HAWTHORN has won its first premiership since 1991 and ended Geelong's dreams of winning back-to-back flags, after producing a stunning 26-point victory at the MCG on Saturday.

The Hawks 16.7 (115) defeated the Cats 11.23 (89) in front of a crowd of 100,012 – the first 100,000-plus crowd since Hawthorn defeated Carlton in 1986. The premiership win was Hawthorn's 10th VFL/AFL flag.

The remarkable achievement came after Hawthorn inflicted Geelong's third loss in 45 matches. It was also just the Cats' second loss this season, but tellingly marked Hawthorn's fourth win over Geelong in their last five matches.

So much anticipation surrounded this grand final based on the history from 1989 and the match lived up to expectation; quite simply, it was an absolute cracker. For two-and-a-half quarters it was super intense, until Hawthorn's dominant six-goal to three third term gave the brown and gold a sniff of victory.

And when Hawthorn led by 33 points in the final term, premiership glory was assured.

Hawthorn vice-captain Luke Hodge capped off an outstanding performance with the Norm Smith Medal, while Hawthorn's only premiership player entering the match, Stuart Dew (who played in Port Adelaide's 2004 flag) was pivotal.

Young guns Xavier Ellis (a team-high 28 disposals) and Cyril Rioli (two goals) were outstanding. Former rookie Brad Sewell, who was almost traded to Melbourne a few seasons back, also shone with 27 touches.

Arguably the greatest story for Hawthorn was that of Shane Crawford, who won his first premiership since debuting in 1993. He created VFL/AFL history by becoming the player most capped before winning a flag. It was his 305th game and one of the champion's best.

The first quarter set the scene for the gripping encounter.

Ten goals were registered – five from each side (the most in an opening term since they last met in the 1989 grand final) – as Geelong took the narrowest of leads at the first break.

Geelong landed the first for the day, when Tom Lonergan converted after a diving mark. A Matthew Scarlett hip-and-shoulder on Lance Franklin followed and the early momentum was with the Cats.

Chance Bateman opened Hawthorn's account at the seven-minute mark and when another indigenous dynamo Rioli, unleashed his bag of tricks to help set up goals to Ellis and Jarryd Roughead, the Hawks were up by 13 points.

Geelong ended Hawthorn's three-goal streak after Bateman gave away 50 metres, enabling Ablett to post his side's second. And when Campbell Brown bombed a beauty from outside 50, the Hawks continued to hold sway.

The Cats hit back in red-time with three in a row and when Cameron Mooney threaded through an absolute gem from the boundary line, Geelong regained a seven-point lead.

That margin was reeled back by a goal at the 32-minute mark after Mark Williams kicked his first on the back of Cat Max Rooke giving away 50 metres for a late bump on Ellis.

Although the second term was a lower-scoring affair, it was equally absorbing. Bodies were put on the line and players were hurting, but even worse for Geelong was its poor conversion rate (1.9) in front of goal.

Trent Croad, who entered with a suspected foot fracture, limped from the ground at the 11-minute mark. He immediately headed for the rooms and was unable to take any further part in the match.

Hawthorn's personnel problems continued early in the second half when Clinton Young left the field early on with an ankle injury. It was a blow to the underrated Hawk, as he had got under the Geelong guard in the second term.

Ablett put the Cats back in front early in the third term, but when Franklin jagged his first, it was the start of a remarkable period from the Hawks.

From the seven-minute mark through to the 26-minute stage of the term, Hawthorn booted six goals, which ultimately set up its premiership.

Hawthorn reconfigured its forward structure, with Dew kicking two goals after he shifted to full-forward. Rioli and Williams were also important. 

As the Hawks flew out to a 29-point lead, the Cats managed to jag two late goals to keep their back-to-back dreams alive.

The deficit was cut back to 17 points entering the final stanza, but Franklin wheeled around to snap a beauty – his second – and begin a run of three unanswered majors from the Hawks. It was its finest hour in 17 years.

Geelong 5.3 6.12 9.18 11.23 (89)
Hawthorn 5.2 8.3 14.5 18.7 (115)

GOALS
Geelong: Mooney 2, Ablett 2, Rooke 2, Lonergan 2, Chapman, Milburn, Johnson
Hawthorn: Williams 3, Dew 2, Rioli 2, Franklin 2, Roughead 2, Bateman, Ellis, Brown, Young, Hodge, Mitchell, Ladson

BEST
Geelong: Ablett, Scarlett, Selwood, Chapman, Corey
Hawthorn: Hodge, Sewell, Crawford, Dew, Ellis, Osborne, Williams

INJURIES
Geelong: Harley (concussion),
Hawthorn: Croad (foot), Young (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Vozzo, McLaren, Ryan

Official crowd: 100,012 at the MCG

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.