HAWTHORN midfielder Dan Howe remains an outside chance of featuring in Thursday night's qualifying final against Richmond after a solid display in Box Hill's remarkable VFL victory over Port Melbourne on Saturday.

Hawks youngster Ollie Hanrahan kicked a goal with mere milliseconds on the clock to send the VFL elimination final at North Port Oval into extra time, with the ball dribbling over the goal line as the siren sounded.

Hanrahan's goal had saved Box Hill's blushes, after Port Melbourne kicked four goals in less than 10 minutes to erase an 18-point deficit and take the lead with just seconds remaining.

Led by Howe in midfield (28 disposals), the Hawks then kicked the only two goals of the additional 10-minute extra time period to win the thrilling do-or-die final by 11 points.

Howe was making his return from five weeks on the sidelines, having been suspended for two separate incidents during Hawthorn's round 18 clash with Carlton.

The tagger had been a regular in Hawthorn's midfield prior to his lengthy suspension, having missed just two games all year before serving a two-match ban for striking Patrick Cripps and a three-game ban for tripping Zac Fisher.

Although it appeared unlikely that Howe would return immediately given the five-day turnaround between Box Hill's match on Saturday and the AFL finals beginning on Thursday, Howe's workload over the weekend will enable the Hawks to keep their options open.

He sat out the entire first quarter of the VFL clash and was rotated heavily thereafter, ultimately playing around 70 per cent game time.

Scratchy early, he eventually shook off that rustiness and was among the most important players with an influential second-half display.

James Cousins and Taylor Duryea were also busy in the midfield, while Teia Miles, Kaiden Brand and Conor Glass played crucial roles across half-back.