Straight out of the ruck, it was an aimless hack forward from big Sam Darcy. But it floated on with the breeze and somehow carried a full 45 metres through for a goal.

The Dogs have forced some stoppages and slowed things down, and lo and behold they get a goal from it. Both teams have put their cards swiftly out on the table.

Umpire Nick Foot looks like he’s taken a whack on the shoulder or the arm, and he’s not moving too well. Play has to stop for a moment as he limps back to his position,

The Bulldogs started with the game at their pace, but the Hawks have flipped that already. They’re bringing the chaos, bringing the speed and letting blokes like Macdonald go to work.

Gunston brought it to ground and Macdonald was there to crumb and snap.

Lovely set shot finish from the big fella after a strong clunk in the pocket, all of 40 out from goal.

Hawks are looking to get as much speed on the play as possible, as we expected.

It’s a hot whistle out there, and most of the free kicks are coming for minor marking contest infringements. Be very interesting to see if that carries on all night, because it’s having an impact already.

Marcus Bontempelli extracted it from the guts and the Dogs ran forward in waves. Cody Weightman brought it to ground, Ed Richards came charging through off the square, dished off to Naughton and let him snap through the opener.

Dream start for the Doggies.

The Welcome to Country and national anthem have been completed and the players are taking their positions. A mighty roar fills the MCG, the kind that only comes out of hibernation once winter has turned to spring.

The ball is in the air, and the elimination final is underway.

T-10 minutes until bouncedown at the MCG. The stands are filling up, the rain is holding off for now and we’re almost ready for a game we’ve all been waiting two weeks for.

If we weren’t already struggling to separate these two teams, it seems like their media teams are working together now too.

Hawthorn’s surge this year has been built on scoring, dominating the ground balls and playing a fast, ultra-attacking style of footy. Their “offence is the best form of defence” ethic has worked to a point, but their backline is liable to cough up scores if the ball gets in there enough.

That’s where the Bulldogs have an advantage. If they can simply break even in the midfield and the inside 50 count, it’s hard to see the Hawks handling all of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy in the air – until next year anyway, when they get Josh Battle and Tom Barrass to help out.

But the reason that hasn’t been an issue for the Hawks this year is because they have owned the footy and territory to such a degree that individual defenders have been protected. They are so hard to stop when the speed of the game gets up, and for all the many strengths of the Bulldogs, Hawthorn has the potential to blitz them in that regard.

If you were asking me to make a tip (and I know you aren’t), my head would tell me the Bulldogs should take it. But I’m a sucker for the story, and have been a Sam Mitchell truther since before he even got the head coaching job. I reckon the Hawks do it. Somehow.

A bit of Friday night news. The Demons announced that Kate Roffey had resigned as president and was also leaving the board, effective immediately.

Roffey’s resignation comes after a succession of dramas on and off the field that have plagued Melbourne since their drought-breaking 2021 premiership.

Most recently, Roffey was roundly criticised for a radio interview she gave late last month amid fevered speculation over the future of star Melbourne player Christian Petracca.

Roffey’s successor, Brad Green, will lead a review of the AFL club’s board.

Key forward Julia Teakle has made the MCG her own to steer Port Adelaide to a commanding 40-point AFLW victory over the battling Western Bulldogs.

Fresh off a Showdown loss to Adelaide, Teakle booted four goals as the Power responded in impressive fashion to claim a 7.4 (46) to 0.6 (6) win at the MCG and get their season off the mark.

But the victory was soured by a potentially left knee injury to captain Janelle Cuthbertson in the third quarter.

Cuthbertson grabbed her already-strapped left knee after landing awkwardly from a physical aerial contest and was immediately helped from the ground.

She was ruled out of the rest of the match and will have scans.

Bulldogs star Ellie Blackburn appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in a heavy hit from Port Adelaide’s Ebony O’Dea in the third term but played on.

AAP

No late changes tonight. Subs are Jack Macrae for the Bulldogs and Luke Breust for the Hawks.

Hawthorn lost Cam Mackenzie to injury at training during the week, with Josh Ward coming in for him. Young mid for a young mid. James Harmes is back for the Bulldogs too, with Artie Jones making way for him.

It’s pretty simple. The winner will head to Adelaide to play Port in a semifinal next week, most likely on Friday night, and the loser goes home.

Both of these sides have gathered such a head of steam coming into these finals that it will be a disappointment to have their season end tonight. Given Port’s, let’s say, indifferent performance against Geelong last night, the winner will fancy its chances of progressing right the way through to a preliminary final.

From there, anything’s possible. In other words, tonight is absolutely massive.

Good evening, and welcome back to ABC Sport’s live blog coverage of the 2024 AFL finals. Night by night, the path to a premiership is becoming clearer and tonight at the MCG we will say goodbye to our first finalist.

The Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn come into the finals outside the top four, but arguably with more momentum than any other side this September. The Bulldogs, led by Marcus Bontempelli and driven by a fearsome forward line, look serious flag contenders while the infectious and insatiable Hawks have been the story of 2024.

This could be the most fun we have all finals, so strap yourselves in for what should be one hell of a ride.