Hawthorn 18.7.115 d Geelong 11.23.89

Coach: Alastair Clarkson
Captain: Sam Mitchell

Backs: Stephen Gilham (27), Trent Croad (24), Brent Guerra (18)
Half-backs: Rick Ladson (4), Luke Hodge (15), Grant Birchall (14)
Centres: Chance Bateman (10), Sam Mitchell, (5) Jordan Lewis (3)
Half-forwards: Michael Osborne (7), Lance Franklin (23), Cyrl Rioli (33)
Forwards: Mark Williams (6), Jarryd Roughead (2), Campbell Brown (30)
Followers: Robert Campbell (39), Brad Sewell (12), Shane Crawford (9)

Interchange: Stuart Dew (31), Xavier Ellis (8), Brent Renouf (34), Clinton Young (11)

Goals: Williams 3, Dew 2, Franklin 2, Rioli 2, Roughead 2, Bateman 1, Brown 1, Ellis 1, Ladson 1, Hodge 1, Mitchell 1, Young 1

Best Players: Bateman, Crawford, Dew, Ellis, Hodge, Rioli, Sewell

Norm Smith Medal: Luke Hodge

Umpires: Scott McLaren, Shaun Ryan, Michael Vozzo

Attendance: 100,012 (at MCG, Saturday, September 27, 2008)

The Hawks appointed Alastair Clarkson as Coach in 2005.  Jason Dunstall, the heroic full forward from the golden era of the 1980s had returned to the Club as Football director with a mission to rebuild the Hawks.

The innovative and disciplined Clarkson oversaw the Hawks win their tenth premiership in 50 years, 17 years since its last, defeating hot favourites and minor premiers Geelong by 26 points for the 2008 Premiership.

Key defender Trent Croad was injured early but the Hawks stuck to their game plan and were locked in a mighty arm wrestle with the Catsuntil late in the third quarter, when the Hawks started to exert their dominance over the game with some magnificent creative play led by Cyril Rioli, Mark Williams and Stuart Dew kicking a number of match winning goals.

Indomitable Hawthorn workhorse, Luke Hodge was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground. The win gave veteran Shane Crawford a premiership in his 305th game, the second longest any player has waited for their first taste of VFL/AFL grand final action in history.