Hawthorn forward Dylan Moore is keen for a rematch against Brisbane to right the wrongs of Round 22.

The Hawks meekly went down by 67 points, raising alarm bells at the time about whether they could contend with the best teams in the competition.

They have gone undefeated in their three games since then - a period which included a draw with Wildcard Finalist Collingwood - with the victory over Fremantle in the qualifying final in particular engendering belief about their status as a premiership contender.

"I remember the review; they were a bit harder and tougher, their work ethic was better on the night, and we felt like we didn't bring our best version," Moore said.

"Their pressure that night was phenomenal, and we know that we're going to have to come up against them again and we're going to have to handle the occasion better than we did that night."

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: Mitch Lewis of the Hawks is congratulated by team mates after kicking a goal during the round 19 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on July 19, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: Mitch Lewis of the Hawks is congratulated by team mates after kicking a goal during the round 19 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on July 19, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

Moore put applying and absorbing pressure on the agenda as an area the Hawks need to improve in, with the Hawks able to win clearances in the previous clash, but they were ineffective with the footy and unable to shut down the Lions' slingshot.

The forward line was particularly disappointing, managing only eight goals from 50 inside 50 entries while the Lions ran rampant, led by five goals to Kai Lohmann.

"We feel like their four smalls up forward are probably the best in the competition and we're chasing them, and we pencilled in that night as us against them, and they kicked (nine goals) between them and we kicked (two)," Moore reflected.

"We know we didn't perform that night, and their small defenders in Darcy Wilmot, Dayne Zorko, Jaspa Fletcher and Noah Answerth put on a bit of a clinic that night.

"They shut us down really well, so we know we have to be better because if we're not that good, they will be."

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Noah Answerth's ankle is the most decisive part of any Brisbane player's human anatomy for this Saturday's clash after he kept Nick Watson goalless in Round 22.

Moore gave insight into how the forward line can work together to maximise collective impact.

"'Wiz' is a special talent; I assume he'll respond well," he said.
"A lot of teams put in a lot of work to Wiz, and he's been able to handle it well. He's still a young player, so he'll look back at the Brisbane game and look at what he can do differently, but I've got full belief in Wiz.
"I remember against West Coast in the last game of the year (Brandon) Starcevich came up to him and he said, 'I need a bit of help'.
"I feel like that's something we do really well as a forward line; we're selfless and (people can say) 'I'm struggling tonight, help me out' and Wiz did that night, so whether it's a block or get in someone's way to help each other out, it's something we can do."
Saturday evening will be Hawthorn's first home final in the Sam Mitchell era, with Moore having observed clear growth across the club's three successive finals campaigns.
"Last year we were riding the wave of winning interstate then winning again, and then it's preliminary final week whereas now we have matured more and prepared better," Moore said.
"Last year we didn't handle momentum in the third quarter, so in the review it was about mentally how we can be better, and I feel like we've handled some occasions better this year and we're ready for Saturday night."

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