Hawthorn 18.13.121 d North Melbourne 15.13.103

Coach: David Parkin
Captain: Don Scott

Backs: Alle de Wolde (27), Kelvin Moore (15), Ian Paton (42)
Half-backs: David Polkinghorne (10), Peter Knights (24), Robert Di Pierdomenico (9)
Centres: Rodney Eade (26), Terry Wallace (16), Geoff Ablett (2)
Half-forwards: John Hendrie (25), Alan Martello (14), Peter Murnane (43)
Forwards: Richard Walter (45), Michael Moncrieff (6), Peter Russo (47)
Followers: Don Scott (23), Michael Tuck (17), Leigh Matthews (3)

Reserves: Norm Goss (1), Michael McCarthy (20)

Goals: Matthews 4, Moncrieff 4, Scott 3, Knights 2, Ablett 1, Eade 1, Hendrie 1, Martello 1, Murnane 1

Best Players: DiPierdomenico, Eade, Knights, Matthews, Scott, Wallace

Umpires: Bill Deller, Ian Robinson

Attendance: 101,704 (at MCG, Saturday, September 30, 1978)

In one of the games great rivalries, Hawthorn and North Melbourne were met in their tenth final in five years and their third Grand Final in four years.?
Hawthorn made a dream start when Michael Moncrieff marked on the lead twice in the opening minutes and goaled twice. The Hawks seemed well on top until a series of big marks and goals from Phil Baker dragged North back into the game by half time.

When the Kangaroos led by two goals early in the third term the situation looked ominous for Hawthorn. However, with Don Scott at his inspirational best and Leigh Matthews booting 3 goals for the term, the Hawks regained the ascendancy.?
While Matthews gathered 10 kicks in the last quarter, Peter Knights provided the highlight when, after being knocked out in the backline, coach, David Parkin sent him to the forward pocket to recover but the champion didn’t need a breather.  He took a series of trademark spectacular marks and booted two magnificent goals. The Hawks had won their fourth premiership by three goals.