Presenting Blast from the Past!
Over the month of September, we will be taking you on a trip down memory lane as we look back at various moments in Hawthorn history that have occurred on the same date.
Today we rewind back to 1971…
Hawthorn finished the 1971 home and away season as the clear team to beat in September.
Three wins ahead of the next best side St Kilda, the Hawks had given every indication a second club premiership was on its way.
Coached by John Kennedy Snr, the Hawks faced Allan Jeans' Saints for a ticket straight through to the grand final.
The stakes were high and the fans knew it.
A crowd of 99,822 people turned up to the MCG that day and they were not disappointed.
Although, at three-quarter time, it looked all over as the Hawks held a comfortable 33-point lead.
Peter Hudson had kicked seven and the Hawks looked like they were set to cruise into the grand final in a fortnight's time.
But the Saints had other ideas.
Jeans' men kicked five final term goals to the Hawks' one, but the Hawks were able to hold on by two points in a thriller.
Had the Saints been more accurate in front of goal - they also booted nine points in the fourth quarter - the story could have easily had a more disappointing ending.
