Let’s flash back to Grand Final Day, 30 years ago, with the Hawks taking on the Demons…

After finishing atop the VFL ladder with 19 wins and just three losses, the Hawks secured a sixth-successive grand final spot with a 21-point semi final win over Carlton.

Hoping to make amends after going down to the Blues in the previous year’s decider, the Hawks now face a Melbourne side who make their first grand final appearance since their 1964 premiership win.

QT: Peter Schwab drew first blood for the Hawks as he snapped truly from 40 metres out after receiving the handball out from a stoppage in their forward 50.

Dermott Brereton found the Hawks’ second from long range after marking in space, while a long bomb to the goal square from John Platten set the key-forward up for his second.

Defender Gary Ayres remarkably managed to play on despite suffering a fractured cheek bone, but it was Paul Abbott who capped an impressive first quarter for the side, sending through their fourth goal for the term, as the Hawks took a 17-point lead in the first change.

HT: A crucial free kick handed spearhead Jason Dunstall his first and goal – and touch – for the game as he kicked his 126^th major for the season.

Brereton provided one of the highlights for the term after his chase-down of Danny Hughes in the forward pocket saw the Demon send the ball out-of-bounds on the full, with Breteton curling through a goal from the tightest of angles.

Looming ominous the Hawks began to run all over the Demons, again restricting the opposition to just the single goal for the term while soaring ahead through majors to Robert DiPierdomenico, Abbott and Dunstall.

Half forward James Morrisey kicked the Hawks’ tenth from 45 metres out on the run after forcing a turnover as the game looked all but over at the main break, with Hawthorn holding a 49-point advantage.

3QT: A spearing kick onto the chest of Jason Dunstall by Gary Buckenara looked to have quashed any hope of a miraculous comeback by the Dees, as their key defenders struggled to contain the Hawks’ tall timber.

Abbott slotted his third after marking 40 metres out, while despite the Dees producing their most fruitful term with three goals, Hawthorn still managed however to stretch their lead by seven points at the final change.

FT: The Hawks saved their best until last, with an eight-goal final term not only securing them the premiership, but the greatest-ever grand final margin in the game’s history

The side’s trio of talls combined for all eight majors, with Dunstall (seven goals), Abbott (six) and Brereton (five) all having an enormous impact, while, despite his injury, Gary Ayres was awarded the Norm Smith medal as best on ground after finishing with 22 disposals.