GOALS - Hawthorn: Rioli 3,  Breust 3, Hartung 2,  Fitzpatrick 2,  Burgoyne 2, Gunston, Lewis,  Sicily,  Hodge,  Puopolo. Collingwood:  Crocker 3, Treloar 2,  Blair 2, de Goey 2,  White 2,  Greenwood 2, Cloke 2,  Grundy, Goldsack.
BEST - Hawthorn: S. Burgoyne, S. Mitchell, C. Rioli, L. Breust, J. Lewis, B. Whitecross, L. Hodge
Collingwood: A. Treloar, S. Pendlebury, B. Grundy, J. Howe, S. Sidebottom, L. Greenwood, J. De Goey
UMPIRES: Chamberlain, Farmer, Bannister.
CROWD: 52,968 at MCG.

This was a microcosm of Hawthorn's season. Rarely convincing, inconsistent, not without challenges and done with a support cast of kids and journeymen. But as has been the case so often recently, they made Harry Houdini look like an amateur.

Only just though. Trailing Collingwood at the MCG by a goal at the 27-minute mark of the final term on Sunday, the Hawks looked destined for an elimination final date with the Western Bulldogs.

But playing his first game for the club, lumbering former Melbourne fringe-dweller Jack Fitzpatrick took advantage of an unguarded goalsquare to spectacularly level the scores from 70m.

Paul Puopolo snuck through a behind, and after probably the most entertaining game of the season, Hawthorn had secured the double chance and a qualifying final date with arch-rivals Geelong, winning by the barest of margins. It was their sixth single-digit win of the year.

The Hawks did themselves no favours early. Adam Treloar - perhaps the Pies' best player this year - somehow went without a disposal in the first quarter.

Yet such was the breadth of contributors in black and white, Collingwood still led at the first break, and were still 16 points to the good of the Hawks at the 11-minute mark of the second term.

Treloar had 14 possessions in the second term, as he and Scott Pendlebury led a multi-pronged Magpies midfield which could yet make Nathan Buckley look like a genius. Youngsters Jordan de Goey and Ben Crocker both showed their class - sinking two first half majors apiece. In contrast inexperienced Hawks James Sicily and Marc Pittonet - brought in late for Ben McEvoy - had been quiet.

While Hawks Cyril Rioli, Luke Breust, Paul Puopolo and a steely-eyed Luke Hodge worked to bridge the gap, the Pies repeatedly had all the answers, and led by 11 points at half-time.

Poor kicking in defence once again proved a disappointment for the Pies. Both Nathan Brown and Marley Williams turned the ball over from their back 50, and watched as it sailed straight back for Hawthorn goals.

For the umpeenth time Hawthorn's old guard stood up when needed. Sam Mitchell used his superhuman vision to find Rioli in space, setting up the Norm Smith medallist's third. Shaun Burgoyne and Jordan Lewis added their name to the goalkickers list, and by the last change Hawthorn were 12 points ahead and surging.

Collingwood resisted strongly in the face of continued Hawthorn pressure. Despite being down to 21 men after a hamstring injury to James Aish - the Magpies managed to start the final term stronger than the Hawks. Levi Greenwood dribbled through an early goal, before Jesse White defied a heavily bandaged right knee to goal and level the scores. But Sicily drifted across a pack to claim a breathtaking mark, regaining the lead for his side.

The Pies went forward again, but a desperate Brendan Whitecross dive prevented a leveller. Hawthorn charged away on counter-attack. Billy Hartung was waiting, taking off through the middle of the ground before bringing the Hawks fans to their feet with a clinical finish. Burgoyne added another and finally it looked like enough.

But in a year full of momentum shifts there were twists still to come. Crocker took advantage of an ugly Travis Cloke thump to mark and goal, before Cloke himself closed the margin to six. The veteran forward then marked the ball 55m out on the boundary line, sending it to the goalsquare where the umpire missed a blatant unrealistic marking attempt from Greenwood.

Amid the confusion Jarryd Blair marked, goaling to once more bring the Pies level. At the 26-minute mark, Treloar capped off a dazzling final three quarters to snap straight and put Collingwood ahead. The Hawks' attempt at history looked to have been delivered a fatal blow. But once again, they managed to prove they're a team like no other.