THOUSANDS of Hawthorn fans have flocked to the club's home base at Waverley to support the players ahead of their final full training session before Saturday's Grand Final against West Coast.
There was no doubting the tribal passions displayed by those who turned out in brilliant sunshine and formed a sea of brown-and-gold to support their heroes' historic quest for a hat-trick of premierships.
Fans, many of whom were enjoying their school holidays, relished a long kick-to-kick session on the oval in a carnival atmosphere.
MC and Hawks fan Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann kicked off on-stage proceedings by smugly telling supporters to make the most of the club's success because in his lifetime Hawthorn had, on average, won a premiership only every three years.
Lehmann welcomed to the stage club legend Peter Knights, a three-time premiership player who has been blessed with what he described as "an unbelievable honour" of presenting the premiership cup to skipper Luke Hodge and coach Alastair Clarkson if the Hawks win.
"I just hope that I'm the one that's presenting the cup to Hodgey and Clarko," Knights declared to the crowd's loud approval.
And the 53-year-old believed he would be on cup duties, tipping a hard-fought Hawks victory.
The Hawthorn squad made its way onto the oval to raucous cheers of fans who had ringed the perimeter four and five deep.
Veteran Shaun Burgoyne, who will play his 31st final – equal second in history behind only Hawks great Michael Tuck – deviated briefly to kiss two of his kids on the boundary. It is still 'the family club'.
Most eyes were trained on skipper Luke Hodge (leg) and forward Jack Gunston (ankle), who have been under injury clouds. Both moved freely.
Gunston showed no discomfort during an evasive drill in a confined space, prompting a fan to observe: "Oh, 'Gunners' is ready to rock n' roll!"
Hodge was also the subject of many conversations, like this one.
Fan 1: "Dunno about Hodgey's leg. He's not doing much apart from waving his arms around telling blokes what to do."
Fan 2: "That's what he always does, until the ball comes near him – then he's bull-at-a-gate."
On cue, Hodge put in a burst, took possession and hit his target with a typically precise foot pass.
Fan 2: "That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!"
Fan 2 was, of course, impersonating Shane Crawford's famous proclamation on the dais after the Hawks' 2008 flag. Those in earshot laughed hysterically.
There was more rough humour as the Hawks' big men practiced their high marking on a bag. When Jarryd Roughead took a gasp-invoking beauty, a fan delivered a back-handed compliment: "You could jump on 'Gov's' head, Roughy. Give him a Roughead too." ('Gov' being star Eagles defender Jeremy McGovern.)
The hour-long session over, the players jogged a slow lap, handing small footys to supporters on the way, producing a Mexican wave-like effect with applause, cheers, whistles and bugle calls following them.
When the players walked down the race, fans screamed for their favourites, and a chant started: "Cy-ril … Cy-ril … Cy-ril."
Then Clarkson took to the stage. He has experienced such fandom four years in succession but the phenomenon is yet to wear on him.
"You never take this for granted," he said.
"It's always a special week."
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