AS EAGLEHAWK dealt with the pain of last year’s blown grand final, it did so knowing there would be no guarantees 12 months later of getting another premiership shot.

But with the disappointment of last year as a backdrop and the hunger to go one better in 2018 a driving force, the Hawks are back on the grand final stage against the same team in which they surrendered a 20-point three quarter-time lead against last year and lost by 32 – Strathfieldsaye.

For much of the season Strathfieldsaye has carried the tag as the team to beat and proved that by finishing a game clear on top of the ladder, but the Hawks have momentum on their side and have defeated the Storm in two of their three tussles.

Since suffering a four-point defeat to Gisborne in round 12, the Hawks have reeled off eight-consecutive wins – one of which was a 40-point second semi-final victory over Strathfieldsaye that followed a 112-point qualifying final annihilation of Kyneton.

Two finals wins by a combined 152 points speaks to the impressive form the Hawks are in at the business end of the season as they hunt their first premiership since 2008.

One of the cornerstones of the Hawks’ consistent season has been their deep midfield group that has been well led by coach Josh Bowe, vice-captain Brodie Collins, young gun Gedd Hommelhoff, consistent Ben McPhee, hard-nut Jesse Collins, Riley McIvor and recruit Jack Fallon, who between them have contributed 120 goals.

A pillar of the Hawks for many years has been their defence and it has again held up well, even with skipper Tim Hill spending the majority of the season sidelined.

Hill, Glenn Daly, Tyler Miles and swingman Brenton Conforti provide plenty of experience in the Hawks’ defence to complement youngsters such as Lachlan Atherton and Oscar Madden.

Down the other end Sean Williams (59 goals) has become the key avenue to goal with Matt Gretgrix spending the bulk of the second half of the season out with a medial injury.

But the Hawks certainly aren’t short-on for goalkicking options, with their average spread of 9.3 goalkickers per game the best in the competition.

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