Grand final hopes might have been on a knife’s edge this year, but the Hawthorn Spartans have managed to make it to their fourth grand final.
They narrowly secured their spot last week, ahead by six points when the siren sounded.
It was a very low scoring game for the Spartans, who only managed six goals in the whole game, very rare for them all season.
Showing signs of strain, the Spartans lost their 14 match winning streak three weeks ago, and lost again the following week. But they saved face narrowly and secured their finals berth, overcoming Prahran Assumption.
All seemed to be lost by the second quarter when the team lost all focus, failing to score a goal, but picked up under pressure in the final quarter.
Play like that won’t give the Spartans their coveted fourth premiership.
On Sunday, the team will face the Old Xaverians, a team that gave them their two and only losses this season.
Things aren’t looking good. The Old Xaverians have had the luxury of having a week off, and niggly injuries will be well and truly gone.
The Spartans will be leaving their player formation till the end, hoping to see some injured players back in the team and giving the defence a boost.
The match will be played at 2.00 pm at Sportscover Arena, Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick.
The Spartans are imploring all their fans to make it down and show their support one final time.
The canteen will be open and after the match, win or lose, the team will be going back to their headquarters in Rathmines Reserve, Hawthorn East, for a finals reflection.