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Grand Final day this year was bizarre.
The mercury in Melbourne tipped 30 degrees, spectators went to the footy in shorts and T-shirts, even Michael Tuck was forced to wear a sleeveless jumper.
The conditions favoured Carlton, which had won the second semi-final to enjoy a week off, while the Hawks had to endure a gruelling preliminary final against Melbourne.
Tight and tough for the first quarter and a half, it was clear by half-time however that the Blues were the fresher of the two sides.
Hawthorn hung tough through the first half of the third quarter and had half-forward Peter Curran been on target the story may have been different, but the Blues had slipped sixteen points clear by the final change and the Hawks were obviously struggling.
Their matchwinner, Dermott Brereton was being well held by David Rhys-Jones and CarltonÂ’s running brigade was working hard to keep pushing the ball forward.
Early goals in the final term to Adrian Gleeson, Mark Naley and Stephen Kernahan doused the Hawthorn outfit and the game was over.
Carlton, like many sides before it, had used defeat the previous season as its greatest spur the following year.
It proved once again to be a very handy tonic.
Carlton 15.14 (104) defeated Hawthorn 9.17 (71)
Norm Smith Medalist: David Rhys-Jones (Carlton)
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Crowd: 92,754 |