After Hawthorn’s 23-point win over Geelong at the MCG on Saturday night, hawthornfc.com.au takes a look at the five main points to take out of the game.

1. First half worries
The Hawks were outplayed by a more desperate and hard-running Geelong =in the first half and there were many worrying signs for Alastair Clarkson.

For the first time in a long time, the Hawks couldn’t get their hands on the footy as the Cats dominated possession - Geelong had 100 more disposals than the Hawks at half time.

That translated to nine more inside 50s and a lead of 31 points as Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan and Matthew Stokes dominated for the Cats.

Duncan, a hard-running midfielder was best on ground at the main break with a staggering 25 disposals and a goal. Stokes had 22 to half time.

The Cats caught the Hawks out through quick fire handpasses in an almost kamikaze-style game that opened up Hawthorn defensively and caught them out for pace on the outside.

2. How the Hawks turned it around
Pressure and work rate. They’re two pretty simple philosophies but without either of them sides will struggle to win games and that’s how Hawthorn turned a 31-point half time deficit into a 23-point win by the final siren.

Ranked 18^th in the league for tackles before the game, the Hawks finished with 60 tackles to Geelong’s 45 and used that pressure to force turnovers and close down the hectares of space the Cats had in the first half. 

By doing that and running harder and faster than their opposition, the Hawks managed to win more of the footy and use it. Hawthorn had 199 disposals in the second half (just 32 more than the first) but the big turnaround was limiting the Cats to just 166 in the second half after they had 267 in the first.

It was also the release of Langford from his defensive job on Steven Motlop that proved one of the biggest game changers and as Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell and David Hale stepped up, the Hawks piled on 10 unanswered goals to storm to victory.

3. Langford plays himself into finals
It’s hard to see now how Will Langford misses out on a finals berth. Previously he was probably one of the players whose spot was up for grabs but after a breakout performance on Saturday night, he might be the Hawthorn wildcard in September.

Langford was outstanding both offensively and defensively – his first task in the game was to stop Motlop and he did everything in his power to succeed. Every time Motlop broke into space, Langford, whose pace is one of his biggest assets was with him every step of the way.

Then offensively he was a weapon when released from the tagging role in the second half.

He finished with 23 disposals and two critical goals that showed he has the temperament to stand up and perform in big finals.

The one on the three-quarter time siren won’t be forgotten anytime soon by Hawthorn fans. It was a moment for the ages.

Welcome to the big time, Will.

Langford celebrates his goal on the three-quarter time siren.

4. The ruck conundrum continues
Ben McEvoy and David Hale? David Hale and Jonathon Ceglar? Jonathon Ceglar and Ben McEvoy? Just what is Hawthorn’s best ruck combination? The answer is still unknown such has been the high level of performance by each of those three players this year.

On Saturday night it was Ceglar and Hale who starred, two weeks before it was McEvoy and Hale and before that it was Ceglar and McEvoy.

Hale returned to his best form against the Cats with three goals, 15 disposals and five marks, which included a courageous mark and goal that brought the Hawks within two points in the third term.

Ceglar was also outstanding, particularly in the final term as he clunked some towering and important marks on the wing and up forward. He finished with 23 hit outs (the most of any big man on the ground), 10 disposals, four marks and kicked a big goal in the last quarter.

Then there’s McEvoy who was omitted for the game and who played for Box Hill and starred with 44 hit outs, 15 disposals, nine tackles and two goals.

It’s a good position for the Hawks to be in.

Hale celebrates one of his three goals.

5. Lewis the game changer
A lot has been said about Jordan Lewis this year but a five-minute block in the third quarter of Saturday night’s win was arguably his best for the year as he picked up his team and sparked them to victory.

First he ran hard through the middle to find space and deliver to Hale inside 50 to kick Hawthorn’s first goal in almost a quarter, then from the ensuing centre bounce he got the clearance and found Liam Shiels at half forward.

But his involvement didn’t stop there.

He ran hard inside 50, found a small amount of space and marked 40m from goal. He drilled the set shot from 50m and all of a sudden the Hawks were within 20 points and had all the momentum.

Hawthorn’s brilliant run of 10 unanswered goals began because of his leadership and actions.

He finished the game with 25 disposals, four clearances, four tackles and a goal.