Saturday afternoon's elimination final between Hawthorn and GWS Giants will be decided in the air, with the winner earning a spot in round two of the finals series against Adelaide, who await after their qualifying final loss to Collingwood.
The Giants have significantly strengthened their aerial threat by bringing back Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer to join an already formidable forward line featuring Aaron Cadman, Jake Riccardi, and Callum Brown.
This quintet presents a serious challenge for any defence, making Hawthorn's aerial defensive structure more crucial than ever.
Hawthorn will rely heavily on premiership-winning defender Tom Barrass to neutralise the Giants' aerial dominance.
Traded from West Coast during last year's exchange period, Barrass has become integral to the Hawks' structure both on and off the field.
The experienced defender has enjoyed his most consistent season yet, playing 20 games for the first time in his career.
However, his impact extends beyond his own performances, as Barrass has taken on a crucial mentoring role, coaching Hawthorn's forwards on how to combat elite intercepting defenders. That knowledge will prove decisive in this do-or-die clash.
With Mitchell Lewis omitted from the Hawks' lineup and Giants defender Jack Buckley unable to recover from a calf injury, both teams face significant selection challenges that will reshape their tactical approaches.
The spotlight naturally falls on the battle between Hawthorn's forwards and Giants All-Australian key defender Sam Taylor.
Experienced campaigner Jack Gunston, fresh from receiving his second All-Australian blazer after kicking 62 goals to finish third in the Coleman Medal, will likely draw Taylor's primary attention.
The veteran forward has made a career of troubling the competition's best defenders and will be crucial to Hawthorn's chances.
Alongside Gunston, second-year forward Calsher Dear will also look to test Taylor throughout the contest.
Despite his relative inexperience, Dear has already proven his big-game credentials, with his breakout performance coming in last year's corresponding elimination final, where he kicked three goals in Hawthorn's dominant 37-point victory over the Western Bulldogs in front of 98,000 fans.
Hawthorn has left no stone unturned in their preparation, with Barrass playing a pivotal role in readying the young forward for the Giants' defensive challenges.
During Thursday's main training session at Waverley Park, Barrass was seen coaching Dear through contested marking techniques, specifically focusing on body positioning to neutralise intercepting defenders.
This mentoring approach has been evident since Barrass arrived at the club, as he has worked extensively with Hawthorn's emerging key forwards, including Jasper Scaife, Will McCabe, Max Ramsden, and Dear, accelerating their development through his wealth of defensive knowledge.
Saturday afternoon's clash carries added significance for Hawthorn, who must overcome an eight-game losing streak at Engie Stadium to keep their 2025 premiership hopes alive.
The valuable lessons imparted by Barrass to players like Dear could prove the difference in crucial one-on-one moments against Taylor.
With both teams possessing genuine threats in the air and experienced campaigners ready for the big stage, this elimination final promises to deliver the kind of spectacle that defines September football.
The winner will advance to face Adelaide, while the loser's season comes to a crashing halt.
