Hawthorn's AFL finals buildup was in danger of wobbling off course on Saturday before captain Luke Hodge made sure it stayed on the rails.
Hodge, one of the modern game's smartest and toughest players, was best afield at Etihad Stadium as the Hawks beat North Melbourne by 14 points.
The 17.15 (117) to 15.13 (103) win secured the Hawks a top-two finish and a home qualifying final.
North ran the Hawks off their feet in the first half and led in the second term by as much as 26 points.
The uncontested possession count at halftime was a whopping 142-85 in North's favour.
Richmond upset Hawthorn three weeks ago and another surprise loss only a fortnight before the finals would have raised significant questions about the premiership favourites.
But Hawthorn rallied to reduce the margin to 13 points at the main break and then hit back as Hodge, his head swathed in bandages, produced a superb third term.
Playing a quarterback role across half-back, Hodge repeatedly cut off North's attacks.
Midway through the third term, the Hawks were back in front.
"We did a great job of picking him out for a period in the third quarter," North coach Brad Scott said ruefully.
"But that's not to say he doesn't put himself in the right spot either."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson quite rightly noted that life for Hodge and the rest of the defence became easier once players further up the ground put more pressure on North's attacks.
But Hodge was their on-field general and the architect of the win.
"We were really pleased how we were down and out at different stages through the second quarter and found a way to get ourselves back into the contest in the third quarter," Clarkson said.
"(We) then just held them at bay in the last part of the game."
Scott made no attempt to hide his frustration, particularly given how well his side took the game up to the league's top side.
"We came with a mindset to really attack them and to do that the right way, not to roll the dice, to really play total football - I take my hat off," he said.
"It's incredibly frustrating because we put ourselves in a winning position.
"I thought we did enough to win."
Midfielder Daniel Wells starred for North and rivalled Hodge for best-afield honours.
Hawthorn's Liam Shiels, himself a late replacement for Jordan Lewis (hip), was subbed off in the second term with an ankle injury.
Cyril Rioli also gave Hawthorn a scare when he limped off in the last term, but it appeared to not be serious.
