Hawthorn fans will dream of a new brown and gold era despite a heartbreaking loss to Port
The Hawks’ three point, semi final defeat at Adelaide Oval ended a fairytale run from a squad enjoying its most successful season since the club’s most recent premiership in 2015.
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Hawthorn faithful will wake up weary and wounded today – then dare to dream of a new brown and gold era, despite a heartbreaking loss to Port Adelaide on Friday night.
The Hawks’ three point, semi final defeat at Adelaide Oval ended a fairytale run from a squad enjoying its most successful season since the club’s most recent premiership in 2015.
And some extra salt was rubbed in the wounds when Port coach Ken Hinkley taunted forward Jack Ginnivan after the game over the young star’s social media pledge during the week that Hawthorn would be playing next week’s prelim in Sydney.
“I probably shouldn’t have done it, but the reality is if you throw something my way, we are going to throw something back occasionally,’’ Hinkley said later in the rooms.
Despite the result, the Hawks will lose few admirers for a season in which they started 0-5 but ended by stamping their undoubted credentials as a future force – years ahead of expectation.
In a classic semi-final, the Power advanced to a Harbour City preliminary final against minor premier Sydney, via a hard fought 11.9 (75) to 11.6 (72) defeat of a Hawthorn side that finished the season seventh.
Before the opening bounce, Sam Mitchell’s exciting young squad of Hawks had already done something arch rival Essendon had not managed in 20 years – win a final.
And their fearless game style had fans, family and greats of the club alike buoyant about a new brown-and-golden era – regardless of the result.
There were few prouder people in the stands than Nadia and Louie D’Ambrosio, the parents of Hawks sensation Massimo, who has enjoyed a career-best season in his first year at Hawthorn after crossing from the Bombers.
“You can’t express how your heart feels when your son is living his dream, and to get to finals in his first year at Hawthorn is an amazing achievement,’’ Nadia said.
Louie said the entire family, including brother Marco, 20, and Alana, 14, who all travelled to Adelaide for the game, were pinching themselves at the season their boy and his beloved new team had strung together.
“It’s been his dream since he was 10-years-old – playing AFL and playing in big matches and finals,’’ he said.
“It’s surreal.’’
Behind the glass in the swank, level three Ian McLachlan Room overlooking the ground, VIP guests – including South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and former Victorian premier and Hawks president Jeff Kennett – were told “the most famous wizard since Harry Potter” was set to be unleashed. How right they were.
Livewire forward Nick “The Wizard” Watson kicked three goals to steer his team to the thick of the action. But it wasn’t enough.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon reminded Port chairman David Koch: “On the plus side, you have some of the most passionate football supporters in the country.
“On the negative side, you have some of the most passionate football supporters in the country.”
He also conceded defeat in terms of understanding Hawthorn’s “Hok ball” philosophy.
“Whatever it is, it seems to be working,” he said.
Season 2024 was Hawthorn’s most successful since its last premiership in 2015. And Hawks fans showed it, strutting their brown-and-gold scarfs proudly around town before the game, packing pubs and marching to the ground together in defiance of Port supporters outnumbering them in size and sound.
While Port fans prepared to sing their epic rendition of the INXS hit Never Tear Us Apart’, the “Wizard section’’ in bay 130 were donning their sorcerer hats in tribute to Watson.
And 300th gamer Luke Breust’s wife Anthea and daughter Freya formed part of a guard of honour as the players ran on to the oval, with the forward becoming the ninth Hawk to reach the milestone.
Win, loss or draw, Hawks supporters were in agreement – their season had exceeded expectations and given hope for the future.
After all, having won three straight flags from 2013-15 and another premiership in 2008, the Hawks were meant to be in a rebuild phase.
But someone forgot to tell the plucky bunch of Hawks stars driven by fun, youth and camaraderie that look like they are putting the fun back into footy.
Hawks fan Craig Marshall drove from Chelsea with wife Monique and children Cooper, 8, and Cody, 4.
“There was s — tload of Hawks scarfs hanging out car windows on the way over — absolutely heaps,’’ he said.
“People were waving, beeping horns.’’
Hawks legend Jason Dunstall said it had “been a brilliant year”.
“I love the fact they play a fast, aggressive, attacking style of football and they are just good to watch,’’ he said.
“I had no expectations of them this year, so they had already way exceeded what I was thinking.
Fellow Hawks great John Platten said: “They have set a platform this year already, they will be boosted by a few blokes who will come into the side and who else will they pick up through the draft?
“Hopefully you could write them in for the top eight for next years.
“We’re a very happy team at Hawthorn at the minute.’’
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