Landing themselves on the AFL’s biggest stage for the first time since their 1991 premiership win, the Hawks went in to the 2008 grand final vast underdogs against a Geelong juggernaut.
Taking in an unchanged side from the one that defeated St Kilda by 54 points in their preliminary final clash, the Hawks were hoping to overcome the 11-point deficit that separated the two sides in their Round 17 meeting.
QT: Cat Tom Lonergan nailed the opening goal after marking strongly on the lead, but that wouldn’t deter the Hawks who hit back with the next three.
Chance Bateman came bursting through the middle of the ground to receive a handball and slot the Hawks’ first from long range, before Xavier Ellis and Jarryd Roughead gave the Hawks a 13-point lead.
However Geelong wrestled back the advantage with four of the next five goals, while a very late major to forward Mark Williams cut the deficit to a single point heading into the first change.
HT: The Cats again found the early settler, this time via forward Paul Chapman, while 19-year-old Cyril Rioli went back and leveled scores after marking on the lead.
A string of bad misses in front of goal came back to hurt Geelong as Mark Williams and Clinton Young pushed the Hawks in front, with some ominous signs starting to appear for the Hawks as Cats spearhead Cameron Mooney missed a regulation shot from the goal line – albeit on a tight angle – leaving the Hawks with a 3-point buffer and all the ascendency.
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3QT: Star midfielder Gary Ablett landed an important second goal to start the second half before the Hawks’ own superstar Lance Franklin finally broke through for his first, sending through a trademark long from outside 50.
The goal kick-started a run of six straight majors as an upset began to look more and more likely.
A dominant Luke Hodge capped a stellar term with his first – also from long range -- before Rioli provided one of the highlights of the day.
Chasing a loose ball, the livewire forward beat off two Cats on the wing to claim a holding-the-ball free kick, before again lighting up the MCG moments later as he perfectly crumbed a spilt ball inside 50 and sent the ball high into the stands after running in to an open goal.
Having come out of retirement less than 12 months earlier, Stuart Dew took the game by the scruff of the neck with an almighty few minutes, wheeling onto his left foot for a long goal before a series of desperate repeat efforts against a trio of Cats defenders setup teammate Williams for another.
The 29-year-old then snapped a curling goal from a tight angle, sending the Hawks 30 points up and placing them well and truly in the box seat.
Two late goals to the Cats brought the margin back to 17 points, setting up a huge final quarter.
FT: It took until midway through the final term for either side to score in what was a desperate arm-wrestle of a final quarter, with Buddy Franklin playing on from 50 out to nail his second.
Skipper Sam Mitchell followed suit a minute later, while another to Rick Ladson all but sealed the game for the Hawks.
Despite a pair of Cats goals late, Jarryd Roughead put the result beyond doubt with his second, as the Hawks stormed to a triumphant 26-point victory, claiming their first premiership in 17 years.
26 disposals, nine marks and a goal meanwhile earnt Hawks star Luke Hodge the Norm Smith medal, with the former No.1 pick playing an instrumental role off halfback in the Hawks’ win.
HAWTHORN 5.2 8.3 14.5 18.7 (85)
GEELONG 5.3 6.12 9.18 11.23 (82)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Williams 3, Rioli 2, Dew 2, Franklin 2, Roughead 2, Bateman, Ellis, Brown, Young, Hodge, Mitchell, Ladson.
Geelong: Mooney 2, Ablett 2, Rooke 2, Lonergan 2, Chapman, Milburn, Johnson.
BEST
Hawthorn: Hodge, Brown, Ellis, Sewell, Crawford, Dew, Rioli, Osbourne, Williams.
Geelong: Ablett, Ling, Selwood, Chapman, Corey.
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Croad (foot), Young (ankle).
Geelong: Harley (concussion).
Reports: Sam Mitchell (Haw) unduly rough play against Gary Ablett (Gee).
Umpires: McLaren, Vozzo, Ryan.
Official crowd: 100,012 at the MCG
