HAWTHORN will launch its assault on a fourth-straight premiership with the all-important double chance after overcoming a gallant Collingwood by one point in a thrilling contest at the MCG on Sunday.

The Hawks' nail-biting win locks up third spot on the ladder and sets up a mouthwatering qualifying final against Geelong. 

Full match coverage and stats

Playing his first game for the Hawks, and his first game of the season, back-up ruckman Jack Fitzpatrick turned match-winner with a sensational running goal from inside the centre square to tie up the game at 111-apiece with just two minutes remaining.

Paul Puopolo then mustered up all his energy to force through the match-defining behind with just 33 seconds left in the contest, as the Hawks hung on to the 17.10 (112) to 17.9 (111) victory that secures their place in the top four.

WATCH: The final two minutes

Hawthorn was made to dig desperately deep for its victory, with Collingwood leading at quarter-time and half-time as a frustrated Alastair Clarkson made his displeasure known in the coach's box.

But the Hawks lifted immeasurably in the second half, with their third-term charge led by small forwards Cyril Rioli and Luke Breust, who combined to boot six goals between them.

Although he had just 11 disposals, Rioli kicked three goals and set up three more to have a major influence on the contest.

With Jack Gunston (one goal) well held by Jeremy Howe, who was outstanding in defence, Breust bobbed up to boot three majors of his own as the Hawks' small forwards helped to turn the game. 

"It was pretty frantic. I suppose the thing Collingwood have got significantly in their favour is that they've got nothing to lose," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said.

"They probably had that approach going into the game, and they certainly had that approach in the last quarter, it was 'let's just go for it.'

"And once again, the spirit and the resilience of our group to just hang tough in the last five minutes of the game and find a way to win was really important for us."

The Magpies were stoic and fought desperately to override Hawthorn's advantage in a stunning final term, booting four straight goals to incredibly take the lead before Fitzpatrick intervened.

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said the little things had mattered in the end, but was proud of his side's resilience.

"The only thing we didn't do today was sing the song at the end," Buckley said.

"The effort was really strong – the resilience to be able to fight back from three goals down late in the last quarter.

"To get a goal up and then (there was) the overriding disappointment not to close it out, with a centre-bounce goal (Fitzpatrick's goal) where we had things in place but couldn't quite get it done."

Sam Mitchell was typically industrious through the midfield with a team-high 31 disposals, while Shaun Burgoyne (19 touches and seven tackles) again stood up when it mattered with a clutch goal in the final term.

Statless in the first quarter, Adam Treloar finished with a rush to rack up a game-high 36 disposals for the Magpies, Steele Sidebottom (33 touches) ran himself into the ground and Scott Pendlebury's poise in traffic almost was enough to lift his side over the line. 

Five talking points: Hawthorn v Collingwood

In what might be his final game for the Magpies, spearhead Travis Cloke finished with two goals and hauled in eight marks as he tried hard all day. 

But as they so often do, the Hawks found a way to win and it was the unlikeliest of heroes – a delisted free agent picked up from Melbourne in the off-season – who made it happen. 

MEDICAL ROOM
Hawthorn: Late withdrawal Ben McEvoy (back soreness) wasn't risked against the Magpies and the Hawks expect him to be fit for the club's first final.

Collingwood: James Aish received a lot of treatment on his left hamstring in the second term, but couldn't get on the field and did not take any part in the second half. Jesse White hyperextended his right knee in the third term. The forward went through a fitness test and the doctors were comfortable to put him back out on the ground.

NEXT UP
Hawthorn is set to face Geelong in what will be one of the most highly anticipated qualifying finals in recent memory. The Magpies' season is over but they can be proud with their efforts against the Hawks, laying the groundwork for a big 2017 with a much-improved second half of the season.

HAWTHORN         2.4   7.7   13.8   17.10 (112)                  
COLLINGWOOD   4.2   9.6   11.8   17.9 (111)          

GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Rioli 3, Hartung 2, Burgoyne 2, Fitzpatrick 2, Gunston, Puopolo, Hodge, Lewis, Sicily
Collingwood: Crocker 3, De Goey 2, White 2, Greenwood 2, Blair 2, Treloar 2, Cloke 2, Goldsack, Grundy

BEST 
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Rioli, Burgoyne, Breust, Birchall, Lewis, Hodge
Collingwood: Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Treloar, Grundy, Crocker, Phillips, Howe

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: McEvoy (back soreness, replaced in selected side by Pittonet)
Collingwood: Aish (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Farmer, Bannister, Chamberlain 

Official crowd: 52,968 at the MCG