Who wants to be a millionaire?

All that was missing on a glorious Sunday was Eddie McGuire handing over the novelty cheque to Emily Bates.

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ROUND 10: RICHMOND 3.5 (23) def by HAWTHORN 6.10 (46)

📝 Main recap:

The Hawks held up under the million-dollar pressure in an intense game and beat Richmond to win the McClelland Trophy and secure two home finals. 

Fellow finals contenders Richmond put up a tough fight at Punt Road Oval in front of a sold-out crowd, but the Hawks held on and eventually overran them with a four-goal final quarter effort. 

Gilly is all of us.

The win over Richmond cemented our second-place spot on the ladder and locked in a qualifying final at Ikon Park against reigning premiers Brisbane. 

After finishing only one place off dead last in the 2023 race for the McClelland Trophy, Hawthorn secured the eight points it needed to walk away as the best performing club across both the men’s and women’s competitions for 2024. 

By winning the McClelland Trophy, the Hawks pocket a cool million dollars. Reports suggest a four way split of the cash (which sits outside the AFL’s salary and soft caps):

• $250,000 to the club;

• $250,000 to the men;

• $250,000 to the women; and

• The remaining $250,000 to the Hawks Insiders coaches and football staff.

There are a million reasons it has been great to be a Hawthorn supporter in 2024 and that continues as we head into the women’s finals.

Lock it in Ed.

🤩 Best on ground – Tamara Smith is a brick wall

Defender Tamara Smith was massive on Sunday and her efforts saved multiple Richmond goals. She was always in the right place at the right time, ready to send the ball out of their forward 50 and stood up extremely well under the immense pressure of the game.  She finished the game with 18 disposals, six tackles and five marks.

Space buns FTW.

👀 Things we like to see – West starring

Eliza West dominated the midfield once again, collecting 24 disposals (including 12 first quarter disposals) and eight clearances.

👀 Things we like to see – Bodey goes forward

The first three quarters saw small forward Greta Bodey play a different role on the wing instead. While Bodey was still effective there, including taking an amazing mark in the first quarter which has been nominated for the Week 10 Mark of the Year, the game changed in the final quarter when she moved her back to her usual home in the forward line.

Bodey finished the game with 23 disposals (13 of them in the fourth quarter when she moved forward), five marks and seven score involvements.

Fourth quarter specialist.

👀 Things we like to see – Richardson beefs up defence

Alongside Tamara Smith, Jenna Richardson was also a key part of our defensive efforts against Richmond’s onslaught. She had 17 disposals and a game-high seven marks. 

Emily Everist had a bit of a quiet game in her return from illness but if she can improve going into finals then our defensive line up will be looking strong.

👀 Things we like to see – Feeling the pressure

As we are still a young team only playing our third season, this game saw the biggest expectations we have ever faced before. There was a million dollars on the line with the McClelland Trophy, we were favourites against a fellow top eight team and a home final.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The Tigers threw everything at Hawthorn — as predicted — but the side held up to the pressure and pulled through. This is a great indication of Hawthorn’s mental strengths as we head into finals.

🛠️ Room for improvement – Scrappy forward entries

There was a lot of scrappy football in the first three quarter. There is room for improvement inside fifty 50 decision making around ball entries, as well as hopefully starting Bodey forward next week.

💫 Rising star – Jess Vukic

Expansion signing player Jess Vukic had her best game of the season against the Tigers, with a team-high seven tackles, six clearances and nine disposals. It was great to see her step up to tackle the intensity of the game head on.

🪜 Ladder check in

At the end of the home and away season, the Hawks finished in second place on the ladder with 10-1 and 193.2%, behind 2023 beaten grand finalists North Melbourne.

🆙⏭️ What’s up next

The Hawks will play their first ever final against Brisbane this Sunday afternoon at Princes Park/Ikon Park (November 10, 1:05pm). Make sure to get your tickets so we can pack the old home ground with brown and gold!

Brisbane will be the toughest opponent so far this year. The reigning premiers only lost two games in the home and away season to North Melbourne (by 44 points) and Geelong (by 10 points) to finish 9-2.

They have faced Brisbane twice so far, losing both times: by 54 points in 2022 and by 27 points last year, with both games at Frankston.

It’s a bit of a strange home ground advantage — more of a home state advantage — as this will be the first time playing at Princes Park, but it is certainly better than having to fly up to Brisbane to face the Lions.

No matter the outcome of this game, the Hawks will be playing at least one more final. Lose and they host the winner of Port Adelaide v Richmond in a home Semi-Final in Week 2. With a win comes a home Preliminary in Week 3.

If selected, this will also mark our inaugural captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd’s 75th game.

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