Hawthorn Hawks v Brisbane Lions: AFL preliminary final – live

Darcy Fort gies awa a slaupy free kick frae a throw-in against the undersized Josh Weddle. The versatile Hawks player steps roond the corner tae snap the goal.

The Lions are kent for bein mair methodical wi their buildup but are goin heid-tae-heid wi the Hawks in a shootout. The reignin premiers transition at speed wi a lang kick tae the goal-line whaur Draper marks. But the ticht angle is ower muckle for the Lions ruck and the hooked shot floats oot o bounds on the full.

Logan Morris gets twa haunds tae a heich baw juist inside the arc but the umpire calls play on. The Hawks rebound and gang lang intae the forrit pouk again whaur Andrews masterfully gets a haund on the baw while rinnin wi the flicht.

The Hawks gang end-tae-end aff the Bailey miskick and open up a game-heich lead. Impey hammers a kick ower the last line o defence tae reach Gunston alane on the goal-line. The lang kick intae the forrit 50 is workin as weel as the Hawks cud howp.

Zac Bailey has been weel contained but gets aff the leash tae chairge throu the centre square. He taks ane ower mony steps and has tae hurry a kick that the Hawks comfortably defend.

The Lions win the baw oot o the middle tae mak the clearance count 18-10. The Hawks hae lookit better wi their chains in transition but their stoppage work is a mountin concern.

Sam Draper spills a simple mark on the wing and the Hawks pounce tae mak him pay. Lewis leaps heich tae outreach Andrews and nails the set shot frae at least 55m oot. Lewis has three goals.

Logan Morris chairges tae the arc tae mark on the lead efter the Lions rebound clean and at pace. The young key forrit hooks his kick for juist the second blemish frae 11 set shots across baith teams the day.

Watson stands at the centre baw-up wi Will Day takin a breather on the bench. The Hawks smooth-moover has only had twa touches wi Josh Dunkley doin a familiar job on him. Watson wins the clearance but the Lions pick the baw aff at hauf-back.

Shootoot alert! Cam Rayner wins a free kick in the middle and quickly sends the baw lang. Charlie Cameron has een only for the baw as Hardwick loses the flicht tae allou the Lions sma forrit tae mark and goal.

The Hawks gang end-tae-end tae find Gunston leadin haurd towards the arc. The veteran hauds aff Gardiner for a strang grab syne kicks the baw straucht throu the middle.

For the second time in as mony quarters the Hawks are aff tae a scintillatin stairt. Newcombe gets the centre clearance frae a free kick and sends a bomb deep intae the forrit pouk whaur James Sicily has drifted forrit and is ower strang for Hugh McCluggage in a ane-on-ane markin contest. The Hawks co-captain snaps the goal tae tak back the lead.

Twa o the best young players in the game set a ridiculous standard throu a mouth-waterin first term. Nick Watson kicked the opener and added a second while pittin fear in the Lions defenders. On the ither side, Will Ashcroft controlled the game atween the arc as he gaithered a game-heich nine disposals, twa clearances and booted a team-liftin goal.

The Lions edge the first term by the narraest o margins. That was some blisterin fitba frae baith sides that mair than lived up tae the hype. Watson wins the baw back on the wing wi equal doses o pace and pressure. Newcombe bursts forrit, haundpasses tae Chol inside 50, taks the baw back and checksides a shot on the siren … for a behind. Oh, that wad hae gien the Hawks some momentum goin intae the break.

The Hawks are winnin enough o the baw in their front hauf but the Lions look comfortable pickin aff their forrit 50 entries.

Conor McKenna special delivery wi a kick-aff-the-grund goal. Will Ashcroft earns a free kick oot o the middle and the Hawks defenders let the baw bounce oot for a throw-in deep in the pouk. McKenna pounces wi a first kick aff the grund tae open up space syne follies up tae chip the baw a second time and throu for a goal.

The Hawks bomb the baw lang intae their forrit pouk and this time it clears Harris Andrews as Gunston nudges Darcy Gardiner under the baw tae mark. The veteran steps roond tae his richt and snaps his first o the day.

The Hawks keep pepperin awa wi deep inside 50 entries but canna quite find a mark wi the Lions desperate in defence.

Watson races awa frae a pack on the wing and collects the baw aff the deck at tap speed. The kick fauws short o the leadin Gunston and the Lions are able tae clear.

Lachie Neale wins a free kick as Jai Newcombe crashes intae him again. Nae ane can get haunds tae the sky-heich kick but Hipwood is the first player tae respond and get tae the bouncin baw, gaithers and snaps a goal ower his shouder. Guid feet for a big man. And the Lions lead for the first time in the game.

Will Ashcroft loves the big stage and he lichts up the MCG again. The dual Norm Smith medallist runs intae space wi an overlap on the wing, keeps on goin, crosses the arc and nails the shot frae a ticht angle.

Logan Morris gets busy up on the wing and turns tae find Eric Hipwood without an opponent juist inside the arc. The key forrit slices the shot and it is never on target as he adds a behind.

The Hawks bomb the baw ower the Lions last line o defence for Jack Gunston tae rin on tae a bouncin baw and intae an open goal. But the baw taks a deceptive turn and skips awa frae the veteran forrit as Ty Gallop launches a rocket for Oscar Allen tae grab on the wing.

The Lions lock the baw forrit but are unable tae find a mark inside 50. Darcy Fort taks the baw oot o the ruck frae a throw-in but the quick snap crashes intae the goal post.

Back-tae-back goals tae Mitch Lewis as he taks a lang lead tae mark ootside the mark and juist inside the boundary line. The key forrit has little fash wi the distance.

The Hawks key forrits canna get tae a sky-heich kick inside 50 as Watson competes tae bring it tae grund. The Lions search for a way oot o defence but Mitch Lewis pounces wi a fierce tackle tae earn a simple shot at goal. Lewis converts and a roar gaes up roond the MCG.

The Lions level wi a strang pack mark frae an unlikely source as Levi Ashcroft gets on the end o a kick frae his brither Will.

A moment o calm in what has been a frenetic first five minutes befittin a preliminary final. The baw bounces atween the Hawks as the players begin tae find their feet.

Wha else but Watson? The Hawks bomb the baw deep inside 50 and Watson comes steamin throu tae crumb the pack, Lester panics and grabs a haundfu o shirt. Watson maks the maist o it as he spins and throws his airms in there, but haurd tae argue wi that ane. Watson has twa as he kicks a simple set shot frae 15m oot.

Josh Dunkley wins the next centre clearance but the Hawks pick aff the kick and find Nick Watson juist inside the boundary on the rebound. Lester winna mind Watson driftin this far frae goal but he is already lookin lively.

An immediate response frae the Lions as they win the centre clearance throu Sam Draper and Charlie Cameron gets on the end o the tumble tae kick. The Lions sma forrit marks on the lead and kicks truly.

First bluid tae the Hawks. First bluid tae Nick Watson. Ryan Lester stairts on the dynamic forrit but fails tae keep pace wi him as the baw trickles towards the goal-line but no before Watson can kick it aff the grund for the opener.

Rival rucks Lloyd Meek and Sam Draper leap heich in the centre circle as the AFL preliminary final gets under way at the MCG. But play has quickly stoppit efter Jai Newcombe collided wi Lachie Neale in the middle and left the dual Brownlow medallist sprawled oot on the turf.

The Welcome tae Country and national anthem are dane. The toss has been won by James Sicily and the players are now in position … here we gang.

The Hawks meet the modern-day Lions in a final for the first time as they aim tae end the back-tae-back premiers bid for a rare three-peat. Evergreen Jack Gunston remains the focal point while a spread o pacey hauf-forrits link the play and offer their ain threat near goal. Nick Watson is the standout as arguably the best sma forrit in the game, but Dylan Moore, Jack Ginnivan and Connor Macdonald can hit the scoreboard and will be juist as critical in pressurin the Lions at-times shaky defence. Brisbane hae their ain fleet o hauf-forrits who showed they still set the standard when they came oot wi a point tae preeve and blew awa Adelaide. Veteran goalsneak Charlie Cameron leads the way while Kai Lohmann has taken his game tae anither level. Zac Bailey and Cam Rayner are twa o the maist pouerful front-hauf players in the competition and can also pinch-hit in the midfield. The spread o goal threats, even before considerin young key forrit Logan Morris, will test the Hawks defence and the ability for the likes o James Sicily tae rebound aff intercepts.

Hawthorn and Brisbane meet wi a grand final spot on the line. Fremantle hae already booked their ticket tae a second AFL grand final efter stormin ower the tap o Sydney in a preliminary final last nicht. Jonathan Horn was at the SCG tae watch the Dockers turn the tables wi the last six goals o the game against the undermanned Swans. The Fremantle Fitba Club hae never had a nicht like this. They hae never been forced this deep doon the well tae win a big game. They hae never had sae muckle thrown at them. They hae never been in sic a hostile environment. They hae never, in a big game, flipped sae quickly frae a meek, nervy, fumbly team tae an offensive pouerhoose.

Here are the twa lineups as named: Hawthorn: FB: 6 James Sicily, 37 Tom Barrass, 15 Blake Hardwick. HB: 10 Karl Amon, 4 Jarman Impey, 24 Josh Battle. C: 1 Harry Morrison, 12 Will Day, 16 Massimo D’Ambrosio. HF: 8 Dylan Moore, 18 Mabior Chol, 33 Jack Ginnivan. FF: 5 Nick Watson, 2 Mitch Lewis, 19 Jack Gunston. FOLL: 17 Lloyd Meek, 3 Jai Newcombe, 25 Josh Ward. INT: 23 Josh Weddle, 42 Bailey Macdonald, 28 Cam Mackenzie, 9 Connor Macdonald, 40 Max Beattie. Brisbane: FB: 22 Ty Gallop, 31 Harris Andrews, 35 Ryan Lester. HB: 3 Jaspa Fletcher, 27 Darcy Gardiner, 15 Dayne Zorko. C: 7 Jarrod Berry, 6 Hugh McCluggage, 33 Zac Bailey. HF: 23 Charlie Cameron, 13 Logan Morris, 26 Conor McKenna. FF: 30 Eric Hipwood, 16 Cam Rayner, 1 Kai Lohmann. FOLL: 2 Sam Draper, 5 Josh Dunkley, 9 Lachie Neale. INT: 32 Darcy Fort, 44 Darcy Wilmot, 8 Will Ashcroft, 10 Levi Ashcroft, 4 Oscar Allen.

Brisbane were quick tae bounce back as they brushed aside their horror qualifyin final defeat tae Sydney wi a commandin win against Adelaide. Jonathan Horn was suitably impressed – but far frae surprised – by the way the Lions responded. Efter 106 games in fower years, ane can still never be quite sure whether the guid Brisbane or the bad Brisbane will turn up on any gien day. But all they need is a runway o a few weeks. All they need is a kick up the backside, a big occasion, a packed MCG and a cutthroat final. They played some o their best fitba against Hawthorn in August, hae a guid record against them in the Fagan era, and relish playin on their hame grund. A lot is made o the coach’s little hooks – tae rin towards the fire, tae dance on ice, tae chairge the opposition Braveheart style. All o them are anither way o sayin “embrace risk”. But all o them are dependent on the little lassie wi the little curl.

The Hawks and Lions players hae been oot on the MCG warmin up before 90,000+ fans descend.

Nick Watson is a key tae the Hawks premiership howps efter bootin 57 goals in juist his third AFL season. Jonathan Horn wrote about the sma forrit who already looms as a generational player. There’s lang stretches whaur he winna be sichted. But he’s aye the dominant presence on the field. He’s the Hawthorn player who gets in the opposition’s heid, whether it’s the defender seekin tae exit without bein mown doon, or the match committee preparin for a game. A fortnight ago, Fremantle opted for the insurance policy o Brandon Walker, who hadn’t played since early Mairch. Walker was picked for his speed, and he performed admirably. But he was unable tae mitigate the Watson moments. The first came when Walker momentarily lost contact wi him, Watson motored in on his blind spot, parted a pack o Dockers, and volleyed a goal at full pelt. Nae ane else in Australia cud hae kicked that goal. Nae ane else wad hae even attempted it. And nae ane cud hae stoppit him.

Final teams are in wi nae late changes. Hawthorn named an unchanged lineup frae the 23 that impressed wi an ambush o Fremantle in their qualifyin final at Optus Stadium. Brisbane resisted the urge tae recall Noah Answerth efter he contained Nick Watson the last time these twa sides met, wi the defender still sidelined wi an ankle injury. That allous Ty Gallop tae retain his spot efter he made the maist o his opportunity in the semi-final win against Adelaide.

Hello and welcome tae live coverage o the AFL preliminary final atween Hawthorn and Brisbane at the MCG. The winner o this game will face Fremantle in the AFL grand final at the MCG next Saturday. Hawthorn hae been able tae sit back and watch as all but twa ither teams hae drapped oot o contention since their rollickin qualifyin final victory against the Dockers. As the final siren sealed that rousin triumph on the road, the widely held view was that Sam Mitchell’s side wad avoid meetin Brisbane until a possible grand final matchup. But a finals series very rarely, if ever, follies the script – and here we are, a week earlier than forecast, wi the Hawks instead crossin paths wi the twa-time reignin premiers for a spot in the decider. The Hawks hae quietly become the form side o the competition wi only ane defeat – and a draw – in their past eight matches. Though that loss was ane they wad prefer tae forget as they were hammered by a certain team frae the sunshine state. Brisbane roared back tae life wi a commandin win against Adelaide in a semi-final, efter dishin up ane o their all-too common listless performances against an undermanned Sydney a week earlier. The Lions hae shown ower several years that as muckle as they can fail tae show up for a game here and there, they are juist capable o risin as the stakes dae. And the path they hae ended up on is muckle the same as the past twa years, when they won Saturday twilight preliminary finals at the MCG and went on tae win back-tae-back flags. The Lions are now twa wins awa frae sealin a rare premiership three-peat, and becomin juist the third side in amaist seven decades tae claim as mony flags in successive seasons. The previous twa were o course the Hawks in 2013-15 and the Lions theirsels in 2001-03. For all o their recent success, the Hawks and the Lions meet for the first time in a final since 1986 when the latter were still under the Fitzroy banner and yet tae merge wi the Brisbane Bears. First baw-up will be at 5.15pm in Melbourne / AEST. I’ll drap in the team news shortly. Meanwhile, shoot me an email wi your thoughts and predictions. Let’s get intae it!