Hawthorn Photo by Getty Images.

WINNER: HAWTHORN

Every premiership win is gratifying, but victory in 2014 must be sweet indeed for Hawthorn. A repeat flag, claimed in what was hardly a disruption-free season, against a favoured grand final opponent that had not only narrowly defeated them two years ago, but also had appropriated its most high-profile star. Then to win the match in such a resounding and physically forceful manner – it was the mark of a football team that has thoughtfully gone about setting itself up to succeed.

In Playing To Win, a book published earlier this year about the Hawks’ 2013 premiership, there’s a notion that Hawthorn’s 2008 win over an all-conquering Geelong side was one that came early. Quick success actually disrupted the schedule that coach Alastair Clarkson and the rest of the club had in mind, and it took another five seasons to get back atop the perch. But once it had been done, the achievement has proven durable.

As many observers noted in the aftermath, the Hawks’ 12th AFL/VFL premiership had historic implications. No club has won more over the span dating to 1961, with Carlton’s eight the closest. The Luke Hodge-led core, now three-time champions, earns a place right alongside the Brereton-Dunstall-Platten dynasty of the ’80s. Hawthorn has earned itself a rare shot at emulating Brisbane’s vaunted 2001-03 three-peat.

That feat was seemingly beyond reach in the competitive climate of today’s AFL. When Inside Sport met with Hodge for a story prior to this season, the dual Norm Smith-medallist made a point about the difficulty of winning premierships – even though he believed the Hawks had played better football in 2012, they had come away without the title. Playing well is not enough, Hodge said, and realising that fed a desire for self-improvement that is the fuel for great teams. Hawthorn seems to have a grip on that realisation, which might be the best reason to think they can do it again next year.

WINNER: CELEBRITY FOOTBALL CLUB ADMINISTRATORS

There’s something of a sour reflex from a team’s rank-and-file against a big name from another field pulling off a dilettantish move on their pride and joy. Face it, some of it is envy – many fans would love the same chance. But a celeb taking on a role with a team is an easy target, particularly when they fail. So it’s only proper to give credit when they succeed – Russell Crowe did receive his due for helping South Sydney back into rugby league’s grand final, while David Koch has played a vital role at Port Power, whose flourish at season’s end has its supporters itching for 2015.

LOSER: THE NFL AND ITS BOSS ROGER GOODELL

While not wanting to pour on, it’s hard not to feel contempt for the NFL and its boss, Roger Goodell, for its approach to a domestic violence scandal that engulfed the sport. For those not familiar, Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice had earned a two-game suspension for an incident in February where he was seen dragging his then-fiancee out of an elevator in an Atlantic City casino. The suspension, issued in July, was seen as light – a marijuana-related punishment issued around the same time by the NFL had earned an eight-week ban.

As seemed inevitable over the following months, the recording of what happened inside the elevator was made public. The gruesome footage of Rice punching his now-wife in the face was unambiguous – the Ravens sacked Rice, and the NFL upped the suspension to indefinite. But the questions began about how much the league knew, whether there was a cover-up and if they cared beyond keeping the game’s image intact.

Domestic violence has long been one of sport’s dirtiest secrets. If there’s been a cultural shift regarding on-field violence, as we covered in the magazine last month, sport is crying out for an even more decisive action against aggression brought home. The NFL scandal has given this secret an airing, and while some have said there is an upside in all this, there’s real concern about the basic lack of humanity that’s long been shown in this issue. All sports should take note.

LOSER: FIFA ... AGAIN

And in our seemingly regular thumbs-down to FIFA, this latest one on the 2015 Women’s World Cup being played on synthetic pitches. The top female players are contemplating legal action to stop this occurring. Others have rightly noted that this is a blazing-bright example of FIFA’s pronounced gender bias. Sepp Blatter has claimed that this is a trial for future events, but isn’t it curious that it won’t be tested at a men’s tournament?