Almanac almost

NOT every story submitted for the 2008 Footy Almanac made the final cut. Editors John Harms and Paul Daffey said it was something about team balance.

Earlier we brought you some on the grand final The flag.

Now we'll look at some of the other finals.

First Elimination final
Hawthorn v Adelaide
2.20pm, Saturday, September 8, Telstra Dome, Melbourne

Les Everett
THE empty seats at Docklands told a story. This was the least anticipated of the first-weekend finals, despite having some elements for the marketers to highlight. It was, for instance, going to be the last game for one of the captains - Adelaide's Mark Ricciuto or Hawthorn's Richie Vandenberg. And, Hayden Kennedy was about to umpire his 411th game and establish an AFL record - surely that would have got the turnstiles clicking.

Vandenberg won the toss; Ricciuto kicked the first score, a behind. Lance Franklin marked, played on and missed from long range and the Hawks were on the board. The game was surprisingly open and it was the Crows who took the early initiative, kicking the first three goals and taking advantage of some neat ruck work from Ben Hudson to control the centre square.

As the quarter progressed Hawthorn settled. They were running the ball out of defence effectively and young key forwards Franklin and Jarryd Roughead were looking dangerous but not making the most of their opportunities.

Tyson Edwards was the key to Adelaide winning back control and at quarter-time the Crows led by 19 points.

There were some interesting tactics. The Hawks used Vandenberg as a defensive forward on Andrew McLeod. The Crows had Scott Stevens loose in defence while Hawthorn's loose man Jordan Lewis was hanging around the wing. Both were effective.

Roughead kicked the first goal of the second quarter but then Adelaide took charge. Ken McGregor was strong in attack and Edwards, Chris Knights and Scott Thompson were getting hold of the ball and using it well. At the 12-minute mark of the quarter the Crows led by 31 points. Luke Hodge had gone off with what looked like a serious knee injury and it appeared Chance Bateman had pinged his dodgy hamstring.

Things looked crook for the Hawks but there was still hope. Franklin was too tall, quick and talented for his opponent Kris Massie and Roughead was causing the normally cool Ben Rutten some headaches. The trick would be to get the ball somewhere near them. It was Franklin who stepped forward. He kicked three goals for the quarter and at half time the margin was a manageable 14 points.

Hawthorn got on top early in the third quarter - Bateman came back, took a high mark and kicked a goal. However it was Franklin who was most noticeable. He had chance after chance as the midfield led by Shane Crawford and Sam Mitchell got on top, but dropped marks and gave away free kicks.

Adelaide went 39 minutes without a goal until Scott Welsh converted after a strong mark. Jason Porplyzia scored a goal and then a shot from Thompson after the siren hit the post, leaving the Crows 14 points up at the last break.

The game got what it needed when Crawford kicked the first goal of the last quarter after a period of Hawks dominance. Franklin kicked his fifth from 55 metres to reduce the margin to two points. Then Lewis took a mark five metres from goal on a nice angle for a left footer... and missed everything.

Welsh kicked the next goal to compound the effect of the Lewis fluff. Hodge had also risen from his deathbed and two bits of play in the last quarter emphasised the scope of his ability. One was a handpass over his head that set up Clinton Young, who showed Lewis how to kick a goal from an angle. Then Hodge took a brave mark in defence to cut off a dangerous attack and set in place a chain of play that led to a Franklin goal that won back the lead.

Tim Boyle, who had be out of touch, missed after a free kick, Bateman missed an easy shot. The Hawks were on top but not kicking goals. Welsh stepped up again and scored a goal to even the scores with six minutes remaining.

A point from Crawford from long range gave Hawthorn the lead. Roughead hit the post from a set shot. Two points the lead.

The Hawks were on top but not kicking goals. Jason Torney took a shot from outside fifty on the run and kicked the best goal of his career and the Crows were back in front.

An interesting battle within his war was between Vandenberg and McLeod. The Hawthorn skipper hardly saw the ball - in fact he often stayed away from it such was his obsession with starving his direct opponent of opportunities. The tactic worked and when McLeod blazed away with a kick out of defence in the last quarter it suggested he was rattled. The ball came straight back to Roughead who missed the set shot that could have made him a hero in his first final.

Little time remained when Thompson, under intense pressure, kicked out on the full in the backline. Crawford found Rick Ladson with the free kick and Ladson took his time and calmly delivered to Franklin, who took a mark 55 metres from goal. Later the former Perth player said he thought there were a couple of minutes to go. In fact seven seconds remained in the game when he took his kick. It sailed straight through the middle. Buddy Franklin was the one who became hero in his first final.

It was a classic final. The Hawthorn fans responsible for the empty seats must have been kicking themselves.

Hawthorn	4.3	8.7	10.10	15.15	(105)
Adelaide	7.4	10.7	12.12	15.12	(102)

Goals - Hawthorn: Franklin 7; Roughead 3; Bateman, Crawford, Brown, Lewis, Young. Adelaide: McGregor, Welsh 4; Porplyrzia 2; Edwards, Gill, Knights, Van Berlo, Tourney.

Best - Hawthorn: Franklin, Crawford, Hodge, Birchill, Young, Mitchell, Smith. Adelaide: Edwards, Hudson, Thompson, Knights, Welsh, McGregor, Bock.

Umpires:Kennedy, Allen, Chamberlain.

Crowd: 36,534.

Votes: Franklin (Hawthorn) 3, Crawford (Hawthorn) 2, Edwards (Adelaide) 1.

The Footy Almanac 2007: The AFL season one game at a time edited by John Harms and Paul Daffey is published by Malarkey Publications. It is available in good bookshops or through The Age Store on 1300 656 052.

Signed copies can be ordered through Malarkey Publications

Apart from bookshops you'll find the The Footy Almanac 2007: The AFL season one game at a time at Newmarket Newsagency, Racecourse Rd, Flemington and Ascot Vale Sports and Trophies, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale in Melbourne and in Perth at the Fremantle Team Store at Fremantle Oval and U-Brewit, Bannister Rd, Canning Vale.

18 January 2008

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Lance Franklin in the days before he became a finals hero. Photo by les Everett

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