Hawthorn's do-or-die elimination final against the GWS Giants at Engie Stadium also doubles as Jai Newcombe's 100th AFL game, with the Hawks aiming to secure the win to keep alive their charge for a 14th AFL premiership.
Newcombe, drafted as a 19-year-old with the second pick in the 2021 mid-season draft, has become a cornerstone of the Hawthorn team since his selection.
His tenacity, high work rate, aggression, and ability to impact contests around the ground have featured prominently in the Hawks' rise up the ladder to reach consecutive AFL finals series.
Coming off a stellar 2024 season, where he finished 10th in the Brownlow Medal and won the Hawthorn best and fairest Peter Crimmins Medal after being runner-up the previous two years, Newcombe has been pivotal to the Hawks' chances in 2025.
Not content with his 2024 form, Newcombe was part of a contingent of Hawks who headed to Texas to train at the world-renowned Exos Sports facility as he looked to continue improving and enter the top echelon of AFL players.
In the absence of star midfielder Will Day, who has suffered two navicular injuries that limited his season to just six games, Newcombe has led the way for the Hawks through the centre of the ground.
He is the only midfielder who has featured in all 23 of the Hawks' home and away matches this season, a testament to his durability and resilience.
Newcombe has starred in the midfield for Hawthorn this year, with his class shining through as he helped guide the team to a 15-8 record and a spot in the finals, setting up a blockbuster clash against the Giants at Engie Stadium.
Despite being tagged by opposition coaches attempting to stifle his impact, Newcombe has still produced excellent numbers this year in a midfield that has at times lacked grunt and class.
With James Worpel and Conor Nash yet to reach the heights of their stellar 2024 seasons, and Josh Ward continuing to improve through his opportunities, Newcombe has been crucial to the Hawks' midfield drive.
Newcombe's statistics this season have been above AFL average for a midfielder as he puts his name alongside the best in the competition.
He has averaged 22.4 disposals, 5.9 clearances, 5.9 score involvements and 5.1 tackles, showcasing not only his ball-winning ability but also his willingness to defend when the opposition has possession.
Newcombe has always attracted high praise from those within the four walls at Waverley Park, where he has continued to shine and excel throughout his AFL career to date.
Before being selected by Hawthorn in the mid-season draft, he featured for Box Hill under the watchful eye of then-Box Hill coach Sam Mitchell, before being picked up by the Hawks and never looking back.
In his first game, the Poowong product, who was part of Gippsland Power's under-18 team in 2020, broke the record for most tackles on debut with 14.
He received the AFLCA's Best Young Player award in 2022 and was selected in the AFL 22under22 team in 2023 as his star continued to rise in the competition.
With the home and away season completed, finals are typically where big-game players stand up, and Newcombe's record in finals is impressive.
In his two finals matches, both in 2024 during Hawthorn's elimination final win against the Western Bulldogs and their heartbreaking semi-final loss to Port Adelaide, Newcombe shone brightly for the Hawks.
He received a maximum 10 coaches' votes in the elimination final win and five votes the following week in the loss to the Power, finishing equal fourth in the Gary Ayres Medal for best player in the finals series despite featuring in only two matches.
The 24-year-old recently signed a monster six-year contract extension to remain at Hawthorn until the end of 2032.
The six-year deal is among the largest ever given out by the Hawks, demonstrating his importance to the team and his standing within the club.
With the Hawks needing to win interstate in a cut-throat final at a venue where they remain winless after eight attempts, they will be banking on their milestone man to deliver when it matters most, against a powerful GWS midfield that contains Finn Callaghan, Josh Kelly and Tom Green.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man – and Newcombe is primed to lead the Hawks' September charge in his milestone game.
