Hawthorn Football Club was gearing up to celebrate an amazing last-minute victory over Adelaide. They prevailed in dramatic fashion with a score line of 14.17 to 10.7 in the grand final clash. With this win, major congratulations are in order to the Hawks on reaching this historic milestone! As a result, they will progress to the preliminary final for the first time since 2015. The side had placed eighth on the ladder at the end of the regular season. More than ever, this remarkable achievement is a testament to their grit and resolve.
The game played out like a master class, presented by Hawthorn’s strategic genius — and a certain Sam Mitchell’s head coaching debut. Over these last four years, Mitchell has guided the team through many successes and challenges. His leadership has produced an amazing turnaround that has received praise from both pundits and fans alike.
“It’s just been a masterful coaching performance, the last four years, from Sam Mitchell.” – Matthew Richardson
Adelaide’s ousting makes for a historic moment. They are the first minor premiers since North Melbourne in 1983 to leave the finals in straight sets. This result serves as a reminder of the chaos of finals football, when even the best teams sometimes don’t show up on the big stage.
Hawthorn’s win was made all the more impressive by their tactical moves during the match itself. Jack Gunston and James Ginnivan were benched for the final quarter of the game. Their absence demonstrated the team’s remarkable depth, allowing other players to step up in key moments.
One of the game’s leading commentators, James Brayshaw, claimed that Hawthorn played like a great team should, comparing them to past great sides. It was an inspiring question to hear. Is this year’s team a bit like the 2016 West Coast Eagles, who stormed to a surprise premiership?
“Has this got a little waft of the Western Bulldogs from 2016?” – James Brayshaw
He noted that every now and then a smart team just finds the “magic ingredient” that propels them to greatness. He pointed to the Bulldogs’ historic run in this year’s NCAA tournament as a demonstration that even the biggest of underdogs can overcome the odds and win.
“Sometimes there’s just a magic ingredient a team can capture, like the Bulldogs did that year.” – Alister Nicholson
The stadium atmosphere was electric, Hawthorn supporters celebrating the forward movement of their team and Adelaide supporters being smothered by disappointment. The Hawks have consistently shown they cannot be counted out. They’ve taken their disastrous start to the season and made it into one of the remarkable finals runs of all time.
Hawthorn athlete prepares for the preliminary finals. They continue to ride the wave of momentum from this huge victory. Their performance against Adelaide demonstrated their skill and determination and reinforced Sam Mitchell’s reputation as a capable leader who has successfully guided his team through adversity.
