Forgetting the fact that for the first time ever the Grand Final was played between two teams of women, the highlight of the game for me was before the bounce, during the national anthem, when the look on Alistair Clarkson's face said that he was thinking exactly the same thing as everyone else in Australia.

(well that and Ling getting hurt)

Yeah, I think I know what you mean. At the time I turned to my very special lady friend, who of course means everything in the world to me, and said: 'So they're playing for them'.

But I thought it was a great game, if only because it reminded us that football can still be old fashioned. Midfield, schmidfield. The team with the best forwards, wins. Franklin, Williams and Rioli didn't do much, at least not in the way of racking up stats, but with the ball in their hands they looked a class above. That kind of thing always makes me feel good about footy.

And I thought Hodge's Normie was also a ringing endorsement for an old fashioned rule: no matter how good your forwards are, you're nothing without do-or-die, smart-thinking backmen.

Midfielders, schmidfielders.

Well done Hodge. Sucked in Ablett.

But now that I've enjoyed the game, I never want to hear about it again. The sickening media worship of Hawthorn's state-of-the-art recruitment policy that's about to start is going to make me want to watch cricket.

Normally I'm just about plastered and on the blink by 3/4 time but I reckon that was one of the best GF/s I've seen in years. Good hard tough tough footy. I'm not so sure it was not about midfielders Wizfan. I thought the hawks ability to shut down the pussies midfield was where they won it. Neither team had a dominant ruckman or FF and even skinny guys like Osborne can play good footy in a tough game. Well done to alistair for his smarts.

Agreed up to a point, Medina. The Hawks midfield nullified the sooky, tutu-wearing bald-heads midfield after half time ... turning the game into a contest of talent and will. That's when the Hawks had the forwards that mattered.

I loved it. When push came to shove, the Hawks forwards had more talent and their backline had more will.

The sookiest, most tutu-wearing, baldest-headed midfielder of all kept on racking 'em up ... but to absolutely no avail.

How good was that?

Game plan, midfield, pre-game routine, self-discipline ... radda radda radda. The team with the most talent won!

I'm rapt.

I just meant that the singing was pretty average.

Have to agree Freo4ever, as soon as they saidHodge for N.S he lost it.

1/ The fact that the cocky Geelong supporters who thought the game was a forgone conclusion - wrong! They've been talking about how when and where to celebrate their Grand Final win for the last 4 weeks!

2/ The fact that all is extremely quiet in Geelong at the moment. All the lights are off at Kardinia Park and you can hear a pin drop in town.

3/ The goose in the local Geelong newspaper who has been to the local tattooist having a GFC back to back tattoo done ... you idiot!

suppose the ford factory will close down now

I'm not sure about the reference to good hard tough footy, Medina. I've never seen that much diving without someone coming up with a crayfish pot at the end of it.

It was 2 hours of ballerinas holding their owees until the whistle blew and they miraculously recovered.

The only real injury was Geelong choking to give the Hawthorn Bradburies a win.

I've only seen about a quarter's worth of it as yet, had to work through...

but my highlight was the gush piece in yesterday's Age about Geelong saving football with their fast direct style of play that defeated the flood. I can't seem to find it there today.

Spot on Guy.

I saw yesterday's result as a win for flooding the half back line and always playing a loose man in defense (that Lou Codge fellow.)

That's not the game I grew up with in the early 80s. But it was a good game nonetheless.

Good game but parts were dangerously close to woofterball.

A glancing air blow that (obviously) took ablett's head off, as he lay motionless on the ground.

But, no. Once the whistle had blown he was miraculously cured. Tutu wearing girly boy.

so many highlights...
i: Ablett crying
ii: Mooney spraying gimmes - after all the abuse Pavlich copped over the season I had to laugh at those.
iii: buddy getting toweled up by scarlett - this is actually a few hightlights but for simplicity's sake lets call it one.
iv: Ablett crying
v: the "legendary" geelong midfield getting smashed in the clearances. The Hawks were playing for stoppages because they knew they could win the clearances. gold.
vi: Did I mention Ablett? when he cried? that was awsome...

....Moonie, unable to find an 18 year old to pick on.

The highlight was Gary crying again
What a sook
And the end of the season
Cant wait for next year

Go you mighty Dockers

Flossy Ablett crying. Priceless.

A hint for the uninitiated. When Geelong are in the GF never ever watch on one of those humungous home theatre systems. It's Ling scares the kids x 10.

The only thing old-fashioned about it was that there was good old-fashioned fat bastard running around getting a kick (or 20).

God bless him!

i'm sure jonathan hay was watching thinking "i could look that fat in a gf". has anyone got that photo of hay in a north jumper?

G.F. highlights...
i: Geelong saying they wont go Hodges ribs,(maybe it doesnt count before the siren)Then Luke playing a absolete pearler.
ii: Cyrils outstanding desperate effort on the wing against the numbers.
iii: Heavy Dew,showing size doesnt matter.
iv: That deflating sound that traveled around Australia like a bad whoopy cushion as the arrogance is rapidly pressed out of their fat heads.

Well done Hawks,dont expect to win again next year,or the next,its ours.