It’s so usually mentioned that September is the time the most important and greatest step up most, and Saturday’s thriller on the MCG in entrance of a shade beneath 98,000 individuals was proof of that.
In a match that had nail-biter written throughout it, each the Hawks and Lions had their possibilities, but it surely was the two-time reigning premiers who did simply sufficient when it mattered most.
The time will come for Sam Mitchell’s group, which is stacked with match-winning expertise in its personal proper, however to be the most effective, they’ve obtained to beat the most effective.
4-time AFLW premiership participant Libby Birch (Hawthorn) and reporter Jon Pierik (Brisbane Lions) run their eye over a preliminary closing that may dwell lengthy within the reminiscence of all who noticed it.
Hawthorn
(1) Harry Morrison: Supplied good early unfold and a dependable outlet on the wing, however pale after half-time and conceded two expensive turnovers by foot within the third quarter that handed Brisbane momentum. Big smother on the boundary with 2 minutes to go. 6/10
(2) Mitch Lewis: Set the tone with a powerful inside-50 sort out and two first-quarter objectives in fast succession, producing a profession defining mark within the 4th. 8.5/10
(3) Jai Newcombe: His bump on Lachie Neale on the opening centre clearance appeared to rattle him, and he conceded a number of early free kicks, earlier than working his means again into the competition. 6/10
(4) Jarman Impey: Had Conor McKenna deployed as a defensive ahead on him for a lot of the night time and lacked his traditional damaging affect from half-back, though he labored desperately to shift momentum after half-time. A holding the ball name might hang-out him perpetually. 6/10
(5) Nick Watson: Is that this nearly the most effective finals efficiency we’ve got seen? He was elite all recreation, first in his match-up with Ryan Lester, drawing him excessive up the bottom and repeatedly beating him again in direction of objective, whereas kicking the opener with a traditional soccer end from Hawthorn’s first inside 50 and influencing centre clearances because the Harry Potter music fittingly rang out. 10/10
(6) James Sicily: Produced a number of essential early spoils and intercept marks to regular Hawthorn, earlier than Sam Mitchell’s impressed transfer to the wing and a brave intercept mark operating again with the flight underlined his affect. 7.5/10
(8) Dylan Moore: Began fantastically, utilizing his operating energy to create handball chains down the wing, and remained a constant connecting presence whereas attempting to carry Hawthorn at each stage of the sport together with his offensive presence. 9/10
(9) Connor Macdonald: Labored excessive as a linking half-forward and pushed as much as present protection round stoppage. 6/10
(10) Karl Amon: Quiet early earlier than his exact ball use got here to the fore within the second quarter, however he was unable to stem the affect of the Lions’ small forwards as soon as momentum shifted after half-time. Had an enormous second within the fourth to push the momentum the Hawks’ means. 6/10
(12) Will Day: He impacted early with essential tackles and confirmed composure with ball in hand, a really sturdy efficiency. 7/10
(15) Blake Hardwick: Went looking for Charlie Cameron’s physique too early in aerial contests, permitting him to get out the again and punish Hawthorn twice within the second quarter, whereas his decision-making seemed unusually unsure. Nonetheless labored laborious in defence. 4/10
(16) Massimo D’Ambrosio: Collected 12 disposals by half-time, labored laborious to help the defence and took two essential marks within the third quarter in a strong efficiency. 6/10
(17) Lloyd Meek: He clearly received the ruck battle, persistently giving Hawthorn’s midfielders and forwards first look whereas remaining exceptionally clear at floor degree, trying like an additional midfielder in a career-best efficiency. 9/10
(18) Mabior Chol: Had no influence within the first half and was crushed in a number of contests, then failed to offer the aerial presence Hawthorn desperately wanted after the primary break because the Lions’ defenders marked too simply. 4/10
(19) Jack Gunston: Reached 50 profession finals objectives, was all the time in the correct place on the proper time. The evergreen veteran was an enormous presence within the final quarter. 8/10
(23) Josh Weddle: Shifted to half-back when Sicily moved onto the wing within the second quarter and once more served as Sam Mitchell’s versatile utility, influencing the sport at each ends of the bottom. He obtained shifted ahead within the final and had some large moments. 7/10
(24) Josh Battle: Outplayed each Oscar Allen and Logan Morris, conserving each forwards quiet and finishing his defensive function successfully. 7/10
(25) Josh Ward: Very clear early, he was Hawthorn’s greatest midfielder, sustaining a constant contribution throughout all 4 quarters. He had some large recreation defining clearances within the fourth quarter because the Hawks charged. 10/10
(28) Cam Mackenzie: He discovered loads of house on the surface and picked up 9 disposals by half-time, however pale after the break. 5/10
(33) Jack Ginnivan: Was uncharacteristically quiet on the massive stage, however all the time tried to strain and create havoc wherever he went. He had some nice composure late when the sport was on the road. 5/10
(37) Tom Barrass: Positioned himself properly behind the ball, profitable a number of essential early contests and offering a powerful final line of defence. He took what might have proved to be the game-saving mark with two minutes to play. 9/10
(40) Max Beattie: He had little affect as a small ahead and struggled to turn into concerned within the recreation. 3/10
(42) Bailey Macdonald: He supplied restricted run and carry and had little affect, apart from one sturdy first-half sort out and a few sturdy aerial contests. 4/10
Brisbane Lions
(1) Kai Lohmann: Wow, what a 3rd time period, the flashy ahead leaving soccer Siberia within the first half for the nice and cozy waters of Florida after the primary break. He didn’t have a contact within the first time period, and it took till he received a contentious free kick late within the second time period to have an effect, changing a set shot. However his third time period was match-turning, delivering three objectives, together with a shocking set shot from simply inside the correct boundary, because the Lions booted seven objectives to 1 for the time period. 7/10
(2) Sam Draper: The previous Essendon ruckman didn’t have the most effective of video games in opposition to the Crows final week, however was strong across the floor in opposition to Meek. He botched a vital set shot within the second time period, however was lively all night. 7/10
(3) Jaspa Fletcher: The dependable defender struggled to regain his greatest type early within the season, however regained contact, and continued that right here with 11 disposals to half-time. Labored laborious after the primary break. 7/10
(4) Oscar Allen: The previous West Coast captain was busy early, pushing up discipline to have an affect with 4 marks within the first time period. He didn’t take one other, and might want to carry subsequent week. 4/10
(5) Josh Dunkley: There have been few higher on the coalface than this man over the previous decade, his consideration to element impeccable. That was the case when he went to Day and held the Hawks star to 2 touches within the first time period, and 6 to the primary break. Whereas Day was extra productive after the primary break, Dunkley, who additionally frolicked on Newcombe, received this battle. 8/10
(6) Hugh McCluggage: Should now be dubbed “Mr Cool” after his goal-kicking heroics within the closing time period. The strain he was beneath was simply monumental. This was one other very good efficiency from the hard-running midfielder and big-time finals performer, who slotted two objectives when the competition was within the steadiness. He had one other essential kick within the third time period. He nonetheless gave the impression to be nursing a calf situation, however completed with 23 disposals nonetheless. 10/10
(7) Jarrod Berry: The dynamic onballer, who missed final yr’s grand closing due to harm, struggled to become involved within the first half, held to solely six touches on a wing. He got here to life with a 60m bomb within the third time period which reduce the Hawks’ result in 10 factors. 7/10
(8) Will Ashcroft: Put merely, the twin Norm Smith medallist was concerned in all the things. This man has an astonishing finals document, and was at his sensible greatest with an excellent operating objective and 9 touches within the first time period. He completed with 28 disposals, 10 inside 50s and eight clearances in one other finals masterpiece. Simply name him “Mr September”. 10/10
(9) Lachie Neale: The twin Brownlow medallist took a excessive hit on the opening centre bounce when floored by Newcombe, and – oddly – didn’t instantly go away the sphere for evaluation. He had 5 clearances to half-time, the Lions profitable this battle 24-17 to the primary break. Neale was sometimes sturdy after the break, ending with 26 touches, and lengthening his Lions profession by an extra week. 8/10
(10) Levi Ashcroft: The youthful of the 2 Ashcrofts has had a charmed run in his two seasons, and commenced this contest properly after a chip go from his brother, and objective. Didn’t exert a lot affect after that, however delivered a vital spoil with 10 minutes remaining. 6/10
(13) Logan Morris: The All-Australian and sensible younger ahead was properly held to half-time by Battle with solely three touches, and had solely two marks to three-quarter-time. However he burst into motion within the closing quarter, booting two early objectives to present his crew what gave the impression to be a match-winning lead. 5/10
(15) Dayne Zorko: The cheeky veteran had the job on Ginnivan, and held the previous premiership Magpie goalless and to solely seven touches to half-time. He supplied his typical sprint from half-back with six rebound 50s, in what might be remembered as a traditional preliminary closing. 7.5/10
(16) Cam Rayner: The sturdy half-forward is aware of the best way to pump up his crew with a second of brilliance, however wasn’t in a position to do this within the first half. Had the semi-defensive job of negating James Sicily after the primary break, however the Hawks’ co-captain took a pivotal mark which nearly saved the day for the Hawks. 6.5/10
(22) Ty Gallop: The person who performed within the 2025 premiership in simply his sixth recreation held his spot forward of Noah Answerth, however had nowhere to cover when tackled by Lewis, conceding a first-term objective. He battled significantly laborious. 6.5/10
(23) Charlie Cameron: Was within the play early when he marked strongly on the lead and transformed. Whereas he had solely 5 touches to half-time, two of them had been objectives. He delivered extra sprint after the primary break, and was essential to the victory. Maybe subsequent week he wants to influence the MCG to let rip Take me Dwelling, Nation Roads. 7.5/10
(26) Conor McKenna: The person with a Gaelic title and AFL premiership started as a defensive ahead on rebounding half-back Impey, and delivered one of many objectives of the yr, a trademark soccer poke off the surface of his boot. Held Impey to solely two touches within the first time period, and supplied velocity all night. 7/10
(27) Darcy Gardiner: The no-fuss, no-frills defender had the job on Gunston, and it was a troublesome night time on the workplace. Gunston completed with 5 objectives, however Gardiner did have his essential moments. 5/10
(30) Eric Hipwood: The veteran ahead missed final yr’s premiership due to harm gave the Lions their first lead of the night with an excellent left-foot snap. He was quiet at occasions, however gave the Lions a goal all night time, and completed with three. 7/10
(31) Harris Andrews: The Hawks wanted to discover a solution to curb Andrews’ intercept marking, and so they did this by making the star defender accountable. Lewis did simply that with three objectives earlier than half-time, however Andrews was again to his greatest after the primary break with marks and spoils, though Lewis hauled in an enormous pack mark late. 7.5/10
(32) Darcy Fort: The twin premiership ruckman was sometimes strong and reliable, though he needlessly held on to Weddle at a throw-in and conceded a objective within the second time period. 6.5/10
(33) Zac Bailey: This can be a man who is aware of the best way to step up in finals. He was a non-factor within the first half, rated “poor” by Jonathan Brown at half-time. Nevertheless, he obtained transferring after the break, ending with 18 disposals, albeit goalless. 7/10
(35) Ryan Lester: The unheralded defender, 34, had the imposing task on Watson, and commenced horribly when “the Wizard” booted the Hawks’ opening two objectives. He regained his composure, however Watson was a star all night time and nearly dragged the Hawks to victory. 5.5/10
(44) Darcy Wilmot: The rebounding half-back did not have the affect he wished within the first half, after which coughed up a excessive free kick – and objective – to Nick Watson within the third time period. Completed with 4 rebounds from defensive 50. 6/10
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Jon Pierik is a sports activities journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has received awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Join by way of X or e-mail.