The Brisbane Lions made hard work of it, but the reigning premiers are back in their fifth qualifying final in seven seasons after defeating a gallant Hawks by 10 points in a classic encounter at the Gabba.
The win puts them into a qualifying final against Geelong, who they have beaten in their past three encounters. Hawthorn have to wait to see whether Gold Coast beat Essendon and the margin before knowing if they finish seventh or eighth to play the Giants or Fremantle away in an elimination final.
The Lions were the better team with their midfield dominating but were unable to capitalise on their territory advantage kicking 0.8 in the first quarter and then 2.9 in the third quarter.
It took a dubious umpiring decision against Hawthorn for insufficient intent to settle the contest with just two points separating the two teams with six minutes left.
Bruce Reville goaled from the free kick which should be debated as it is not what the rule intends and the Lions immediately kicked another goal through Cameron Rayner from a centre clearance and the match was over.
Such a call was disappointing however the Lions deserved the win.
They won the inside 50 count and their three best midfielders Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley and Will Ashcroft were better than the Hawks who relied on bounce from half back to score.
Their guns were Amon and Jarman Impey who used the ball bravely to ensure the Hawks kept turning up and hanging in the contest. But they could not get their noses back in front.
Jack Ginnivan and Mabior Chol were the Hawks best forwards while Kai Lohmann and Rayner turned the match for the Lions.
The Lions would have been ruing their inaccuracy if they had lost but it was not completely unexpected as their accuracy has been an issue on more than one occasion during Chris Fagan’s reign as coach.
It has been a tough year for the purists but the match at the Gabba reclaimed some ground with a classic between the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn.
Dayne Zorko, who played his 300th game, said the team were saying at quarter time the goalkicking could not get any worse (of course it did in the third quarter).
“The message [at quarter-time] was ‘don’t get frustrated and move on’,” Charlie Cameron told Channel 7.
The top six is set: Adelaide vs Collingwood, Geelong vs Brisbane Lions, GWS Giants vs either Hawthorn or Gold Coast, Fremantle vs either Hawthorn or Gold Coast. Four opening finals in four states and a guaranteed final in Queensland in either second or third week of finals.