Sample size is relative though isn’t it PK? For instance when you’re talking murders, a sample size of one is quite significant. And for something as supposedly as huge and so much is inferred from, a 10 goal drubbing should be a big indicator of form. Since 2005 there have been 13 non-GF finals with a 60 point or greater win and only 4 of those have seen the victor follow that up successfully. A pretty paltry 30% strike rate. Hardly indicative of sustainable form.
The qualitative perspective is more informative really, particularly when you look at who did it. The first was OOFTITS at home against the Bulldogs in 2006. Second and third are Geelong in 2007 and 2009, while the fourth was Collingwood in 2010. Geelong and Collingwood did it at the height of their powers and did it via the QF to Prelim pathway. The Westicles did it in a Semi, but against the Bullies here and then went over Adelaide, whom they had the wood over. So the Hawks being away from home, moving in through a semi, are they at the height of their powers?
