AFL Toyota Premiership 2008

Hero:
Who else? Luke Hodge was inspirational with his current-day take of 1989 grand final heroes Dermott Brereton and Robert Dipierdomenico. It was like watching a Rocky film. After colliding with Saint Justin Koschitzke deep in the first quarter, Hodge took a moment to gather the little breath he had left in his lungs. Koschitzke limped away, but the Hawks defender was rattled. He heaved. Coughed up blood. But broken rib or not, he stayed on the ground and saw out the term. Even at the first change, when Hawthorn's quack whispered into his ear like a cut-man, Hodge was focused and returned for a key influence from half-back. As usual, he showed little regard for his battered body in the air and the contests – right through to the game's dying minutes.

Goat:
Leigh Montagna's neglect of defence added to his side's early concerns. Playing on wiry Hawk Clinton Young, Montagna let his man run riot with three deliveries inside 50 and plenty of run between half-back and half-forward. It was red-time when a free Young received a handball from Xavier Ellis, stepped inside the arc and smashed a goal through. The Hawks went 13 points up and, as the pair returned for the centre bounce, Montagna still stood 15m off his man. Ross Lyon had seen enough and gave Clint Jones the job.

Turning point:
Eight minutes into the second quarter and, while the Hawks had a handy buffer, the Saints were still in it. Then a free kick was awarded to Mark Williams 20m out, dead in front. Sam Gilbert was struggling with the goalsneak, who already had three shots on goal, and Williams converted to push the lead to 20. It was the Hawks' fourth without reply after St Kilda had started the game well and led by five. They powered on from there.

Bonus points:
...to the umpires, who saw that the first five goals of the match came from free kicks. Some may have been questionable, including successive 50m penalties for Adam Schneider and Sam Fisher after they were briefly held up by opponents. Decisions didn't sway the game, but robbed the chance for both sides to find their feet in a passionate opening.

...to Hawthorn's onballers, who had the Midas touch. Early in the third term, nine of the side's 14 goals had come from stoppages. Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell were winning a truckload of the contested footy and Brendon Goddard and Lenny Hayes were the only Saints offering any resistance.

...to Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt, who fired up a mini-comeback in the third quarter. Beaten in the first half and bothered by knee soreness, he had enough of watching his side plummet and kicked three goals in five minutes. It had a trivial impact on the margin, but the dash of leadership had a capital L.

...to the 70,000-odd spectators who hung around post-match to salute retiring Saint Robert Harvey. It was a sad goodbye to a champion after two decades and 383 games and, even in his last show, he had each of his 37 years well covered.

Chance Bateman – 6
Shrugged off speculation about a dodgy ankle to provide his usual run from a wing. Pumped his side forward with regularity and kicked a goal during the second-quarter onslaught in another efficient display.

Grant Birchall – 6
Had the job of negating numerous small forwards or resting midfielders and did so with aplomb. Also provided drive when called on and showed he is a neat user who will be handy in the big one.

Campbell Brown – 4
The swingman was back and forward throughout the evening and while he didn’t do a lot, Alastair Clarkson will be rapt his tough nut got through unscathed. Did kick a goal.

Full Hawthorn ratings

David Armitage – 2
Played forward and through the midfield but looked as though the pace of an AFL preliminary final might have been a bit hectic for him. Spent just over half the game on the ground and laid seven tackles in that time.

Jason Blake – 4
Was shuffled around on a variety of opponents throughout the night but couldn’t get into the contest. Was opposed to Luke Hodge early and was clearly trying to negate the Hawks’ sweeper, but it wasn’t his, or the Saints’ evening.

Raphael Clarke – 7
The much-maligned Saint continued his fine finals form with a great defensive job, principally on two hard-nut Hawks. Some have questioned whether young Raph is made of the right stuff but he clearly out-pointed Campbell Brown and Michael Osborne – his main challengers.

Full St Kilda ratings