A decade after Hawthorn stunned the AFL, Jordan Lewis sees a little bit of that unpredictability in Melbourne.
The four-time premiership star will play against his former club in September for the first time, when the teams clash in Friday night's semi-final.
Lewis is also yet to have a win against the Hawks since joining the Demons two years ago.
After breaking a five-year finals drought in 2007, Hawthorn engineered an upset win over Geelong in the 2008 grand final for their first premiership since 1991.
Then, as now, Lewis says even his own team is not quite sure what is possible.
The Demons are coming off an elimination final win over Geelong, their first taste of September success since 2006.
"In our 2008 year, no-one really knew what to expect, or no-one really knew how anyone would perform in big games and I suppose that's a little bit like this club at the moment," he said.
"We didn't know how Friday night would unfold, it unfolded good in parts of the game but we have some stuff to work on and this Friday night will be exactly the same.
"We're unsure on how we'll play, we're unsure on how Hawthorn will play, but you just take it as it comes."
The last time Lewis played against his former club in round four, the Demons had their worst game of the season and were mauled by 67 points.
Lewis, the fiercest of competitors, would love to turn the tables on the Hawks.
"There is more significance than a home-and-away season game and since I've been at Melbourne we haven't beaten them," he said.
"Probably our worst loss for the season came against Hawthorn.
"Now both sides are playing a lot differently but it would be nice to win a final against your old side."
Lewis has played 305 games, 264 for the Hawks and 41 for the Demons.
His rich finals experience makes him a valuable resource for the Demons but Lewis said it is far more important that his teammates learn their own lessons.
"The thing I probably can offer is on-field calmness and a little bit of advice leading up to it," he said.
"But it's important for the players to experience it and soak it all up, understand how they perform in big games and how they approach a big game.
"I've spoken to a few of the boys but we haven't made a big deal about it."
Share
