After a 50-point win over Coleambally in the second semi-final on Sunday, the Hawks will return as favourites in two weeks, whether it’s against the Blues or the Northern Jets. 

Hull kicked the only two goals of the third quarter in the 11.17 (83) to 4.9 (33) win.

And the second lifted his teammates after he rose to his feet following a high shot to take his free kick and land another long bomb.

EWK coach, Gavin McMahon, said it was a moment that galvanised the team.

“The third quarter helped when the big fella gets clocked by the opposition coach – I think that sparked us into gear,” McMahon said.

Hull had been felled accidentally when he lost his footing and slipped into a tackle by Coleambally ruckman Josh Hamilton. 

But the Hawks were infuriated when Hamilton turned and threw himself on Hull.

“It’s nothing we didn’t expect is all I’d say,” McMahon said.

Hamilton was yellow carded, along with EWK’s Steve Smith who ran in as Hawks players objected to the incident. (The pair also had an altercation in their round 18 game two weeks ago).

With their ruckman off the ground until seven minutes into the last quarter, Coleambally’s hopes of a comeback were shot. But the moment capped a big game from Hull who gave his classy midfielders every opportunity.

“He’s been amazing,” McMahon said.

“To have a bloke who’s 200cm and 110kg who’s your fittest and quickest bloke in your club, it’s a bit of a luxury for us. He dominated.”

The Hawks had a 26-point lead by quarter-time after keeping Coleambally goal-less and threatened to get right on top with their run.

The Blues had brought plenty of pressure but were let down by their execution when trying to go forward.

However, they had the better of the second term, including three unanswered goals in 10 minutes to narrow the deficit to 16 points. 

But when Marc Geppert kicked his fourth goal before halftime and Hull marked strongly and goaled from 55 metres out after the break, EWK had doubled Coleambally’s score, and were never headed.

Coleambally backman Carl Pound had a big game but Geppert still finished with five goals, highlighting the difference between the two forward lines.

McMahon said 17 behinds wasn’t ideal but finals are a different game.

“I really wasn’t loving our ball use into the forward 50 but that’s a function of pressure and we still did a better job than we’ve done in the past under that sort of pressure, so it’s a step forward,” McMahon said. 

Hull spent the last quarter on the bench after another bump early in the fourth quarter while defender Brenton Roberts’ shoulder will be a concern for the next two weeks.

Full-time

East Wagga-K  4.5, 6.8, 8.13, 11.17 (83)

Coleambally     0.3, 3.5, 3.7, 4.9 (33)

Goals: (EWK) M. Geppert 5,  N. Hull 2, B. McPherson, C. Gordon, B. Argus, Z. Robinson; (Coleambally) K. O'Malley, S. Mackie, N. Jones, C. Cerato.

Best: (EWK) N. Hull, T. Smith, N. Baggio, M. Geppert, T. Garner, B. Absolum; (Coleambally) C. Pound, T. Clark, T. Groves, K. O''Malley, M. Carroll, S. Pound