Let's flashback to the elimination final, 11 years ago, with the Hawks forced to fight out a nail-biter...
Finishing in fifth spot on the ladder after a 13-win season, Hawthorn returned to finals action for the first time in six years, this time facing Adelaide at the Telstra Dome.
The Hawks lost Ben McGlynn with an adductor injury before the bounce, who was replaced by Michael Osbourne, in what was the only change from their Round 22 side.
Meanwhile Crows skipper Mark Ricciuto faced the prospect of stepping out for his last AFL game, having announced that he would retire at the end of the Crows’ season.
QT: Despite starting as underdogs, the Crows got off to a lightning start with the games’ opening three goals before midfielder Jordan Lewis got the Hawks on the board, calmly slotting the side’s first goal 40 metres out on the run.
Lewis then combined to set up key forward Jarryd Roughead for the side’s next two goals, getting the Hawks back on track and within two points of the lead.
While the Crows pegged one back, it was this time Lance Franklin’s turn to join in on the action, as he kicked a trademark left foot goal from long range.
But three goals in the final three minutes again handed Adelaide the ascendency as they took a 19-point lead into the first break.
HT: An errant Andrew McLeod handball handed Roughead a third goal as the ball landed in his lap deep in the forward 50, before the Crows again pushed away with another three majors in a row.
Adelaide forward Ken McGregor was proving a handful with four goals before halftime, while his counterpart at the other end, Franklin, also appeared to be growing more dangerous as the game went on.
The key forward this time snapping a brilliant goal after crumbing a loose ball, before marking one-out against opponent Kris Massie and sending through another.
While a third consecutive goal to the man known as ‘Buddy’ – kicked from outside fifty after a free kick – reeled the half time margin in to 12 points and sent Hawks fans into raptures.
3QT: Defender Campbell Brown got the Hawks going again in the second half, kicking truly after marking inside 50, before teammate Chance Bateman did the same from almost exactly the same spot on the ground.
With the Hawks breathing down their necks and just the one point separating the two sides, the Crows managed to steady the ship, kicking two goals of their own to take a 14-point lead into a nail-biting last quarter.
FT: Marking 30 metres from goal, former skipper Shane Crawford (33 disposals) cut the deficit to eight points just 90 seconds into the term.
And when Franklin goaled with yet another inspiring long bomb, the Hawks had set the game up for a thrilling finish, trailing by two points.
The Crows again pegged one back but a spinning handball over the top of his head from Luke Hodge set Clinton Young up, who ran along the boundary, snapping a crucial check-side goal.
Yet to lead at any stage of the day, the Hawks suddenly led by four points midway through the quarter, with Franklin kicked his sixth goal from fifty out on a tight angle.
Adelaide wouldn’t be done with yet, however, as a running goal from Crow Jason Torney restored the side’s lead in the game’s dying stages.
With less than a minute remaining the Hawks searched for an avenue to goal, with Franklin again the man to stand up, marking 45 metres out on the lead.
Lining up for goal number seven, the miraculous forward had no trouble slotting what would prove to be the match winning goal, with the Docklands stadium erupting as the ball sailed through.
Locking in the ball in at the ensuing centre bounce the Hawks held on to a famous victory, with the siren sounding to send them through to a semi final date with the Kangaroos.
HAWTHORN 4.3 8.7 10.10 15.15 (105)
ADELAIDE 7.4 10.7 12.12 15.12 (102)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 7, Roughead 3, Lewis, Brown, Bateman, Crawford, Young
Adelaide: McGregor 4, Welsh 4, Porplyzia 2, Edwards, Gill, Knights, Van Berlo, Torney
BEST
Hawthorn: Crawford, Franklin, Roughead, Sewell, Hodge, Brown, Ladson, Birchall, Guerra
Adelaide: Shirley, Torney, McGregor, Thompson, Goodwin, Massie, Edwards, Stevens
INJURIES
Hawthorn: McGlynn (adductor) replaced in selected side by Osbourne, Hodge (knee), Bateman (hamstring)
Adelaide: Porplyzia (shoulder)
Reports:
Official crowd: 36,534 at the Telstra Dome
Umpires: Kennedy, Allen, Chamberlain
