![Brian Lake of the Hawks spoils a mark by Matthew Pavlich of the Dockers.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131002104856im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/30/4788552/Dan-20130930005010282191-620x349.jpg)
Brian Lake of the Hawks spoils a mark by Matthew Pavlich of the Dockers. Photo: Getty Images
The Good
Redemption always tastes sweet, and particularly so on the grand final stage. Hawthorn feasted on it on Saturday, finally rewarded for another ladder-topping season and banishing the ghosts of the 2012 grand final it had led by two goals midway through the last term but ended up losing. Redemption too for Jack Gunston, whose missed shot last year was a lingering image that was blown away on Saturday by four goals and a near-Norm Smith Medal-winning performance. And a victory for those who like to see the best team of the entire season take out the ultimate prize, the Hawks only the second of the last six minor premiers to win.
The Bad
Recent grand finals have consistently featured umpiring that was barely noticed and, by consequence, widely applauded. Saturday's performance from Rosebury, Nicholls and Meredith didn't fall into that category. Three decisions, all costing Fremantle goals, stood out. The 50-metre penalty paid against Luke McPharlin for jumping in the air and landing a few centimetres over the mark to put Lance Franklin on the goal line was ridiculously harsh. As was the holding-the-ball call on Lee Spurr that gifted Cyril Rioli a goal. Spurr was pinned and furiously tried to punch the ball clear. Ditto the push-in-the-back paid against Zac Dawson to Jarryd Roughead in the third term. None appeared in keeping with the context of a tough, physical contest.
The Ugly
Purely as a spectacle, the 2013 grand final was one of the worst of the past 15 years, error-riddled, completely devoid of memorable moments and even lacklustre at times in the first half, saved from complete ignominy only by Fremantle's comeback and relative closeness of the scores. Slippery turf and a swirling breeze didn't help, but St Kilda and Geelong had played a classic in 2009 in far worse conditions. Having been spoilt in recent years with a series of epics, we've come to expect a lot better than this. Oh well, maybe next year.