Broadview Hawks Football Club

Hawks Eliminate the Wildcats in the Hammer September 21st, 2009

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On a brisk 7°C morning, the Hawks made the journey to "the Hammer" to take on the Hamilton Wildcats for the first of two elimination finals that day, to determine who would take on the two top seeded teams: the Eagles and the Kangaroos. From the din in the air, you could feel that every person, Hawker or Catter, thought that their team was going to win this game. In finals footy, expectations are one thing and the reality of premiership-hungry players quite something else. No quarter taken, none given. On a side note, that idiom originates from a victorious commander ordering that the army "will not quarter (house)" captured soldiers, meaning none can be taken prisoner and all enemy combatants must be killed.

After driving past many of the 300 waterfalls that Hamilton boasts, the Broadview Hawks were in a state of perfect chi, balanced with nature and the world (there really should be a sarcasm font). In truth, the Hawks were ready to dole out some wrath that you only see in agitated pitbulls poked one too many times by a toddler wielding a stick. Stupid waterfalls.

From the sound of the horn that signaled the beginning of the match, the Hawks and Wildcats went at the ball with a fighting fury; each anxious to drive hope away from the other team's playoff ambitions. The end result of the quarter would see the Wildcats having scored 3 goals and 1 behind to the Hawks' 4 goals and 2 behinds. Seven points isn't a big lead but being ahead is still being ahead.

The second quarter saw the Wildcats come back with a vengeance, scoring 22 points to the Hawks' four. It almost seemed like, indeed, that it was the wind that won games as both times the wind was with their kicks, each team was able to capitalize on that advantage. At the half, one would think the tires of the Hawks would have been slashed; they had begun with a lead of 7 and were now down by 11. That's a loss from top of 18 points in day-trading terms.

With the light wind at their backs and an inspiring half-time speech echoing in their heads, the Hawks took to the field again. They narrowed Hamilton's lead down to 2 points. Most spectators of the game were completely lost in the play. There were neither conversations about not touching people's things nor were there any concerning certain changes in roommates at Chez Walter. The score was far too close for comfort on either side. By the end of the third quarter, people were more concerned about the next 20 minutes more than anything else. This reporter would like to point out that at this point, the Canadian players of the Hawks accounted for 4 of the 5 goals scored against the Wildcats. Every man on the team was pushing for victory. The Hawks should have had more goals than behinds as there were opportune attempts at goal that only resulted in behinds. Had those connected, this would not have been the nail-biter game that it was but then again you could quibble all you want about what could have been, the score was the score.

The fourth quarter is a blurred memory. I think there was a blue sky and green grass. All anyone can remember are the two quick goals early in the quarter by Nick "Somebody save my GF from Marty" Shuttleworth to put Broadview in the lead, the heroic efforts of Danny "One-legged and still a menacing footy-playing Viking" Walker, and in the final scant minutes of the game the amazing tackle by Kevin "U2 is the Wind Beneath my Wings" Bridgman, that shut down the Hamilton offense just when a single Wildcat goal could kill the Hawks' playoffs for 2009.

Hawks 58 to Wildcats 54. Hawks advance.

Due to failed attempts at entering the Beer Store before 10 am, the boys were slated to have an empty cooler as their day's reward. Thanks to the emergency little ninja whom they kept in their bus's glove compartment, cold ones were available on the full. After the game, several Hawks travelled to Humber North to watch the Blues vs Dingos game. Upon arriving, the underdog Blues were ahead by a good 20 points. And upon completion of the game, the Blues had kept ahead and won. Their win determined that they would face the Roos next week while the Hawks were to face the Eagles. There were two things never witnessed before by this reporter: an award of a "100" free kick and an attempted fistful swing at the umpy, after the game had long ended. Related or unrelated events? That is for history to decide.

The Hawks will play the Eagles in the semi-finals this Sunday at Humber North at 2 pm. The Sunday date is to ensure a good night's sleep following the AFL Grand Final on the Friday night.

One down, two to go.