Not much was on the line except pride for each of the teams out of finals contention but that didn’t matter to those involved,each team’s desperation for a win evident when Burgoyne made a valiant yet unsuccessful attempt to touch the football before it crossed the line inthe final seconds of his match.

The goal drew the scores level,meaning Hawthorn and Richmond finished a match with scores locked together for the first time while Carlton gave a yelp against the Giants before being overwhelmed in the second half.

The draw removed the need for a song to be sung and kept celebrations muted. Astbury nearly broke down when talking about his love for Houli while the star defender - who was granted a special exemption to be on the sidelines - admitted to mixed emotions as he had wanted to play on. Burgoyne,ever the nice guy competitor,apologised to teammates for not reaching the ball in time. A smile was never far from Betts’ face.

But at the MCG no one cared much that no songs would be sung or the fact there was no result to celebrate or dissect.

There were only a couple of beers to be had among football lifers as another strange season came to an end without a crowd there to witness the occasion.

To Burgoyne,the roar of the fans was what he expected to miss the most as the curtain dropped on a 407-game career without a crowd in the ground to witness it. His comment was ironic because,for once,it was the crowd at home watching the moment on television who felt their absence even more than the combatants.

They knew in their hearts this was an occasion robbed of the joyful atmosphere and standing ovations that normally accompany the end of the home-and-away season.

There was no chance for a roar every time Burgoyne or Astbury or Betts touched the ball. No chance for a standing ovation whenever Clarkson or Houli appeared on the big screen. No rivalry between supporters. No respect from fans for opposition players as each person would have received. No reverse cobras imitating Casboult’s celebratory pose.

There was not much waving or theatrical flourishes with the ball,the only concession to the event being Clarkson’s decision to send Burgoyne forward for a final goal when the game looked won,a call he would probably rue if he was coaching the Hawks next season.

There was no fun day at the footy for the fans,only tears welling up in lounge rooms across the country for what has been and what has been lost.

Thankfully,the men of the moment didn’t dwell on that fact,all expressing gratitude at what the game had added to their lives and the friendships they derived as a result. It made the moment - a significant one for the Hawks in particular - poignant.

“Today was a celebration regardless of the result,” Astbury said.

He knew the football cycle would go on,after another year like no other is celebrated with a sad rather than a mad Monday as football prepares to exit Victoria in September.