Drysdale has secured a berth in the BFNL grand final against minor premiers Torquay at Grinter Reserve on Saturday, after beating reigning premiers Barwon Heads by nine points in a nail-biter preliminary final last weekend.
The Seagulls led at each break, with only two points separating the teams at the final change, but the Hawks fought hard to score 4.1 to 2.2 in the fourth quarter, taking a well-earned victory with 10.7 (67) to 8.10 (58).
“It was a typical finals game, momentum was wrestled with both sides and in that last quarter I think the lead changed maybe four or five times, and lucky enough we were on the good end of the scoreboard when the siren went,” Drysdale coach Ben Carmichael said.
“It was a really great effort from our guys to stick to it and it was a really exciting finish,” he said.
“It was a pretty even contribution from our guys, but Jake Hargreaves was probably the match-winner.
“He kicked four goals and some of our more experienced players, like Tommy Ruggles, Lockie Dalgleish, Ben Fennell, Jack Jenkins, all played really well.”
The Hawks’ will now contest their first grand final since 2013, after back-to-back premierships in 2009-2010, but Carmichel said they have a lot of work to do this year.
“(Torquay has) been the best side all year, they’re fantastically coached,” he said.
“We think we’re with a chance, but obviously we’ve got to be playing our best footy.
“There’s a real buzz around the community and the Drysdale town (and) we’re just super excited to be in our first grand final in ten years.”
The grand final kicks off at Grinter Reserve, Newcomb, at 2pm on Saturday.
