Hawks snatch $1m prize from Lions at eleventh hour with resounding pre-finals win

Hawthorn has won $1 million dollars after defeating Richmond by 23 points to take out the McClelland Trophy on Sunday.

After Brisbane won its game earlier in the day to momentarily take top spot on the McClelland leaderboard, the Hawks simply had to win at Punt Rd Oval to jump back in the winner’s seat.

And Daniel Webster’s side did just that with a brilliant four-goal final term to power to a strong 6.10 (46) to 3.5 (23) win in an intense clash.

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Hawks key forward Aine McDonagh was crucial to the victory with two second-half goals including a sealer with three minutes to go to put her side 16 points ahead.

“It’s a million-dollar kick from McDonagh,” Nigel Carmody said in commentary following 26-year-old’s snap from a tight angle.

Earlier, it was the Tigers who got the first major of the final term to gain a lead through Emelia Yassir before last week’s rising star winner Mikayla Williamson kicked one back to make it 25-22 advantage to the Hawks with just under 12 minutes left.

The next goal then came when defender-turned-forward Mackenzie Eardley kicked a snap from a tight angle to give the Hawks a nine-point lead with four minutes left.

While Tigers midfielder Monique Conti (25 disposals) provided challenges all game for the Hawks, it was Hawks winger Greta Bodey who stepped up sensationally in the final term with 13 touches to help get her side over the line.

Bodey finished the game with 23 touches alongside midfield teammate Eliza West, who had a dominant first half.

Bodey said it was a huge game for the Hawks ahead of finals.

“Huge game, it was a big game coming into finals, we really wanted to get ourselves ready for next week and Richmond were the perfect team to verse because they are such a good quality opposition,” she said post game.

“Credit to them for bringing the fight, it took us the four quarters (to get the win) but stoked to get the result.”

The Hawks finished six points clear of the Lions on the McClelland leaderboard to take home the $1 million dollar prize which is shared between players, coaches and the club from the men’s and women’s program.

To conclude the lively encounter, Kaitlyn Ashmore scored a stunning goal on the run off the back of a smothered kick to give the Hawks fans a thrilling finish.

HAWKS DISAPPEAR

The Hawks had the first eight inside-50s of the third term and were rewarded for their hard work with an Aine McDonagh goal to gain a 10-point lead.

But the Tigers responded with the last seven inside-50s of the quarter, also scoring a major to cut the margin.

Beth Lynch got the goal before ruck Tamara Luke almost put the Tigers in front but narrowly missed as the ball rocketed into the left goal post.

The Tigers then got the first goal of the fourth term through Emelia Yassir to gain a three-point lead.

MILESTONE GOAL

Beth Lynch booted one of the longest goals of the season to put the Tigers within three points of the Hawks late in her 50th game.

The defender’s goal from 40 metres out carried the goal line comfortably late in the third term to keep the Tigers in the game in a big moment.

Teammates flocked to Lynch to celebrate the stunning goal from the 27-year-old, who kicked her first major since round 5 last season.

Beth finished the game with 12 disposals, a goal and four tackles.

INTENSE START

It was a low-scoring start to the game with scores reading 11-8 the way of the Hawks at halftime.

The Hawks won inside-50s (19-16) and contested possessions (62-49) in the first half but the Tigers had six more tackles (40-34) and matched their opposition in clearances (15-16).

Hawks midfielder Eliza West, who was leading the ground with 15 touches in the opening half, said it was an intense first two quarters.

“It’s been a highly pressured game for the first half just in general,” she said at half time.

“Richmond are definitely bringing it and I think on our end we would like to pick it up a little bit more.

“The glimpses of when we have been doing that more, that’s when we have actually been able to capitalise on our ball movement and how we want to play.”