These Hawks aren't done with yet
Never write-off a champion team.
That was the message sent loud and clear to the rest of the finals survivors after Hawthorn hit back in brutal fashion from a shocking qualifying final loss to West Coast.
A barrage of criticism was fired at the Hawks in the build-up, with everything from their hunger, commitment to the contest and ability to stand up to pressure questioned.
But coach Alastair Clarkson expected a response, and he got it in an eight-goal first term that snuffed out the Crows' hopes. Hawthorn's quest for a hat-trick of flags and football immortality lives on.
Frawley can handle finals footy, Lake's not done yet
It wasn't an auspicious finals debut for James Frawley against West Coast, although the high-priced recruit was hardly Hawthorn's lone soldier in that regard.
However, he responded with a complete shutout of in-form Crows skipper Walker.
The All Australian defender got an early confidence boost when he won a couple of one-on-one duals with 'Tex' and got his hands on the footy amid the Hawks' uncontested possession fest.
Frawley's performance proved what we already knew, that he's a backman first and foremost. And after lowering his colours last week, Brian Lake stood up early when it counted, although Josh Jenkins finished up with four majors. There's life in the old Dog yet.
Hodge is still Hawthorn's main man in September
It's been a rough few weeks for the skipper, with calls for him to hand over the captaincy following his drink-driving episode and claims he needed to stop feeling sorry for himself after the loss in Perth.
But any doubt that Hodge's best is behind him were expunged by yet another big-game performance when his side needed him most.
The dual Norm Smith medallist was back to his intimidating and brilliant best against the Crows, throwing his weight around in the clinches, marshaling his troops and slotting four goals for good measure.
If the Hawks are to go all the way, they'll need two more of Hodge's big-time performances.
A week was a long time in footy for Eddie Betts
Six days ago, the Adelaide star stamped his authority as the competition's No.1 small forward with a match-winning five-goal haul against the Bulldogs.
It wasn't all his own fault given the result, but the freakish goalsneak just couldn't get going in the semi-final and went goalless for the first time this season. Defensively, Ben Stratton was magnificent.
Betts didn't register a touch in the first term, and in desperation he was swung through the midfield before half-time in an attempt to get into the game. It didn't really work, as Betts and the Crows came crashing back to earth.
