Grant Birchall - 6
Looked in trouble early on after a heavy cork left him hobbling, but Birchall kept on stepping up to the plate and did his job without fuss down back.
Luke Breust - 7
Breust’s clinical disposal was on display again on Saturday afternoon. Beautifully threaded through the Hawks’ second goal during the first term to ease the nerves a little after some uncharacteristic misses from Jack Gunston. He also overcame being accidentally kneed in the head by Dean Rampe as he finished with three goals.
Shaun Burgoyne - 8
Was super composed in the first quarter as he cut off Sydney attacks at half-back and finished the term with 10 disposals. Burgoyne as quieter after that as he finished with 24 possessions for the day, but his job was done early and he capped a fine performance with two last-quarter goals.
Taylor Duryea – 4
Only made it on for the final term but still raced away to get nine possessions. Still the heat wasn’t in the contest by then.
Josh Gibson - 8
Overcame adversity as he suffered an ankle injury and a cut eye during the game. He was also probably out-gunned one-on-one by Lance Franklin. But Gibson, brilliantly organised the defence in the first quarter, ensuring the Swans forward line didn’t have any space to work with. And, he also finished with 32 possessions as well.
Josh Gibson of the Hawks celebrates with the Premeirship Cup. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Jack Gunston - 5
After his heroics in last year’s Grand Final many expected big things from the Gunner on Saturday. But 22-year-old had the wobbles early with two poor misses during the first quarter. He still finished with two goals to his name but wasn’t overly influential.
David Hale - 5
Wasn’t his finest day as he only had limited touches around the ground and probably shared the points with Mike Pyke in the ruck.
Bradley Hill - 8
May have just overtaken his brother as the best member of the Hill family as he shredded the Swans in the first term. His composure along the wing under pressure from Lewis Jetta set up Hawthorn’s first goal while he was on hand to snap their third during the first term as well. Was a little quieter after that but had set the tone for the afternoon in another big-game performance.
Luke Hodge - 9
Wowee – what a game in his 250th! There can’t be too many better ways to celebrate a milestone than with 35 possessions, two goals, four tackles, 12 marks, a third premiership and a second Norm Smith medal. His smother on Brad Ebert last week helped take the Hawks into the Granny and his pressure around the ground in the first term showed just how ruthless Hawthorn were prepared to be. Kissing Buddy in the final term was one of the game’s iconic images and there was a lovely moment in the presentation ceremony when the AusKick child giving Hodgey his medal clearly said to him: “You’re my hero.”
Norm Smith medalist Luke Hodge gets a kick away under pressure from Kieren Jack. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Brian Lake - 7
Another quality day out for Lake as he celebrated his second year at Hawthorn with a second premiership in one of the decade’s most inspired trades. Lake ruffed Lance Franklin’s feathers early and then did the job containing Kurt Tippett. Produced a brilliant tackle on Kieren Jack in the second term to deny an almost certain goal and even had time to produce a speckie!
Will Langford - 8
What a belter! He may have only posted the 22 possessions but was a roughie for the Norm Smith. Langford produced an inspired first term that saw him belt the Swans with four ripping tackles before he snapped one home with 38 seconds to go before quarter-time. The best was still to come, though, as he pressured Josh Kennedy into a rare mistake in the third quarter before bouncing one home from an absolutely impossible angle. Channel 7 captured the moment perfectly, one that will be replayed for 20 years.
Jordan Lewis - 9
Hawthorn’s nearly man. May have come into the game under a cloud ater suffering a cork last week but he put that behind him with a no-frills 37-possession game that saw him miss the Norm Smith by a single vote.
Jordan Lewis put in a solid game. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Ben McEvoy - 5
Timed his swap from St Kilda to perfection and timed his selection to perfection as well. Selcted to provide extra cover against Sydney’s forwards, but wasn’t needed as much as expected after the Hawks midfield obliterated Sydney’s on-ball division.
Sam Mitchell - 9
What an amazing season for Sam Mitchell. Came back from a torn hamstring and showed just how classy he was with 33 possessions and a game-high nine tackles. Was definitely a smoky for the Norm Smith too.
Paul Puopolo - 5
Kicked his side’s first goal but played a role more than anything.
Cyril Rioli - 7
The most controversial selection of Grand Final week but it paid off handsomely for Alastair Clarkson. Kurt Tippett will be having nightmare about Cyril after he pressured him into costly mistakes on two occasions. Rioli’s forward-line pressure also set the tone during the Hawks’ dominant opening term.
Cyril Rioli has a snap at goal. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Jarryd Roughead - 8
Belted the living suitcases out of Dan Hannebery in the first quarter with a brutal hit that was up there with Mark Yeates on Dermott Brereton. That effort set up one of Hawthorn’s goals and he followed that up with five goals to cap off another stellar season.
Liam Shiels – 7
Not spectacular but very solid as he posted 22 possessions, had five tackles and produced plenty of attacking moves.
Isaac Smith - 5
One of the few quieter Hawks as he was held to 17 possessions.
Matt Spangher - 7
The Grand Final’s greatest story as Matt Spangher finally won a Premiership medal after missing out at West Coast (2006), Sydney (2012) and Hawthorn (2013). Showed his commitment early by hurling himself backwards with the flight into a marking contest to deny Sydney a goal and was impressively solid across the backline.
Matt Spangher of the Hawks celebrates at the final siren. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Ben Stratton - 5
Another solid citizen with 22 touches. Got better as the game went on.
Matt Suckling – 5
Didn’t do a huge amount but his brilliant snapped goal in the third quarter was an absolute ripper.