The farewell game for legendary Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson and two-club icon Shaun Burgoyne has ended in a heart-stopping draw, after Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt kicked a goal to level the scores in the dying seconds.
The Hawks appeared to be cruising to victory in Clarkson’s 390th and final game, in which 407-match champion Burgoyne and three-time premiership Tiger David Astbury also bade farewell.
But Richmond fought back from 31 points down in the final term to deny Clarkson and Burgoyne a fairytale ending, as the Hawks and Tigers finished at 12.11 (83) apiece at the MCG.
Richmond ran in six final-term goals to Hawthorn’s three and forced the draw off a stray Riewoldt boot, the veteran Tiger soccering the footy through for a six-pointer with just eight seconds left on the clock.
Burgoyne performed a desperate dive in the goal square as he tried to get a fingertip to the ball, but the ARC deemed it a goal.
A touching farewell ceremony began as Astbury and fellow Richmond retiree Bachar Houli, who was sidelined with injury, were chaired through a guard of honour.
That was followed by Clarkson and Burgoyne walking through the guard of honour together, as claps rung throughout the MCG.
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