In the lead-up to the Grand Final, Clarkson was forced to James Frawley Hawthorn 4 (1, 2, 1) final AFL game after announcing his retirement post-season, was Foll N. Naitanui C. Masten L. Shuey make another big call. Jack Gunston returned from injury and was Hawthorn 2 (2) a constant stumbling block for the Eagles. While the result was I/C T. Duryea, B. McEvoy, L. Shiels, M. Suckling (sub) Luke Hodge included at the expense of speedy youngster Billy Hartung. already well and truly decided, Lake was involved in one of the Em J. Ceglar, A. Litherland, B. Hartung As usual it was handled with a minimum of fuss and proved the Isaac Smith Hawthorn 1 (1) game’s most memorable moments when he stopped a certain goal Coach Alastair Clarkson right decision as Gunston booted four goals. by Josh Hill with a desperate smother early in the final quarter. I/C X. Ellis, D. Sheed, C. Sinclair, M. Rosa (sub) Shaun Burgoyne Hawthorn 1 (1) When the final siren sounded on Grand Final day, Clarkson Em P. McGinnity, S. Selwood, S. Lycett Skipper Luke Hodge’s banana goal off one step from the Judges: Peter Bell, (6PR, chairman), Dermott Brereton (SEN 1116), Mark Thompson (3AW), moved into an elite group. Now the challenge is to join McHale as Coach Adam Simpson boundary line early in the second term was another highlight. Guy McKenna (ABC), Peter Lalor (The Australian) the only coaches to achieve the “four-peat” in the AFL/VFL. AFL ANNUAL REPORT 2015 AFL ANNUAL REPORT 2015 122 AWARDS, RESULTS & FAREWELLS 123 MARK & GOAL OF THE YEAR The 2015 AFL Mark and Goal of the Year occurred on the same weekend in May. West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui won the Weet-Bix Mark of the Year award and Adelaide Crows small forward Eddie Betts took out the Coates Hire Goal of the Year award.