Hugh is McClutch with match-winning goal for Lions

Hugh McCluggage has turned up when it's counted most, kicking the most important goal of his AFL career to keep Brisbane's three-peat dream alive.

After a run of injuries kept the Lions midfielder to his lowest number of games in a season, McCluggage became McClutch in Saturday's epic preliminary-final win over Hawthorn.

After kicking two goals in the second half, McCluggage stuck his tackle on Hawks' Jarman Impey in the frenetic last minute at the MCG.

He was awarded a holding-the-ball free kick that enraged Hawthorn fans and then had ice in his veins as he kicked the match-winning goal.

It was the ninth lead change of the game and, incredibly, the fourth in the last few minutes.

"I just went in for a tackle and tried to grab a 'lever', as we get taught," McCluggage told AAP.

"We've been told that if we get an arm free, we've got to try to get rid of it - so, yeah."

After missing a set shot at goal early in the third term, McCluggage never looked like failing at his next three attempts, including the one that counted most.

"I'd had two shots from the same spot previously, so I knew what I had to do and I'd actually been practising them before the game," he said.

"It's funny how that works. But aim straight, kick straight and hopefully get that nice little left-to-right tail, which it did."

Calf problems had restricted McCluggage to only 16 games this season. He was recalled for their qualifying-final disaster against Sydney and had a bad day out.

But he was a little better in their semi-final win over Adelaide and on Saturday, McCluggage was mighty.

"I was really pleased for him just because he's had a year where it's been a bit of a battle injury-wise," coach Chris Fagan said.

"We put him back in for the first final, he didn't play all that well. He got a little bit better last week.