The king is dead, long live the king.
The Western Bulldogs have ended Hawthorn’s dream of a fourth straight flag, running over the reigning champs in the second half to advance to a Preliminary Final with the GWS Giants next Saturday.
The Dogs butchered some chances in the first quarter but remained close enough to attack late in the second, only trailing by a single point at half time.
They then exploded in the third, kicking six goals to one to all but end Hawthorn’s quest to create history.
Here’s how you reacted:
We can hear his heart breaking with every Bulldogs goal #AFLFinals #AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/PjakUmtG5s
— CrownBet.com.au (@crownbet) September 16, 2016
Dogs best quarter since 1954. I'm now on board.
— Barrie Cassidy (@barriecassidy) September 16, 2016
There it IS! SIREN!
We're off to a PRELIMINARY FINAL!! pic.twitter.com/VGONRjYt60
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) September 16, 2016
How many goals did you lose by tonight?#AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/9xbAkmRFaS
— Footy live (@AFLivebroadcast) September 16, 2016
Too hard to put into words …
… so this is how it feels for everybody when Hawthorn loses #AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/BCSmUBEpxU
— Ares Mars (@AresMarsFlack) September 16, 2016
Ryan Griffen now at GWS, Tom Boyd at Bulldogs. They meet in a prelim. Funny game football #AFLHawksDogs
— Tania Armstrong (@foxontherun500) September 16, 2016
Brilliant Dogs. Special group. Your turn. Well coached. Beat a mighty opponent. Take a bow the champs 5 GF 4 Premierships. #AFLHawksDogs
— Robert Shaw (@shawry_analyst) September 16, 2016
Soz Hawks, but you needed a rest. So did the rest of the country. Ps loving your players hugging their opposition ?? #AFLHawksDogs
— Jess McGuire (@jessmcguire) September 16, 2016
Congrats @HawthornFC for such sustained excellence. Fully expect them to freshen their list & challenge again in 2017. #AFLHawksDogs
— Jason Bennett (@JasonBennettTV) September 16, 2016
I'm going to briefly allow myself to like the Bulldogs. #AFLHawksDogs
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) September 16, 2016
I've made a huge mistake. #AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/SPhmm2df6b
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) September 16, 2016
The Bulldogs played in a prelim in 2010. Totally rebuilt their list with inspired recruiting & are back in a prelim 6 years later. Brilliant
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 16, 2016
The start and end of an era. #AFLHawksDogs
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) September 16, 2016
Wow the Western Bulldogs such spirit,commitment and belief they are on a mission. The dream is alive #1954. Kb
— Kevin Bartlett (@KevinBartlett29) September 16, 2016
— Petrik Dengerfild (@Dengerfildpls) September 16, 2016
AC: 'People will right us off, but we'll have some time off and reload again.' #ClarkoPresser
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) September 16, 2016
Congratulations Western Bulldogs. A very well deserved win against my Hawks. All the best 4 the next two weeks. A great story given injuries
— Jeff Kennett (@jeff_kennett) September 16, 2016
87,823 the final crowd number.
WOW. #bemorebulldog
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) September 16, 2016
How goooooood were them dogs. ??
— Moana Hope (@moanahope) September 16, 2016
GWS or Bulldogs in the GF… At least it'll be easy to pick who to barrack for if the Swans don't make it.
— Erin Riley (@erinrileyau) September 16, 2016
Class by Clarko. Walks into the Dogs rooms to congratulates players, coaches and staff and wish them well next week. A legend of the game.
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) September 16, 2016
Wow! Well, we're going to either have a first time grand finalist or one that hasn't been there for 55 years! #AFLHawksDogs
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) September 16, 2016
