Hawthorn: Hawks into AFL Grand Final after defeating Geelong

Hawthorn have booked a spot in the AFL Grand Final after a magical fourth quarter comeback against Geelong in Friday night’s preliminary final in front of 85,569 at the MCG.

The Hawks mounted a comeback down 17 points in the second quarter to turn a 27-point swing against the Cats, but fell behind again when Harry Taylor and Josh Caddy combined to put the Cats ahead by 19 points seven minutes into the final term.

With the momentum well and truly in Geelong’s favour, Bradley Hill began the turnaround before goals to Jack Gunston and Shaun Burgoyne propelled the Hawks miraculously back in front.

Travis Varcoe missed from 30 meters out, on the move but directly in front with half a minute remaining, enabling the Hawks to run out 14.18 (102) to 15.7 (97) victors.

Led by Sam Mitchell’s 38 possessions, 11 clearances and eight inside 50s, Hawthorn finally got over Geelong for the first time since the 2008 Grand Final.

Grant Birchall added 27 possessions for the Hawks while Burgoyne chipped in 25, three goals and six tackles. Jack Gunston led the goal kicking with four majors.

“It was an entertaining game of football. You can say that after finally winning one,” Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge told ABC’s Grandstand.

“People have said our last 10 contests have been good spectacles of football … but we’ve hated every one of them.

“To come out and actually stand strong in a close one and not fold, like we’ve done the last 11 times, it’s a great feeling.

“We’ve got a bigger fish to fry. We’ll be looking at the game between Sydney and Freo tomorrow night and we’ve got another week to come out and play some good football.”

Stevie Johnson notched 32 touches for the Cats and added four goals in a sublime performance.

Brendan Whitecross suffered a knee injury for the Hawks while Buddy Franklin played out the rest of the match after hyper extending his right arm in the opening term.