AFL Finals: Calsher Dear reflects on Bulldogs win, Hawthorn’s road through September

The Hawks aren’t looking past the Power, but they recognise Port are in their way as they plot to charge through September, led by an unlikely young spearhead.

Exciting key forward Calsher Dear has declared “the sky’s the limit” for the energetic young Hawks as they look to carry their intoxicating momentum into next week’s semi-final against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

After producing an outstanding maiden finals performance in his 16th AFL game, the 19-year-old father-son pick stressed the belief was growing in the group after a stunning victory over Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

Dear and a host of his young teammates, including fellow teenager Nick Watson, were far from overawed on the big stage.

Instead it was the more experienced Bulldogs who at times looked like deer in the headlights in front of the biggest elimination final crowd in VFL-AFL history.

“That was some of the best fun I’ve had in my life; it was unbelievable,” Dear said after he kicked 3.4 (including two posters) to be the best key forward on the ground.

Dear starred up forward in the Hawks’ big win. Picture: Michael Klein

“It (his first year) has definitely exceeded my expectations, but in saying that, there is still so much more to do. The sky’s the limit.

“The cliche answer is we move on to next week. In the bigger picture we don’t get (to where we want to go) without winning next week.

“They (Port Adelaide) are a good side. I am sure they will be keen to bounce back, so it should be a ripping game. It’s just so exciting to be in this position.”

Dear celebrated in the MCG rooms after the Hawks’ 37-point victory with his family and friends, including his mum Cherie, while sparing a thought for his late father, Paul, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2022.

Paul famously won the Norm Smith Medal as a 24-year-old for the Hawks in 1991 and Calsher said he had been thinking about his dad heading into his first final on Friday.

“I think the biggest thing I was thinking about was that he won a Norm Smith (Medal), so he showed up in the big games, and I was praying he had passed that down on to me,” Calsher said.

From the moment Dear nailed a soccer goal almost seven minutes into the second term, you could tell the young Hawk wasn’t going to let his opportunities slip. He edged out his opponent near the line before throwing his foot out which turned into a smart, dribbling goal.

“I don’t even know what was going through my head then,” he said when asked about his first finals goal. “I have never played soccer in my life.”

“I thought it was touched originally.

“I was just thinking ‘what should I do?’ I always try to give my all and if there is a chance to score a goal, I’m going to go for it.”

The most significant of his three goals came midway through the third term when he juggled a mark right near the boundary line and he nailed a superb major from an acute angle.

“I had missed two relatively easy ones before that, but as a group, we have spoken about not shying away from things when you make a mistake.

“I thought to myself ‘why not!’ I just backed myself to go for it and thankfully it paid off.”

Dear said the coaching staff and senior players encouraged the young Hawks to express themselves so long as they continue to work hard.

“A lot of people see all the fun and the celebrations that we love doing, but that doesn’t come with all the hard work we put in,” he said, referencing his fellow forwards Nick Watson (four goals) and Jack Ginnivan (one goal) who are backing up their celebrations with deeds.

Asked about Ginnivan’s club-sanctioned dinner at the London Tavern on Thursday night, Dear said: “He can do what he wants … If you’re at this club, you are allowed to be yourself.

“Everyone prepares differently. It is obviously working for him … he came out and killed it.”

Dear praised the performances of skipper James Sicily, dominant midfielder Jai Newcombe and hard-edged ruckman Lloyd Meek, saying they played a big part in the club’s big win.

Now he’s looking forward to heading to Adelaide as the Hawks endeavour to keep this wild ride rolling deeper into September.