HAWTHORN and the Sydney Swans will square off in what shapes as an enthralling Grand Final at the MCG next Saturday.
The game has a number of interesting sub-plots.
The Swans will be out to prove their win over the Hawks in the 2012 decider was no fluke, and prove their status as the best team in the competition after winning the minor premiership in 2014.
The Hawks, who will be appearing in their third straight Grand Final and will be desperate to go back-to-back after beating Fremantle in last year’s decider.
While the Hawks were pushed by a defiant Port Adelaide in their preliminary final, the Swans looked close to invincible as they strolled to an emphatic 71-point triumph over North Melbourne in their preliminary final at ANZ Stadium.
Much of the focus will centre on Swans spearhead Lance Franklin, who made the move to Sydney and left his former Hawks teammates after last year's premiership victory.
Franklin, who booted five goals in a best afield display over the Kangaroos, looms as the danger man once again for the Swans.
At the other end of the ground, Franklin's former partner in crime – Jarryd Roughead – will also look to inflict some damage of his own.
Roughead, who booted 64 goals to earn his All Australian jumper this season, will head into the contest after putting the Power to the sword with a game-high six majors in the Hawks' penultimate game of the season.
Franklin is not the only Hawk-turned-Swan. Star midfielder Josh Kennedy was discarded by the Hawks at the end of 2009. He is the grandson of Hawk royalty, John Kennedy snr (a former Hawthorn captain who coached the club to three premierships).
Ben McGlynn missed out on Hawthorn's premiership win in 2008. As a Swan, he missed that club's 2012 premiership victory due to a hamstring injury. McGlynn finally gets his chance.
Matt Spangher left the Swans at the end of 2012 after failing to play in the Grand Final. He joined Hawthorn but also missed the 2013 Grand Final. He now looks set to finally be on the MCG turf on the last Saturday of September - not watching from the stands.
Franklin is not the only Hawk-turned-Swan. Star midfielder Josh Kennedy was discarded by the Hawks at the end of 2009. He is the grandson of Hawk royalty, John Kennedy snr (a former Hawthorn captain who coached the club to three premierships).
Ben McGlynn missed out on Hawthorn's premiership win in 2008. As a Swan, he missed that club's 2012 premiership victory due to a hamstring injury. McGlynn finally gets his chance.
Matt Spangher left the Swans at the end of 2012 after failing to play in the Grand Final. He joined Hawthorn but also missed the 2013 Grand Final. He now looks set to finally be on the MCG turf on the last Saturday of September - not watching from the stands.
It is only fitting the best-performed sides all year will battle it out for the ultimate prize, on the biggest stage of them all.
