HEROES are often made on the preliminary final stage, and Matt Suckling stayed cool under pressure to earn that tag on Friday night.

With Fremantle surging, Suckling was tripped by Nat Fyfe late in a frenetic third term, and took the opportunity after the three-quarter-time siren to kick truly from just outside 50 and increase the margin to 17 points.

"Yeah, I didn't mind that. I wouldn't mind a few more shots like that," Suckling said in the Hawthorn rooms after the win.

"It was pretty boring, just routine. I knew I could make the journey.

"I just took a few deep breaths and went back and kicked it."

He admitted it was the definition of pressure.

"You always dream of kicking goals after the siren like that. I sort of felt like I was ready."

A prospective free agent at season's end, Suckling – unsurprisingly on a night like this – indicated his desire to remain at Hawthorn. 

"Obviously it's a great club. They've looked after me - I'd love to stay but it's something that we'll work out at the end of the year. 

Suckling's goal after the siren wasn't the only moment where he made his presence felt.

A crucial spoil on Tendai Mzungu to set up a goal for Cyril Rioli also helped define his night. 

He said he thought coach Alastair Clarkson would probably be happier with that effort. 

"Knowing my game he's probably going to be happy with the spoil, it's probably not a strength of my game," Suckling admitted.

With one premiership medal to his credit already, the defender said he was just preparing to embrace Grand Final ahead, with the prospect of the Hawks' winning a third straight flag serving as a sizeable carrot. 

"It's probably the best week of your life, and I'm just going to enjoy it again."