HAWTHORN midfielder Jordan Lewis says there will definitely be a ‘Do it for Crawf' factor when his side meets Geelong in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final.
‘Crawf’, of course, is Hawthorn’s favourite son Shane Crawford, the club’s oldest player who, on Saturday night against St Kilda, played his 304th AFL match.
A premiership medallion is about the only thing missing from the 34-year-old’s decorated career.
This weekend the 1999 Brownlow medallist will line up in his first grand final, when the Hawks will head into their clash with Geelong an underdog after the Cats dropped just one match all year and also beat Alastair Clarkson’s men in the two teams’ only meeting in round 16.
But Lewis said his team would draw on every source of motivation it could ahead of the grand final, and while the lure of a premiership was a big enough carrot, lifting for their former skipper would also supply extra incentive.
“I saw an interview before where he actually had a tear coming out of his eye just to actually make it to a grand final,” Lewis said at Waverley on Sunday morning.
“If us as a team can get that cup at the end of the day and sort of hold it up with him, it’d just be a great achievement and a great relief for him.”
While some might doubt whether teams can gain a psychological boost from milestone matches or attempting to lift for special occasions, Lewis was adamant he and his teammates would raise a special effort for their man.
“You’ve got to draw on something in big games like this,” he said.
“To see a guy who’s been around for 17 years that hasn’t experienced what we’re going to experience this week is great for us, and it’s also great for him.”
On Saturday night against the Saints, Crawford showed he is capable of being more than just a bit-part player.
He gathered 21 possessions and booted the goal of the night in the second term as the realisation he would play in his first Grand Final set in.
Lewis said while Crawford might no longer be playing the same role he was when at his gut-running best, the veteran was finding ways to pick holes in opposition sides.
“Obviously coming towards the end of his career he can’t sustain that running ability for a full game, and to have him come off the bench and to still play a pivotal role, kicking a few goals as he did last night, is just great for him and it’s great for the team.”
Hawthorn’s 2008 midfield is built around names such as Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Lewis while Crawford – who has played a key role in teaching the new breed their games – can limit his game time, manage his body better and play the role of pinch-hitter.
“To learn off champions like that, it’s great for me,” Lewis said.