Of course, for the Christian the hard work was done by someone else, Jesus on the cross, but the Bible teaches that for the believer redemption is just the beginning of the hard work of a holy and generous life.

Another aspect of redemption is how quickly it can happen. When the Hawks lost their first five games few thought that anything might be possible but a bottom-four finish. In fact, they finished half the width of the post from a preliminary final. It’s when the night is darkest that hope is most important.

Hawthorn is not guaranteed to progress next year – other teams will work to nullify them, and the shock value of their enterprising play is gone. So believers too may struggle as they move on, two steps forward, one back. But that first step, which the Hawks have taken, is the most vital.

Barney Zwartz is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Public Christianity.