Hawthorn has held off a fiery Geelong outfit to win by a golden point, in a nail-biting finish at the MCG on Easter Monday.
Down by three goals at three-quarter-time, the Cats managed to break the goal-for-goal trend and kick four straight in the final term to level the scores.
Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead had a chance to kick the match-winning major, but instead floated the ball across the face of goal for a crucial behind, which ended up being enough to secure them the win.
Despite the much-hyped Geelong midfield trio of Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, Hawthorn were able to control most of the game and play on their terms.
The Hawks managed to get the ball inside 50 quickly using quick hands and hard running through the corridor to catch the Cats off-guard.
Hawthorn’s forward pressure was also immense, making it difficult for Geelong to defend key forwards like Isaac Smith, Jack Gunston, and Jarryd Roughead, who all finished with two goals each.
Despite having a quiet start, ball-magnet Tom Mitchell eventually found his way into the game, finishing with 40 disposals and two majors.
Ablett sat atop of the table as Geelong’s leading ball-getter (35 disposals, six tackles), followed by co-stars Dangerfield (31 disposals, two goals) and skipper Selwood (29 disposals, five tackles).
The first term looked like an even playing field, with both sides exchanging goals to keep it close on the scoreboard.
Ablett kicked a spectacular check-side goal in the first term to bring the Cats within two points at the first change, once again bringing the Geelong faithful to their feet.
Hawks veteran Shaun Burgoyne also made an impact early in the piece, but was forced to sit out after quarter-time, suffering a minor hamstring injury.
The Hawks upped the intensity again in the second term, with repeat inside 50s helping them push their lead out to four goals by half-time - the Cats at this stage struggling to piece together fluent passages of play.
The long-standing rivalry and numerous close finishes between both clubs meant a show was on the way, and they both definitely brought it.
The third quarter saw a hard and contested battle for the footy, as Geelong key forward Daniel Menzel went on to kick his third goal of the day, eventually finished his day with four.
But Geelong weren't ready to admit defeat and came out firing in the final term, kicking four unanswered goals through Tom Hawkins, Sam Menegola, Brandon Parfitt and James Parsons to put Hawthorn in a panicked frenzy.
The ball travelled coast-to-coast with the scores level in the dying minutes, as both sides fought desperately to get their hands on the hot footy.
At the end of the day it was the Hawks who were able to find enough composure to bring the win home for 150-gamer Paul Puopolo, following Roughead's golden point.
Despite there being 30-odd seconds left on the clock – arguably just enough for Geelong to sneak in one last goal – it was all too late as a forced turnover let Hawthorn regain possession and take precious seconds off the clock.
Hawthorn now look to continue their winning streak when they go up against reigning premiers Richmond next Sunday at the MCG, while Geelong have to travel across the country to take on a strong West Coast side at the newly-opened Optus Stadium.
GEELONG 5.1 8.2 12.7 18.9 (117)
HAWTHORN 5.3 11.8 14.3 17.16 (118)
GOALS
Geelong: Menzel 4, Stanley 2, Dangerfield 2, Parsons 2, Selwood, Ablett, Kelly, Fogarty, Gregson, Hawkins, Menegola, Parfitt
Hawthorn: Smith 2, Impey 2, Henderson 2, Gunston 2, Mitchell 2, Roughead 2, O’Meara, Shiels, Puopolo, McEvoy, Howe
BEST
Geelong: Ablett, Dangerfield, Menzel
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Impey, O’Meara
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil.
Hawthorn: Burgoyne (hamstring)
TALKING POINTS
1. DANGERWOODLETT
The Holy Trinity is complete, and no better time to debut ‘Dangerwoodlett’ than during the Easter long weekend.
Geelong supporters have been waiting for Gary Ablett Jnr’s fairytale return for over six years, and to see him running alongside club legends Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield was a sight to behold.
Together, the trio have five premierships, three brownlow medals, 19 All-Australian selections, and 580 Brownlow votes to their names.
Missing round one with a hamstring niggle, Dangerfield took to the MCG on Monday afternoon to play his first game for 2018, and did not put a foot out of place alongside Ablett and Selwood.
Managing to kick the first three Geelong goals of the game (one goal apiece), you couldn’t have asked for a better start.
And while there are many other up and coming Cats who deserve some credit, if today’s thrilling match is anything to go by, Dangerwoodlett in particular are going to pose a huge threat to the other teams this season.
2. HOW DO YOU STOP TOM MITCHELL? ASKING FOR A FRIEND…
With Tom Mitchell coming off the back of a record-breaking 54-disposal performance last week, Chris Scott surely had something tucked up his sleeve in order to stop a repeat from happening.
And while the match-up with Mark Blicavs kept him fairly quiet in the first term, Mitchell was able to find his feet and play the only way he knows how: getting his hands on the ball wherever he may be on the ground.
Not only does he win the ball constantly, but his tackling efforts are also up to standard, having the seventh-most tackles since round one 2017.
With a strong body, quick hands and fast reaction time, Mitchell seems to be unstoppable at times.
It is going to take a lot for coaches to figure out an effective way of stopping him, if there is one at all.
3. DON’T EVER ASSUME A HAWKS V CATS CLASH WILL BE A QUIET ONE
Easter Mondays are generally relaxing; you get an extra day off after forcing yourself into a food and chocolate coma on the Sunday.
But when the AFL decided to schedule an Easter Monday blockbuster between two long-standing rivals, everyone knew it would no longer be a peaceful day.
Since the first Easter Monday clash in 2012, Hawthorn and Geelong have created quite the spectacle, while also making it extremely difficult to pick which way the game will go.
Take last year’s match-up for example, where the Cats ran rampant over the Hawks, emerging 86-point victors.
Or the in round 17 that same year, where prized recruit Dangerfield helped lead the cats to a three-point win following his five-goal haul on virtually one leg.
You just can’t predict what will happen during the Easter Monday classic, making it a match all football fans will pencil into the calendar early.
4. HODGE OUT, IMPEY IN
When club veteran and legend Luke Hodge announced he had accepted a one-year deal with Brisbane to play on in 2018, many thought this would send the Hawks into a downfall.
But the arrival of former Port Adelaide speedster, Jarman Impey, has appeared to fill that space fairly easily.
Hawthorn’s newest recruit was on fire during the Easter Monday clash, showing his pace from all aspects of the ground and finishing with two goals and 16 disposals.
From an onlooker’s point of view, it’s hard to believe this strong and confident side is the same side that finished 12th in 2017.
It may still be early days, but accompanied with the likes of Jaeger O’Meara, Tom Mitchell and Ryan Burton, the Hawks can really take their football to another level this season.
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