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HAVING been overlooked by the Sydney Swans in 2012, Saturday's premiership success was sweet revenge for Hawthorn cult hero Matt Spangher.
The 27-year-old missed Grand Final selection while at West Coast (2006), the Swans (2012) and was selected as an emergency for the Hawks last year.
By his own admission he was too inexperienced to earn a place in 2006, but Spangher felt he was ripe for the opportunity with the Swans.
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Despite playing the final five games of the 2011 season, he couldn't get a game the following year when the club famously beat the Hawks in the decider.
He was good enough to play but was overlooked; as much as it hurt, he said the miss had fuelled his mission of redemption.
Fittingly, in another Hawks-Swans Grand Final, Spangher helped sink the side that dealt him his most painful blow.
"The one at Sydney probably hurt the most and I always used it to drive me when I came across [to Waverley]," he said.
"My first year at the Eagles I was young, I thought it was just good to be part of the squad – I was never going to play that year.
"Last year I played a final, I was emergency - I at least helped the boys get there.
"At Sydney it was more my body that gave up on me and I honestly believe I was good enough to play in that side but I just couldn't get out there."
Ten things we learned from the Grand Final
The three Grand Final misses Spangher had endured prior to Saturday afternoon had taught him one thing: watching teammates win flags was not easy.
With a premiership medallion finally draped around his neck, he said he knew exactly how 2014 emergencies Jonathon Ceglar, Brad Sewell and Jonathan Simpkin felt.
Both Ceglar and Simpkin helped the Hawks across the line against Port Adelaide in the preliminary final, before making way for Ben McEvoy and Cyril Rioli.
As thrilled as they'd undoubtedly be for their mates, Spangher said there would be no escaping the sting of missing out.
But he backed the trio to enter next year better for the experience, insisting there was no other way to handle it.
“(I am) definitely (feeling) some empathy, it's a sombre feeling – it's bitter-sweet," Spangher said.
"Personally I just used it as a drive; you can't sit there and think 'woe is me', footy doesn't have time for those sorts of passengers.
"Those boys will be good enough, I know they will be, that's what made our squad so strong this year."
Matt Spangher tries to break away from Lance Franklin during the Grand Final. Picture: AFL Media
With an impressive head of hair, Spangher is a clear favourite among Hawthorn's supporter base.
His hard-luck story of persistence is truly an inspirational read.
Every Hawk rated from Saturday's incredible win
He had the crowd roaring late in the final term when attempting to mark deep in attack and few players were cheered as loudly when called to receive a premiership medallion.
Spangher's cult-hero reputation doesn't sit easily with the defender, but he appreciates its sentiment.
"I'm not that comfortable with it, it's not really who I am as a person," he said.
"But it's really flattering, the supporters are great across the board – not just for me – it's been really flattering."
With an impressive head of hair, Spangher is a clear favourite among Hawthorn's supporter base.
His hard-luck story of persistence is truly an inspirational read.
Every Hawk rated from Saturday's incredible win
He had the crowd roaring late in the final term when attempting to mark deep in attack and few players were cheered as loudly when called to receive a premiership medallion.
Spangher's cult-hero reputation doesn't sit easily with the defender, but he appreciates its sentiment.
"I'm not that comfortable with it, it's not really who I am as a person," he said.
"But it's really flattering, the supporters are great across the board – not just for me – it's been really flattering."
