PRELIMINARY Final hero Shaun Burgoyne says he never doubted his team’s ability to come from behind in the dying minutes to defeat Adelaide in Saturday’s final.
Hawthorn found itself a point down with under five minutes remaining in the match after Adelaide’s Graham Johncock kicked a running goal to give the Crows a one-point lead.
The Adelaide lead was short lived, however, thanks to a cool-headed Shaun Burgoyne won the next centre break to send the Hawks forward.
Burgoyne was electric as he streamed out of the centre with authoriuty and delivered long to Cyril Rioli who took a brilliant overhead mark.
Rioli put the Hawks back in front.
Burgoyne says there was never any doubt in his mind that the Hawks could win its way into the grand final.
“Nah I didn’t,” he said when asked if he had any doubt at the Ricoh Centre on Sunday.
“When Johncock kicked his goal, I knew there was a bit of time left and we had a chance to get the ball down to our forwards and kick a winning score.
“As long as you keep calm in those situations, you can think your way through and luckily we were able to do that.”
The equation was a simple one for the former Port Adelaide player - get it down to the forwards.
“It was pretty simple, we had to get it forward. Just keep it pretty simple in the middle, win the stoppage and kick it to the guys,” he said.
“Cyril was obviously good enough to judge it and even better, kick the goal.”
Burgoyne concedes that he feels lucky to be playing in another grand final.
A member of Port Adelaide’s 2004 premiership side and 2007 losing side, he says those appearance feel like they were a “lifetime ago”.
“They were so long ago, it feels like another lifetime ago,” he said.
“It’s just unbelievable to be in this situation now, to get a chance to play in a third grand final at a club like this.
“I thank my lucky stars. I just hope we make the most of this week.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club's Digital Media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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