FINALS droughts and Hawthorn rarely appear in the same sentence, but Brendan Whitecross knows all too well the feeling of missing out in September.

However, the luckless Hawk could put a full stop on a difficult chapter in his career if, as expected, he runs out to face Geelong in a blockbuster qualifying final at the MCG next Friday night. 

It will be nearly three years to the day since Whitecross ruptured his ACL for the second time at the same venue against the same opponent in a preliminary final.

It was a simple twist of the knee as he lunged to tackle Cam Guthrie in the frantic dying minutes of that match that twisted Whitecross' fate. 

Instead of parading around the 'G with a medallion dangling from his neck a week later, or becoming a multiple premiership player in the years since, the 26-year-old has had to fight just to win back his senior spot.

After missing the entire 2014 season when his rehab stalled, Whitecross made an uplifting comeback early last season and strung together four games before being dropped.

He never returned as the Hawks juggernaut rolled on to clinch a third-straight flag.

This year, he couldn't force his way in as the Hawks blooded youth, until an opening suddenly appeared in round 17 against the Sydney Swans – 433 days since his last AFL game. 

He hasn't let his chance slip, entrenching himself in Alastair Clarkson's side on the eve of finals and at last Whitecross' luck might have changed.

"I think it's absolutely brilliant. He's had two knee reconstructions now and he's missed out, pretty much, on every final we've played in the last four or five years," teammate Isaac Smith said.

"He's been working really hard and he's been able to put about 15 months of consistent footy together.

"I think they're brilliant stories. You've got (Daniel) Menzel at Geelong who has also been through the same trouble and there's guys at other clubs who have been through injuries as well.

"I think that's the beauty of footy, you get to see stories like that develop, and it will be great to see him run out."

Whitecross played a critical role in the Hawks securing a top-four spot in the desperate final quarter against Collingwood in round 23, diving on a loose ball in the defensive goalsquare to prevent Ben Crocker soccering a goal.

It could've been the match-deciding moment, but Jack Fitzpatrick's heroics with a 60m bomb will go down in club folklore should the Hawks become only the second team in VFL/AFL history to win four straight premierships.

Fitzpatrick's goal in his first game in brown and gold secured third spot on the ladder and just the third win of the delisted ex-Demon's career.

And after coming in for ruckman Jonathon Ceglar, another ACL victim, Fitzpatrick could now feature in Hawthorn's entire history-seeking finals quest in one of the feel-good stories of September. 

"It would be awesome for him," Smith said.

"Fitzy always talks about how he was a die-hard Hawk and when he first stepped in the doors at Hawthorn he was a little bit starstruck.

"I think he said Jordan Lewis was his favourite player growing up, and also Hodgey (Luke Hodge) and Mitch (Sam Mitchell).

"He goes 'It was just a childhood dream come true (playing for Hawthorn), I loved every minute of it'.

"It was brilliant to see him (kick that goal) on the weekend."