After being beaten for the first time in the whole season, the Hawthorn Spartans will have to add insult to injury and take on the same team this Sunday for the semi final.
The last game of the season gave the Spartans a reality check, after they were bested by the league’s second best team, Old Xaverians, 59-68.
Fourteen straight wins weren’t enough to get a competitive edge over the ferocious Xaverians, with the Spartans failing to keep possession, with 23 turnovers.
The team looked like it had shut down, most probably coming into the came over confident and comfortable, with the fans seeing a real lack of discipline from the players.
It was a rarity to see the team not score for a full 50 minutes, when it led so strongly in the first quarter.
At least after such a disappointing loss, the Spartans will at least be using their energy to make dues in the semi final. Playing on Sunday, the team has been using training to really get to the heart of the loss and fix any problems in defence and attack.
The fans will be an important part to the Spartans’ ability to win, so the club is asking for as many fans to make it down to Sportscover Arena and 2pm, Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick.
The club has a lot to be happy about, with 14 straight wins and a clean season last year take their total to 31 wins. Two of the leagues’ best kickers are Spartans and the club still holds a healthy percentage.