After conceding an early goal, the Hawks bossed much of the last hour of the game and created several opportunities, but couldn't deliver the finishing touches to at least send the match into extra time.

"We felt like the second half we turned it on and kept pressing, but just couldn't get that last ball into the final third quite right and didn't grab the opportunities that presented themselves," McKenzie said.

"There's plenty (of chances) that come to mind but at the end of the day we didn't quite adapt as quickly as we would have hoped early and they pinched that one goal, we couldn't drag it back."

McKenzie expects a willing clash in the Hanwood-Lake Albert grand final.

"I think it's going to be a very fiery match to be honest," he said.

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