HAWTHORN has stamped itself as one of the greatest ever sides with a dominant 46-point Grand Final win over West Coast at the MCG in front of 98,633 fans on Saturday afternoon.
On a day when the temperature of 31.3 degrees broke the record for a season-decider, the Eagles kicked the first goal of the match but then saw the Hawks kick the next nine in succession on their way to a 16.11 (107) to 8.13 (61) win and their third flag in a row.
Hawthorn led by 19 points at quarter-time, with their goal-kicking accuracy and field kicking outstanding, and stretched that to 44 points midway through the second term.
It took West Coast until the 16th minute of that quarter to kick their second goal, but a superb set shot after the siren from Elliot Yeo pulled the margin back to 31 points at half-time.
However, the highlight of the second quarter - and one of the key elements of the match - was a banana goal off a single step from the boundary line by Hawks skipper Luke Hodge.
Early in the third term the Eagles were on top, with a goal to Jack Darling cutting the lead to 24 points, but then came the moment that will haunt Darling forever when he dropped a simple chest mark 30m from goal.
The ball swept to the other end of the ground where Ryan Schoenmakers snapped truly, killing West Coast's emerging momentum.
By three-quarter time, the Hawks led by 50 points, and history beckoned.
HAWTHORN 5.0 9.3 14.5 16.11 (107)
WEST COAST 1.5 3.8 5.9 8.13 (61)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 4, Smith 3, Rioli 2, Hodge, Roughead, Birchall, Schoenmakers, Hill, McEvoy, Suckling
West Coast: McGovern 2, Darling, Hill, Hutchings, LeCras, Shuey, Yeo
BEST
Hawthorn: Rioli, Mitchell, Smith, Hodge, Gunston, Burgoyne, Frawley
West Coast: Gaff, Shuey, Butler, Hutchings, Priddis
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
West Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: David Hale replaced by Matt Suckling in the third quarter
West Coast: Callum Sinclair replaced by Matt Rosa in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Rosebury, Stevic
Official crowd: 98,633 at MCG
