Hawthorn’s first pre-season hit-out for 2023 got underway in scorching temperatures against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

The Cats took the honours by 85 points over the Hawks in the first four periods of the match simulation before each side’s respective VFL teams stepped in for the second set of four.

Hawthorn booted the opening goal of the game with an exciting counterattack play, but it was a procession for the reigning premiers from then on.

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While the Hawks moved the ball well in patches, when the ball was in dispute, it was the Cats who won it and were able to transition the ball forward with little trouble.

Former first-round picks Josh Ward and Will Day were two positives for the brown and gold, spending more time inside the Hawthorn engine room across the game, each producing impressive moments.

Meanwhile, new co-vice captain Dylan Moore kicked three goals and could have finished with a couple more.

Young gun Jai Newcombe looks set to take his game to another level after a breakout 2022 that culminated in finishing runner-up in the Peter Crimmins Medal and third in the Rising Star.

Check out the quarter-by-quarter match report below.

QUARTER 1

The opening bounce saw Finn Maginness, James Worpel, Jai Newcombe, Ned Reeves head to the centre, while Karl Amon and Conor Nash took to the wing.

New Hawks skipper James Sicily was lethal with his opening touch, with his kick the start of a great scoring chain that was finished off by a Jarman Impey goal on the run in the opening 30 seconds.

New recruit Fergus Greene also hit the scoreboard early, kicking the Hawks’ second goal thanks to a cleaver pass from the newly re-signed Sam Butler.

Jeremy Cameron got the Cats on the board before Ollie Henry made the most of his next opportunity, resulting in a major, before another two Cats goals quickly followed.

Impressive youngster Newcombe found plenty of the ball from the get-go, showing he hasn’t missed a beat from his impressive campaign last year.

New recruit Lloyd Meek started as a deep forward, moving into the ruck during patches to support teammate Reeves, a combination that has looked strong so far this pre-season.

Meek filled a suitable role as a target inside-50, with his pressure and cleanliness below the knees a particular stand-out.

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Who Impressed in the Match Sim?

We're joined by the assistant coaches as they reveal who the stand outs were in the hit out against Geelong.

QUARTER 2

Cameron added another early major for the Cats, before some impressive groundwork from Jacob Koschitzke saw the Hawks get their first for the second term, ending a run of seven straight opposition goals.

Dylan Moore also got on the board after a beautiful kick, and was unlucky not to kick another one prior to that.

While Koschitzke was the main target inside 50, it was Greene who was the most impressive key forward in his first Hawthorn appearance.

An overall slow second term for the Hawks saw Geelong capitalised on its opportunities, finishing with a six-goal quarter.

QUARTER 3

Both teams were slow to start the scoreboard in the second half, before the Cats continued their momentum.

Geelong’s ball movement was at often at times too slick for the Hawks who missed some opportunities up forward, struggling at times to convert.

Moore kicked a ripper goal after breaking away from the pack on the ground – making it his second of the day.

After playing the end of the 2022 season in defence, Emerson Jeka made a return to the forward line, and although he didn’t convert, his smooth skills and contest work were on full display.

QUARTER 4

Will Day was busy through the middle – playing mainly as an inside midfielder in the role he has trained for all summer.

Moore was a shining light for the Hawks as he kicked his third goal of the match and nearly had a fourth in the final term.

He and Sicily looked a bit worse for wear in the quarter after both copping knocks. Despite coming from the ground, both were fine, as the Cats strolled to an 85-point lead by the time the fourth period came to a close.

To round out the game, Lachlan Bramble showed he’s ready to take the next step as a small defender. With Changkuoth Jiath a late out of the match due to soreness, Bramble provided some spark out of the defensive 50 and used the ball well.

Josh Ward – who played 14 games in his debut season last year – played in the centre and on the wing, with his work rate to help out in defence a standout.  

Connor Macdonald also had some highlights as a mid-sized forward, while Finn Maginness played a defensive forward role, spending some time on experienced Cats Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart and Cam Guthrie.

 

SCORES

HAWTHORN    2.2      4.5     5.10     7.11      (43)

GEELONG         5.3     11.6     16.9    21.12   (138)

 

GOALS

Moore (3), Koschitzke, Impey, Greene, Newcombe

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Hawthorn will then head to Launceston to host Collingwood at University of Tasmania Stadium on next Thursday for its second pre-season practice match.