Close call: Geelong players celebrate after Isaac Smith's after-the-siren attempt at goal for the Hawks went wide. Credit:AFL Media/Getty Images A grand total of 30 points spread across six games is all that has kept Hawthorn from missing the top eight. Instead, their never-say-die attitude has not only seen them qualify for this year's finals series but also secured them a top-four finish. However, as the Hawks prepare for a cut-throat semi-final against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night, given that you make your own luck in this world, the question has to be asked – have Hawthorn run out of supplies at their luck-making factory? Their thrilling after-the-siren loss to Geelong last week would suggest that is the case.

Left it late: Cyril Rioli's set shot with 77 seconds left on the clock saw the Hawks seal a memorable five-point win over Sydney in Round 17. Credit:Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Indeed, if Isaac Smith lived out every boy's dream and nailed the goal, there wouldn't be too many more tricks left for Hawthorn to pull out of the proverbial hat. In Round 3 against the Western Bulldogs, a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament prevented Robert Murphy from executing a spoil on James Sicily who went back and kicked a goal which gave the Hawks a three-point lead with 53 seconds left in the match. It would prove to be a match-winning moment. In Round 4 against St Kilda, with the Saints up by nine points early in the final quarter, kicks from Leigh Montagna to Sean Dempster and then from Dempster to Shane Savage deep in defence were both harshly adjudged to have not travelled the required distance of 15 metres by the controlling umpire. The resultant chaos led to Jordan Lewis kicking a goal and shifting the momentum back in Hawthorn's favour. Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo kicked the next two majors and the Hawks didn't let go of the lead again on the way to a thrilling three-point win.

The AFL umpiring department admitted they made mistakes in not paying marks to either Dempster or Savage. In Round 5 against Adelaide, the Hawks were on the ropes as they trailed by 15 points with just 4 minutes 40 seconds to go. Things should've got worse for them when Brodie Smith was streaming down the Members Wing at the MCG, but the rebounding defender inexplicably failed to hit an unmanned Paul Seedsman by foot on the half-forward flank. Had Smith executed a basic skill, the Crows could have gone up by 21 points given their forward line was wide open with Eddie Betts in a one-on-one with his direct opponent. Instead, the turnover led to Puopolo kicking a goal and starting the recovery mission. The Hawks booted the last three goals of the game to grab a three-point victory but not before Isaac Smith had to survive a very good shout for holding the ball 20 metres out from Adelaide's goal as the final siren sounded. In Round 17 against Sydney, Lewis' miracle tap over his head from a boundary throw-in went straight to Sam Mitchell who hacked it out of mid-air 50 metres from the half-back flank.

Jack Gunston collected the crumbs and dished it off to Smith who hit up Cyril Rioli. With his side trailing by a point, Rioli somehow pushed his notorious left hamstring to the limit and slotted the set shot from a difficult angle 50m out with 77 seconds left on the clock to seal a memorable five-point win. In Round 23 against Collingwood, Melbourne discard Jack Fitzpatrick, playing his first game for the year because of the absence of ruckmen Jon Ceglar (knee) and Ben McEvoy (rested), became the unlikely hero as he streamed through the centre square and defied his perceived lack of God-given talents by unloading a 60m bomb which bounced through for a goal. That six-pointer levelled the scores with two minutes remaining and came against the run of play given Collingwood had piled on the previous four majors.

Puopolo scored the all-important point with 46 seconds left on the clock to give Hawthorn another thrilling win and the double chance after they were facing the very real prospect of an elimination final first-up during the final term. But Hawthorn failed to produce a trademark Houdini escape when they needed it most against the Cats last week. The Bulldogs are no strangers to thrilling finishes this year either and boast an impressive 5-1 record in matches decided by 10 points or less compared to Hawthorn's 6-1 scoreline. Unsurprisingly, Dogs coach Luke Beveridge expressed confidence in his exciting young team to get the job done if it was faced with another thriller on Friday night. "That's one of the things that Hawthorn have done unbelievably well over the journey, they haven't won those close games through one method," Beveridge said.

"They've got ulterior options that they can go to at different times and I think we've held up pretty well this year in close games. "That'll be our challenge to make sure we pull the right string or the right cord if the time comes." Unlike Hawthorn, having won their last five games which have been decided by 10 points or less, the Bulldogs don't seem to be running out of luck just yet and that could prove decisive if the second semi-final goes down to the wire.