Jack Gunston kicked five goals in his 300-game milestone and Nick Watson took a spectacular mark of the year contender as Hawthorn's bid to snare third spot fell just short in a 62-point win over West Coast in Perth.
Hawthorn entered Sunday night's match needing to win in the vicinity of 90-100 points in order to leapfrog Brisbane into third spot.
That would have meant the Hawks (15-6-2) would face the decimated Swans in Sydney in the first qualifying final instead of minor premiers Fremantle in Perth.
Things were looking good for Hawthorn when they skipped out to an 83-25 lead midway through the third quarter following Watson's moment of magic.
Aptly nicknamed The Wizard, Watson leapt onto the shoulders of Liam Baker and pushed off powerfully with his legs to take a spectacular mid-air mark before crashing to the turf.
In the immediate aftermath, Baker and Watson smiled at each other in disbelief as they soaked up the moment, with Watson giving his opponent a hug after nailing the shot.
But the wet and slippery conditions meant Hawthorn always faced an uphill battle to push the margin towards triple figures, with the Hawks forced to eventually settle for a 16.11 (107) to 6.9 (45) win in front of 43,066 fans at Perth Stadium.
Hawthorn still finished fourth, earning a finals double chance for the first time since 2018.
Watson, who was worn like a glove by Brandon Starcevich for most of the match, finished with three goals and a goal assist, but hurt his left hand after being bumped into the fence by Bo Allan on the stroke of three-quarter time.
Hawthorn played it safe by resting Watson for the entire final term.
The Hawks may also have to monitor co-captain Jai Newcombe in the coming days after the back of his head slammed into the ground following a sling tackle by Harley Reid in the final quarter.
Reid will miss the start of next season if he is suspended over the incident, but playing in his favour is the fact Newcombe was allowed back onto the field following a concussion assessment.
Gunston's four first-half goals broke West Coast's spirits and was a perfect way to celebrate his milestone game.
Milan Murdock kicked three goals from 23 disposals for the Eagles, but there was little else to smile about for the hosts, who finish a disappointing campaign with a 4-19 record and an 11-game losing run.
Gunston started his milestone match in grand style, nailing a set shot in the opening minute en route to three goals for the first term.
Hawthorn's ability to run and spread meant Gunston had an acre of space to take uncontested marks in the forward 50m.
The Hawks' 37-8 lead at quarter-time probably would have been even bigger had two downpours not made the ball so slippery.
Gunston was gifted his fourth goal when the ball fell in his lap following a dropped mark to Bo Allan in the goalsquare.
Hawthorn flirted several times with the 15-goal margin needed to leapfrog their way into third spot, but in the end the task proved too hard in the wet.
Forward Nell Morris-Dalton has shown Carlton selectors that they made a worthwhile decision to salvage her AFLW career, as she dazzled in a 27-point victory over Adelaide.
Morris-Dalton booted three goals for the Blues (2-0) at Ikon Park to help last year's preliminary finalists remain undefeated with a 7.8 (50) to 3.5 (23) win.
The performance comes after she was delisted by Collingwood at the end of last season and missed the initial cut for Carlton's top-flight team after moving to their VFLW side.
But the 25-year-old was handed a lifeline when midfielder Maddy Guerin ruptured her ACL and on Sunday the injury replacement showed coach Mathew Buck that she deserves to be a mainstay.
Morris-Dalton also tallied 18 disposals, and alongside midfielders Erone Fitzpatrick (30 disposals) and Dayna Finn (28 disposals) the trio were instrumental in helping the Blues keep their seven-year winning streak against the Crows intact.
Carlton started hot, and their efforts were rewarded when midfielder Claudia Whitford booted the opening goal from 45 metres.
The Blues held their opponents to just one major at half-time, but Adelaide flicked a switch in the third quarter to close the deficit to 13 points at the final break.
Carlton forward Darcy Vescio slotted a crucial goal early in the fourth quarter, before Morris-Dalton scored her third major to ice the victory.
Adelaide midfielders Ebony Marinoff (30 disposals, four clearances) and Madison Newman (30 disposals, one goal) were busy, but it wasn't enough as the Crows (0-2) remained winless.
At Alberton Oval, Hawthorn shrugged off a sluggish start by storming home to claim a 5.3 (33) to 10.5 (65) win over Port Adelaide.
After finishing in the top-four at the end of the home-and-away season last year, the Hawks were on the precipice of starting their season 0-2 as they trailed by 19 points late in the second period.
But forward Laura Stone notched a double and Aine McDonagh slotted her own major to spark the visitors into life.
Hawthorn then kicked six of the next seven goals to complete the comeback, leaving Port - who conceded just two majors last round - utterly stunned.
Ruck Lucy Wales was typically inspirational for the Hawks (1-1), registering 23 disposals, 19 hitouts and a goal, while Poppy Stockwell and McDonagh posted three majors each.
Midfielder Maria Moloney (20 disposals, 14 tackles) and young ruck Matilda Scholz (24 disposals, 35 hitouts) were standouts for the Power (1-1).
