September 28-29, 2013 thewest.com.au GO THE DOCKERS • $2.50 Gascoyne, Shark Bay $2.60; Pilbara & Kimberley $3.50. GST INC.† BRING IT HOME FREO YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO GRAND FINAL DAY FREMANTLE v HAWTHORN WATCH IT LIVE ON Coverage from 7am, game starts 12.30pm The romance is back 2 • SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2013 THE WEEKEND WEST VIR1307/W/DPS THE WEEKEND WEST SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2013 • 3 Our people are bringing the romance back to fl ying 4 September 28-29, 2013 Matthew Pavlich Exclusive thewest.com.au/sport ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Ready to pay the price Can once upon a time this persist at our mission until such afternoon become happily ever time as we get what we desire, after? then we can be triumphant. But It’s not a love story or a against such a talented team, we fairytale we are looking for, but will need to persevere at the some ardent Fremantle people highest level and for four could be excused if they quarters. considered victory in today’s Throughout the two hours we grand final similar to that of a will make mistakes, lose key Hollywood romance. contests and, unfortunately, not If we are successful, maybe be perfect. It is inevitable results then the story will be more akin will go Hawthorn’s way in to a Tim Winton novel, with periods of the game. heartache, passion, joy and But no matter the mistake or twists and turns aplenty. failure, no matter the position Regardless of the background we are in, or the disappointment plot, it will be more about we experience, we can never fulfilment and reward for effort. quit and never stop trying. Not one of vindication. Or a Instead, we must always stick feeling of “we stuck it up ’em” our neck out, trust our training (RIP Teddy Whitten Sr). and believe that momentum will It will be realisation of a swing back in our favour. dream that started for many of And as we have already the players, including me, in identified this finals series, if we working-class Kidman Park in fail with this type of attitude, of Adelaide, in the back and front leaving it all out there on the yards of suburban Australian hallowed turf of the MCG, then homes. And reward for years of although absolutely shattered, toil, hard work and sacrifice. we will be able to move forward. Just like the two Hill brothers It will be bitterly hard to did running around their swallow, but it will be from those childhood Clarkson residence, mistakes, those failures that we we all had a dream of running will grow and learn for next out on to the MCG on grand time. final day as fierce combatants Our supporters, too, have with an opportunity of glory. ridden the bumps and bruises, And as Ross Lyon tells us, the ups and downs. human beings are only truly And yep, we’ve been through a motivated to succeed by an lot together. You are truly a innate drive to seek total passionate lot and we admire personal fulfilment — a greater you for it. Those who have been purpose that helps drive one to with us since day dot, you are as achieve in the discipline he or resilient as they come. she has chosen. A devoted and optimistic Don’t get me wrong, we love group. I’d love to give you playing for each other. That has assurance of a victory, but, sadly, been a great strength of our I cannot. team, being such an incredibly We face a formidable tight unit which has been opponent which has been a developed by virtue of working stand-out performer for two 10 months of the year together, years and will test us at every year in, year out. turn. The Hawks are talented So although we run out as a and hungry to atone for last team, it is likely we all have year’s loss. A lethal different motivators that are combination. steering us towards our goals. So we must ask ourselves the These greater individual question of how bad do we want purposes are the reasons why Finally there: Today’s the culmination of a childhood dream for Matthew Pavlich. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Media it? What mental and physical we do what we do. price are we willing to pay to Why we sacrifice so much to that they have made for us along Sure, maybe not the physical help push us towards that earn the right of fulfilling our our sport and our careers. The the journey. aspects of our game, but premiership cup. But the prize dreams? absolute love of the game gave The cold, early morning starts certainly the mental torment must not be the focal point. But if we don’t, if we fail, then us the opportunity to play in the as a junior, the travel demands, that is associated with an AFL The way we go about it is the at least we would have failed AFL. Our own individual dealing with injury and loss of year, let alone career. key and with a constant focus doing what we love, for who we inspirations are what keep us form, the constant lack of So at some stage before we run and an application to the task, love, trying our hearts out fully going. privacy and the inevitable out today to go after that the job can be done. understanding that sometimes For most, one could strongly media and public scrutiny — the missing piece we all so After 14 years in the AFL, I great loss comes from brave assume that it would be our families put up with it all and desperately desire, it is certain now subscribe to the theory that dreaming. families who constantly ride the rollercoaster with us that players will tap into their failure cannot cope with But that’s not how a good motivate us. All those sacrifices every step of the way. individual primary drivers to perseverance. If today we all movie ends, is it? Go Freo! STAY ON THE BALL ON GRAND FINAL DAY AT thewest.com.au • ALL THE COLOUR FROM THE MCG • LIVE UPDATES • MATCH REPORT FROM CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER MARK DUFFIELD • THE MATCH-UPS THAT MATTERED DON’T MISS LIFTOUT ON MONDAY • COMPREHENSIVE WRAP OF THE GRAND FINAL • EXPERT ANALYSIS ON WHO WON THE FLAG AND WHY • ALL THE AGONY AND ECSTASY FROM THE CHANGE ROOMS • PLAYER RATINGS PLUS THE STATS THAT MATTER PLUS, THE FINAL WORD FROM CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER MARK DUFFIELD THE WEEKEND WEST SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2013 • 5 LET’S G FRE One great team supports another. We’ve shown our support for the Fremantle Dockers for the last 10 years and now we want to wish them all the very best for the Grand Final. Proud Major Sponsor 6 September 28-29, 2013 CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER MARK DUFFIELD’S 10 BURNING QUESTIONS THAT WILL DECIDE THE PREMIERSHIP 1Who plays on Lance Franklin? 7 Can the Hawks cope with It is an interesting dilemma for Ross Lyon. Luke McPharlin would normally be Fremantle’s pressure? the automatic answer to this question, but concerns about his calf and groin issues It is doubtful that any team could cope with the level of pressure the Dockers may lead to doubts about his ability to go with the athletic Franklin if he plays brought to bear on Sydney last Saturday night. Fremantle must bring that up the ground. The Hawks used Franklin further out in their preliminary fi nal intensity to the grand fi nal, sustain it for longer than the two quarters they win over Geelong. It was a move that met with mixed success as Franklin kicked produced against the Swans and take the chances it creates for them. Hawthorn just one goal, albeit a critical one, at the start of the fi nal quarter. The Hawks may need clean exits from stoppages and scrums to get the ball into space and allow want Franklin closer to goal this time around, which would point to McPharlin their silky kicking skills to come into play. Or they need to survive the barrage going with him. The mobile and clever Michael Johnson is an alternative if well enough on the scoreboard to be able to capitalise when the pressure subsides Franklin is further out, bringing Johnson’s rebounding value into play. and the game opens up. This may be the single most pivotal factor in the game. Who does Ryan Crowley v Mitchell Can Fremantle’s monster midfi eld 2 Crowley tag? 8 give them fi eld position? It is a question that has been asked over The pressure works best when the Dockers can pin an opponent inside the 50m and over again this week. Crowley has had arc and just pile the pressure on them like an avalanche. The midfi eld and such an outstanding year stopping primary stoppage battles are going to be critical. The Dockers have been excellent around opposition playmakers in 2013 that Lyon’s the midfi eld in their fi nals wins over Geelong and Sydney. Sandilands has been decision on who to send him to shapes as one in commanding form in the ruck, and David Mundy, Nat Fyfe, Michael Barlow of the game’s most critical decisions. Logic and Hill all terrifi c inside and outside of the contest. Don’t underestimate Nick says it will be Sam Mitchell, the Hawthorn Suban’s output either. He was superb last week. Hawthorn are brilliant in this midfi elder who held the ship together in last area too, with Mitchell and Burgoyne prime movers, Jordan Lewis hard and mean, Friday night’s win over the Cats.