Let’s flash back to Grand Final Day, 40 years ago, with the Hawks taking on North Melbourne…
Despite already deafeating them by 14 points in a semi-final encounter just two weeks earlier, Hawthorn found themselves up against North Melbourne in the premiership decider.
The Hawks had made two changes heading into their third grand final against the Kangaroos in four years, with Norm Goss and Robert DiPierdomenico returning to the side in place of David O’Halloran and Shane Murphy.
North Melbourne meanwhile boasted the then freshly-crowned Brownlow medalist, Malcolm Blight, and were gunning for back-to-back premierships.
QT: Michael Moncrieff got the Hawks off to the perfect start as he came streaming out of full forward to mark a long ball inside 50, before going back and landing the first goal of the game.
In almost identical circumstances, Moncrieff again marked after finding space on the lead against full-back Ross Glendinning to slot his second.
Graeme Melrose got North on the board with a crumbing goal, while Hawks captain Don Scott found the quick reply with a snap across his body.
Moncrieff capped a stellar opening quarter as he sailed through a drop punt from the boundary line for his third as the Hawks took a 19-point lead into the first break.
HT: A forward half intercept by Rodney Eade saw him run on to the Hawks’ first goal for the term, before a free kick to Don Scott deep in the Hawks forward 50 put the Hawks 25 points up.
But from there it was all North Melbourne as they piled on four unanswered goals without the Hawks scoring another point, stealing the lead and heading down to the rooms at half time with a four-point advantage.
3QT: North’s lead pushed out to 10 points after Ray Huppatz goaled from a free kick, but it was Alan Martello who got the Hawks on the board after roving a loose ball close to goal.
A sensational spinning and weaving effort from Leigh Matthews netted them a second, while the number three marked a long ball deep in the forward 50 to go back and kick his third for the day.
It was Scott who then equaled Matthew’s efforts from a free kick as the Hawks piled on seven goals to three in the premiership quarter to storm to a 22-point lead.
FT: The Hawks looked to have a serious fight on their hands as the Kangaroos drew first blood with a Graeme Melrose handball fing Doug Smith in space, who finished nicely to clinch the first of the final stanza.
Michael Moncrieff kicked his fourth after launching himself over the top of opponent Stephen McCann, while the shift of centre half back Peter Knights to the forward line paid dividends as he put the side 27 points up after taking a flying mark.
The Hawks’ advantage ballooned to an imposing 33 points after Peter Murnane wheeled on to his left foot from long-range mid-way through the term.
North Melbourne pinned one back, but it was Knights, again, who ran into an open goal after marking to all but secure the Hawks their fourth VFL premiership.
Despite conceding the final three goals of the game, the Hawks held on to win the 1978 grand final by 18 points, with the ball finishing in the hands of captain Don Scott as the siren sounded.
