• What you need to know for the Grand Final
• Last time they met: Hawthorn v West Coast
• Disposal quality, not quantity, key to Mitchell
HAWTHORN has travelled 10,908 kilometres with two return flights to Perth in the space of the last three weeks.
West Coast hadn't travelled at all in this year's finals series before touching down in Melbourne for Saturday's Grand Final at the MCG following the 2727km trip from Perth.
In last year's finals series, the premiers did not have to travel at all, with all three of their games – one less than this season – in Melbourne.
The Eagles have been training in consistent temperatures in the mid-20s, and Perth even had days last week where the mercury hit 30 degrees.
Melbourne's weather, on the other hand, has been less spectacular with the Hawks training in temperatures in the late teens and this week into the 20s.
With an expected top temperature of 30 degrees on Grand Final day, the Eagles appear more used to the conditions predicted for Saturday.
Your five-minute guide to the Grand Final
The average age of Hawthorn's team on Saturday will be 27 years, 305 days, with the Hawks having the fourth-oldest list in the AFL.
By comparison, West Coast has an average age of 25 years, 342 days, the 11th oldest in the League.
Port Adelaide high performance manager Darren Burgess doesn't think the travel factor, even on the older Hawthorn bodies, will have an adverse effect on their preparation.
"It comes down to how the fitness staff manage the players on the day," Burgess told AFL.com.au.
"They won't make a huge deal of the conditions.
"In my experience, you have some non-invasive strategies to limit the effects, but in an AFL game, with 120 interchange rotations, you've got ample opportunity to hydrate the players and cool them down.
"It really shouldn't be as big a factor as the outside world thinks it might be."
Burgess said the clubs' fitness staff would weigh the players before the game and closely monitor their fluid loss throughout the day.
The clubs will have Gatorade, as well as hydralyte drinks to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.
Ice vests and towels will also be on hand for the players to ensure they keep their core temperatures at the appropriate level.
"Both teams will have their hydration levels assessed before the game so the fitness staff will know where each player is at, and I'm sure both teams will be fine," Burgess said.
