Brisbane have hung on to third spot on the AFL ladder by 1.6 per cent after Hawthorn fell just short of bridging the gap with their win over West Coast to close out the home and away season.
The Hawks needed to beat the Eagles by at least 90 points to jump the Lions into third, avoid the dreaded trip to Perth to play minor premiers Fremantle in week one of the finals, and play a depleted Sydney outfit instead.
In champion goalkicker Jack Gunston’s 300th game, Hawthorn threatened at times to blow the margin out enough to catch the Lions in rain-soaked conditions.
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But the Eagles put up just enough resistance to ensure their opponents would have to return to Perth in a fortnight’s time, going down by 62 points, 6.9 (45) to 16.11 (107) in front of 43,066 fans at Optus Stadium.
Hawthorn still finished fourth, earning a finals double chance for the first time since 2018.
It means the first and second weeks of finals matchups are now set ahead of next week’s inaugural wildcard weekend.
Hawthorn dynamo Nick ‘The Wizard’ Watson was put on ice for the last quarter to manage him ahead of the finals series, but not before taking one of the marks of the year.
The diminutive goalkicker climbed high over Liam Baker, who Watson was taunting as a “poster boy” in a back and forth during three-quarter time.
Watson’s grab was eerily similar to that of former Essendon small forward Gary Moorcroft, whose mark over the shoulders of Western Bulldogs champion Brad Johnson is widely regarded as the mark of the 21st century.
Things were looking good for Hawthorn when they skipped out to an 83-25 lead midway through the third quarter following Watson’s moment of magic.
In the immediate aftermath, Baker and Watson smiled at each other in disbelief as they soaked up the moment, with Watson giving his opponent a hug after nailing the shot.
Watson, who was worn like a glove by Brandon Starcevich for most of the match, finished with three goals and a goal assist, but hurt his left hand after being bumped into the fence by Bo Allan on the stroke of three-quarter time.
The Hawks may also have to monitor co-captain Jai Newcombe in the coming days after the back of his head slammed into the ground following a sling tackle by Harley Reid in the final quarter.
Reid will miss the start of next season if he is suspended over the incident, but playing into his favour is the fact Newcombe was allowed back onto the field following a concussion assessment.
Gunston’s four first-half goals broke West Coast’s spirits and was a perfect way to celebrate his milestone game.
Milan Murdock kicked three goals from 23 disposals for the Eagles, but there was little else to smile about for the hosts, who finish a disappointing campaign with a 4-19 record and an 11-game losing run.
Gunston started his milestone match in grand style, nailing a set shot in the opening minute en route to three goals for the first term.
Hawthorn’s ability to run and spread meant Gunston had an acre of space to take uncontested marks in the forward 50m.
The Hawks’ 37-8 lead at quarter-time probably would have been even bigger had two downpours not made the ball so slippery.
Gunston was gifted his fourth goal when the ball fell in his lap following a dropped mark to Allan in the goalsquare.
Hawthorn flirted several times with the 15-goal margin needed to leapfrog their way into third spot, but in the end the task proved too hard in the wet.
With AAP
