1989 Grand Final: a battle of wills
Commonly considered one of the greatest grand finals of all time, this day, almost 30 years ago, has been popularly identified as the day that sparked this enduring rivalry.
The game is remembered best by its first moment, Geelong’s Mark Yeates intentionally collided with Hawks star full-forward Dermott Brereton off the centre square just after the first bounce.
Brereton was able to play on bravely, in what symbolised the rough and willing contest that the game was.
By the end of the match, Hawthorn could only field 13 fit players as the game took a severe toll on all involved.
The Hawks ultimately won the premiership, the eighth in their history, but, in addition, a common hatred had been assumed between the two sides.
The Kennett Curse
Against all the odds, the Hawks had snatched the 2008 premiership from the grasp of Geelong.
Disaster for the Cats. Elation for the Hawks.
The two sides were set for a grand final re-match in round of the next season, only 181 days after the famous grand final.
In the lead-up to the highly-anticipated replay, Hawthorn president at the time, Jeff Kennett, publicly doubted the Cats’ mental strength when opposed to the Hawks.
What followed was one of the most famous tales in the game’s history.
Over the next 11 games, ranging from round one 2009 until round 15 2013, the Hawks repeatedly fell to the Cats.
A seemingly relentless curse continually struck the Hawks down until it was finally halted in the 2013 preliminary final.
A battle for the better dynasty
Seven of the last ten premiership cups are owned by either the Hawks or the Cats.
In most other eras of our game, if a team won a premiership threepeat then that team would undoubtedly be considered the greatest of their respective generation.
Yet the Geelong flags of 2007, 2009 and 2011, which haven’t necessarily overcome the Hawthorn threepeat feat, have nevertheless at least encouraged the question to be posed by football commentators.
This is a tedious matter for Hawks fans, who believe their side should be rightfully crowned the greatest of the last decade.
Quiz: How much do you know about the Geelong Hawthorn rivalry?
So close but so far
There have been 19 clashes between these two sides since the 2008 grand final.
Amazingly, 11 of these games have been decided by 10 points or less.
Of these tight finishes, the Hawks have won only one, albeit it was the most important one, the 2013 preliminary final.
Yet regardless, much of Hawthorn supporters’ scorn towards the Cats relates to the way in which they have edged the Hawks by slight margins so often over the course of the past ten years.
Ruling supreme over all but one
Question: What do players like Shaun Burgoyne, Ben Stratton, Isaac Smith and Paul Puopolo have in common?
Answer: Geelong is the only team in the competition that these players do not hold a winning record over.
