HAWTHORN 14.18 (102) def GEELONG 15.7 (97)
HAWTHORN has scraped through to this year’s AFL grand final with a last gasp five-point win over arch-nemesis Geelong at the MCG on Friday night in the preliminary final.
The Hawks trailed by 20-points at the last change and kicked 4.8 in the last term to come from behind and snatch victory.
It as if the Hawks had to trail at the three quarter time to win the match such is the trend in these Hawks-Cats classics.
The Kennett Curse is no longer and the Hawks go through to the big win against the winner of Fremantle and Sydney.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson praised his team for their courage in the final term.
“(Premierships) are damn hard to win, and what we’re trying to do as a footy club is just give ourselves a chance by getting as high up the ladder and finishing in the top four, knowing full well sometimes the door will open and you’ll get an opportunity,” Clarkson said.
“Seven prelim finals in a row for the Kangas in that period of time, and they won two flags. And you say, ‘Geez, did they do as well as they could?’
“(But) they’re bloody hard to win … You’ve just got to keep presenting and give yourself a chance to open that door when it’s available to you.
“We’ve been a very competitive footy side over the last three or four years, and (we’re) delighted that we get another chance in the last dance next week.”
The positive for the Hawks is that only one goal was kicked between their star forwards Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Cyril Rioli.
“I wouldn’t think that those guys have just shared one goal between them in too many games for the Hawks over the last six or eight years,” Clarkson said.
“I think we kicked 6.9 or something like that from (set shots and) probably seven of the nine we missed were shots from 40 metres or less, directly in front more or less.”
Clarkson said he is just happy to get a win against the Cats rather than focusing on the Kennett Curse storyline.
“It’s nice and romantic and it’s a great topic of conversation for so many people around the country to speak about it,” Clarkson said.
“But the basic thing for us is that we’d worked really hard as a footy club all year to finish on top of the ladder and played really well in a qualifying final against Sydney.
“Despite it being a real arm-wrestle tonight, we feel like what we’ve been able to achieve over the course of the year (means) we really deserve a chance at a Grand Final.”
The only negative to come out of the match for the Hawks is an ACL injury to Brendan Whitecross; his second in two years.
He is likely to be replaced in the grand final side by either Shane Savage or Jed Anderson.
Here is the video of the final two minutes of play:
HAWTHORN 3.5 7.8 10.10 14.18 (102)
GEELONG 4.0 7.4 14.6 15.7 (97)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Burgoyne 3, Hale 2, Hill 2, Guerra, Breust, Franklin
Geelong: Johnson 4, Motlop 2, Christensen, Hawkins, Vardy, Bartel, Selwood, Guthrie, Taylor, Murdoch, Caddy
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Burgoyne, Gunston, Hale, Birchall, Guerra, Hill
Geelong: Johnson, Motlop, Guthrie, Selwood, Taylor, Stokes, Duncan
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Whitecross (right knee)
Geelong: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Max Bailey replaced by Brendan Whitecross in the third quarter
Geelong: Josh Hunt replaced by Josh Caddy in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Rosebury, Nicholls
Official crowd: 85,569 at the MCG
