AFL Premiers 1991 - Hawthorn Hawks

Having been a force from the moment they landed in the competition it took the West Coast Eagles only four years to qualify for its first Grand Final. Unfortunately there were still lessons to be learnt once there. In the form of Alan Joyce's Hawthorn the Eagles met a side which knew how to get into the big one and how to win it. On a murky, grey day at Waverly the gap between the best and the rest was pronounced. West Coast, it must be said, found its feet pretty quickly. It led at the first change and acquitted well, but when an extra level was required after half-time there was only one side capable of finding it. The Hawks, although the margin was only 10 points, were in complete control by three quarter time. West Coast had been game, but you got the feeling it had been holding back a force which could overpower it at any given time. As has been Hawthorn's case in the past, it waited until the final term to deliver the knockout blow. When it came it arrived with precision and power. Paul Dear dominated at centre half-forward, Dermott Brereton played one of his last outstanding games, Jason Dunstall gave his side the target it needed. It was an awesome display from Hawthorn and one which again underlined its true professionalism. In the end, it was a day to savour as the careers of several great Hawks were fast coming to a close.