BRISBANE Lions spearhead Jonathan Brown believes Hawthorn isa strong contender to make the Grand Final, having applauded its heart-stoppingwin over Adelaideon Saturday as well as the heroics of Luke Hodge and Lance Franklin.
Brown, speaking on SEN on Tuesday morning, said the Hawkshave a good opportunity to progress through to the ultimate decider afterbooking a semi-final with the Kangaroos this weekend.
"There's a fair chance they could make the Grand Final.They play North Melbourne, who are obviouslystruggling. I think they've had an ordinary last five or six weeks," hesaid.
"Then they come up against Port Adelaide, who didn'tlook their best on Friday night, so the Hawks could quite easily make the GrandFinal, if they keep their tails up."
Brown said Hodge's performance on Saturday, which came afterthe talented midfielder injured his knee early in the game, reminded him ofMichael Voss's ability to inspire.
"I think Hodge set the game up; he probably did eightor 10 courageous things at crucial parts of the game," he said.
"When the pressure was on, (Franklin)really stood up, and unfortunately Roughead missed a couple of goals that heshould have kicked, but Franklinwas there to mop up.
"Kicking three goals in the last quarter from outside50 in a pressure situation … for a bloke who's only 20 years of age, it'spretty impressive.
"It's scary to think what's going to happen in the nextfew years with him and Roughead and Boyle and all those blokes firing upforward.
"You'd have to have a pretty handy defence."
Brown said the Hawks' style of game and use of key forwards createsan exciting brand of football to watch, and praised the club's coach forencouraging such an attacking plan.
"I think they've gone through a pretty rough trot, theHawks, and it was great to see them win and I was probably barracking for thema little bit," he said.
"I know Richie Vandenberg pretty well so I was hopingthey could keep winning for him.
"I just like the brand of footy that they play.Alastair Clarkson has done a magnificent job with them; they play a good,modern style of footy.
"They like to carry it and move it pretty quicklythrough the middle of the ground and whack it in long to the big key forwards.
"That's what the crowds love to come and watch."
As far as who will meet the Hawks in the Grand Final, Brownbelieves the premiership favourites in Geelongwill get there "by a mile".
While he outlined how difficult it will be for any side toknock off the rampaging Cats, he believes the Hawks might have the ability todo so.
"It's a bit similar to the year 2000 when Essendon wereprobably 10 goals a better side than anyone else," he said.
"I know (Geelong) has still got to do the job, but Ithink if they can safely get through the preliminary final without too manyinjuries, they might be able to get Egan back … I'm not sure how you're goingto beat them.
"Hawthorn might be the only team that can do them, withtheir big key forwards, but even then, I still think, and I know we're talkinga fair bit ahead, any side has their work cut out for them.
