HAWTHORN will now play in a do-or-die semi-final clash, after going down to West Coast Eagles by 32 points in their qualifying final at Domain Stadium on Friday night.
The Eagles kicked 10 goals to two across the second and third quarters before holding off a late Hawks rally to run out 14.12 (96) to 9.10 (64) winners, advancing to their first preliminary final since 2011.
The Hawks now face the prospect of a preliminary final away from Melbourne, should they get past the winner of Saturday's clash between Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
To add injury to insult for the Hawks, Jack Gunston was carried off in the last quarter after buckling awkwardly on his right leg.
The Hawks' leading goalkicker this season will face a race against time to be ready for next Friday night.
The Eagles suffered a huge blow prior to the game with Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis ruled out with a thigh injury. Patrick McGinnity replaced him in the selected side.
Their injury woes didn't stop there, Jeremy McGovern missing most of the first term after leaving the ground clutching at his left shoulder, but he returned in the second term to play out the match.
The Hawks dominated the clearances (50-40) and the centre clearances (15-8) in Priddis' absence, but they were beaten emphatically in general play.
Priddis now has two weeks to recover for the home preliminary final, as will fellow midfielder Chris Masten.
The Hawks could not get through the Eagles' pressure. They turned the ball over regularly and then got hurt on counter-attack. The Eagles had 50 inside 50s to 40, and took 17 marks inside 50 to 10.
Luke Shuey was outstanding with 25 disposals, 11 contested. Nic Naitanui also was strong, particularly after half-time with 40 hit-outs and 12 contested possessions.
Josh Kennedy kicked three goals, but could have finished with a bag after taking nine marks. Shannon Hurn was pivotal with 26 disposals off half-back.
Sam Mitchell played a lone hand for the Hawks with 35 disposals and 10 clearances. Luke Hodge finished with 29 disposals and a goal, 20 in the second half. Cyril Rioli (21 and a goal) was dangerous all night, while Jarryd Roughead and Shaun Burgoyne finished with two goals each.
The Eagles set up the win with a stunning second term. They turned a one-point quarter-time deficit into a 32-point advantage at half-time, kicking 5.4 to one point in the quarter. They had 11 more possessions for the quarter, eight more contested possessions, 12 more marks and eight more inside 50s as Hawthorn didn't score after the six-minute mark.
Shuey collected 11 disposals for the quarter, eight contested, while Kennedy kicked three goals to all but end the fight at the halfway mark of the night.
The Hawks won the clearances by eight for the quarter and led the centre clearances 8-2 at half-time, but were placed under so much pressure with ball in hand that they kicked at 49 per cent for the quarter.
The Eagles pressed on in the third term, with Naitanui taking over when David Hale was subbed out.
The final four goals of the quarter, two from Jamie Cripps, saw the Eagles lead by 50 points at three-quarter time before the Hawks salvaged some pride with a five-goal to two last quarter.
The Eagles achieved the win without Matt Priddis, the Brownlow Medallist a late withdrawal with a thigh injury.
WEST COAST 2.2 7.6 12.11 14.12 (96)
HAWTHORN 2.3 2.4 4.9 9.10 (64)
GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 3, Hill 3, LeCras 2, Cripps 2, Yeo, Sheppard, Darling, Hutchings
Hawthorn: Roughead 2, Burgoyne 2, Gunston, Rioli, Hale, Smith, Hodge
BEST
West Coast: LeCras, Hurn, Hutchings, Rosa, Yeo, Kennedy, Shuey, Naitanui
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Hodge, Rioli, Roughead, Lewis, Burgoyne, Shiels
INJURIES
West Coast: Matt Priddis (thigh) replaced in selected side by Patrick McGinnity, Jeremy McGovern (left shoulder)
Hawthorn: Gunston (right ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Will Schofield replaced by Patrick McGinnity in the final quarter
Hawthorn: David Hale replaced by Taylor Duryea in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Stevic, Meredith
Official crowd: 42,663 at Domain Stadium
