Hawthorn have clinched second spot ahead of the AFLW finals, plus the McClelland Trophy and a $1 million payday, with a hard-fought win over Richmond at Punt Road Oval.

The trophy, awarded to the best-performed AFL club of the year — combining men's and women's results in the regular season — came down to the Hawks and AFL men's premiers Brisbane.

Going into the game, the Hawks knew victory would seal the club prize and a home qualifying final.

But on a windy day at Punt Road, the game was played fiercely, with tough tackling everywhere.

There were no goals in the first quarter, as Hawthorn led 0.2 to 0.1.

A goal apiece in the second term left the Hawks leading by just three points at half-time, and a similar result in the third term left them ahead by just two points at the final change.

A goal by Emelia Yassir early in the fourth quarter gave Richmond the lead, but the Hawks hit back with majors to Mikayla Williamson and Mackenzie Eardley giving the Hawks a buffer, before Irish footballer Aine McDonagh kicked the million-dollar goal to clinch victory in the final minutes.

A late goal to Kaitlyn Ashmore completed the scoring. Hawthorn will now host Brisbane in the qualifying final.

Earlier the Lions beat the Saints 10.8 (68) to 6.5 (41) at Moorabbin, to finish the regular season on nine wins and two losses.

Needing a win to keep their top-two hopes alive, the Lions made a great start, kicking the first four goals of the game — including two to Taylor Smith — to take a 23-point lead at quarter time.

The second quarter was tighter, as St Kilda started to put more attacks together and raise the pressure on the visitors.

The Saints kicked the only goal of the quarter through Paige Trudgeon, while the Lions had chances but couldn't take advantage.

They led by 17 points at the half.

The reigning premiers came out after half-time and surged forward with the breeze at their backs, kicking four goals in as many minutes to more than double their lead.

Jesse Wardlaw answered for the Saints, but the Lions kicked two more in the quarter to widen the gap to 47 points at the final change.

But the Saints three-goal-to-none final term proved costly for Brisbane.

At Alberton Oval, Gemma Houghton's massive goal with one minute left secured a home AFLW elimination final for Port Adelaide and broke GWS hearts.

Houghton's outstanding set shot from an angle was the first time the Power had led all game and they held on for their sixth-straight win, beating the gallant Giants 7.1 (43) to 6.6 (42).

It means instead of finishing eighth and heading to Perth next weekend to play Fremantle in an elimination final, Port take sixth spot and host Richmond.

Power coach Lauren Arnell noted Sunday's boisterous home crowd of more than 4,000 at Alberton was the "top end of the tree" for an AFLW attendance and her players used their fans' energy in the last term.

But Port got out of jail and Arnell also said it was an important lesson ahead of the finals.

"It's for our fans and our people ... you could absolutely see the way our group fed off our supporters today," she said of securing the home elimination final.

"It (the near-miss) is a nice little kick in the backside."

The final game of the regular season saw Fremantle beat the Western Bulldogs by 14 points in Perth.

The results completed the order of the top eight, leaving these four finals for next week, with the Kangaroos — who clinched the minor premiership on Saturday with a big win over the Suns — hosting Adelaide in a qualifying final:

AFLW Finals week one

• Friday night, 7:15pm — Qualifying final: Kangaroos (1st) vs Adelaide (4th)
• Saturday night, 7pm — Elimination final: Fremantle (5th) vs Essendon (8th)
• Sunday afternoon, 1:05pm — Qualifying final: Hawthorn (2nd) vs Brisbane (3rd)
• Sunday afternoon, 3:05pm — Elimination final: Port Adelaide (6th) vs Richmond (7th)

All times AEDT. 

ABC/AAP