Lewis: Prelims 'nearly the hardest to win'

JORDAN Lewis is no stranger to this situation.

With five preliminary finals already under his belt – four of them wins – the Hawks vice-captain knows exactly what to expect in what he hopes will be the penultimate game of the team’s 2015 season.

The Hawks’ past four preliminary finals have all been decided by a goal or less.

In 2011, it was Collingwood that edged out the Hawks, by just three points.

Over the past three years, the Hawks have defeated Adelaide, Geelong and Port Adelaide in preliminary finals by a total of 13 points.

Is Lewis expecting anything different this time around?

“Prelims, you would like them to be a little bit blown open, so you can enjoy the game – but that’s not the case,” he told hawthornfc.com.au.

“I’ve always said they’re nearly the hardest games to win, because both sides know what’s at stake, which is a grand final spot.

“That’s certainly been the case with us the last couple of years. We’ve won by five points (twice) and three points. So they’ve been close, but we’ve managed to get over the line.

“We’re certainly going in with the mentality that it’s going to be a fight right to end.”

Having that ferocious mentality is something Lewis believes will be key to the Hawks’ chances – something he hopes can continue on from last week’s semi final win against the Crows.

“If we can take that into this week’s game against Fremantle I think we’re well placed,” Lewis said.

Lewis is one of six Hawks who will play their 20^th finals match on Friday night – alongside skipper Luke Hodge, Grant Birchall, David Hale, Josh Gibson and Brian Lake.

Out of the 22 players who will play for the Hawks against the Dockers, only two – Billy Hartung and James Frawley – are playing in their first finals series.

If anything, Lewis says the Hawks will go into this match with a certain level of comfort – the experience that comes with being in this position regularly in recent years.

The Hawks knows a determined and highly-skilled opponent in Fremantle awaits, and they know what being in the second last game of the season is all about.

“They finished the home and away season on top of the ladder, they’ve got some really quality players that have played together for a long period of time – which poses a big threat for us – and they’re playing on their home deck,” the 29-year-old said.

“It feels the same (as the past couple of years), it feels comfortable that we’re back in this position to hopefully win another prelim final.

“Certainly it feels like we’ve earned the right to play in a preliminary final… we weren’t ready to bow out in straight sets.

“We need to play hard and tough football, and that’s how you win finals, so hopefully we can bring that attitude.”