Geelong 5.2 6.8 6.15 11.16 (82)
Hawthorn 2.4 3.8 4.11 10.12 (72)
Goals: Geelong: Murdoch 3, T Hunt, Motlop, Blicavs, Podsiadly, Kelly, Selwood, Stringer, Caddy
Hawthorn: Roughead 2, Hale 2, Breust, Franklin, Puopolo, Gunston, Simpkin, Savage
Best: Geelong: Selwood, Duncan, Kelly, Murdoch, Caddy, Lonergan, Mackie
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Stratton, Roughead, Gunston, Duryea
After falling 33 points behind mid-way through the final term, Hawthorn never gave up.
Many believed the game was over when Jordan Murdoch goaled for Geelong at the 9-minute mark of the final term – but as is often the case between Hawthorn and Geelong, there was to be another chapter.
The Hawks kicked the next five goals in a 9-minute period to get within three points, only to have the Cats kick two steadying goals to win the game.
It was testament to Hawthorn’s never say die attitude, and more importantly, their ability to get itself back into the game in a short space of time.
It would have been pleasing for Coach Alastair Clarkson, but ultimately a disappointing end to yet another loss to Geelong.
Why Hawthorn fell behind
In many ways, Geelong strangled Hawthorn on Saturday night. Their pressure was immense and it forced the Hawks to kick quickly under pressure and “bomb” the ball into its forward 50.
Hawthorn’s kicking efficiency was at a season low 49.7 per cent in the opening quarter, and improved only by 0.2 per cent in the second to 48.1 – their overall disposal efficiency was 65.1 in the first and 63.6 in the second.
They were numbers many never expect to see from the Hawks who pride themselves on their foot skills.
From 28 forward 50 entries in the first half, Hawthorn managed 11 scoring shots for a return of 3.8. They were down on their usual efficiency inside attacking 50.
Hawthorn’s efficiency improved in the third quarter to 54.4 per cent by foot and 68 per cent overall, but the Cats were still using the ball much better and should have been further in front both at half time and three-quarter time, but poor accuracy hurt them.
Geelong teamed their pressure with elite skills by foot, easily finding and releasing players into space because of their pace.
As Hawthorn struggled and forced to kick long under pressure, Geelong found short targets by foot and slowly moved the ball up the ground whenever its space was shut down.
Geelong’s efficiency by foot was at 70.1 per cent at quarter time, 76 at half time and 69.5 at three-quarter time.
At three-quarter time, the Cats had 34 more effective kicks (121-87).
The Hawks couldn’t compete with that.
The only place Geelong wasn’t efficient was on the score board, which cost them a bigger margin particularly at three-quarter time.
The Cats kicked 0.7 in the third term to take a score line of 6.15 into the final term – the game should have been over such was their dominance.
How Hawthorn got back into it
The way Hawthorn got back into the game was simple. They took the game on.
For the first time all game, the Hawks finally found space in the final term, getting the ball into the hands of their runners – Isaac Smith and Bradley Hill.
Sam Mitchell too found more space, able to deliver by foot and release players through the middle.
The Hawks seemed to control the corridor a bit better in the final term – enabling them to get scoring chances from more manageable angles inside 50.
Hawthorn improved their foot skills because of their willingness to take the game on – and ran at 59.5 per cent by foot and 67.3 overall – it’s why they got back into the game/
Incredibly, Geelong had 42 more effective kicks than Hawthorn to half time and 37 more at three-quarter time, but credit to the Hawks, that gap closed to a differential of just three at the final siren. It’s little wonder why the Hawks managed to get back into the game.
The Hawks combined their better foot skills with score board pressure, kicking n6.1 for the quarter to at one stage get within three points.
Unfortunately though, the Cats responded to the challenge and also made the most of their opportunities, kicking 5.1 for the term.
Geelong’s pressure
At quarter time the tackle count read 15-17 in favour of Geelong, 26-37 at half time in favour of Geelong and 43-47 at three-quarter time in favour of Geelong, but their pressure transcended those stats.
Whenever a Hawthorn player had the ball, two, three, four sometimes five Geelong players would converge on the ball carrier and force him to kick under pressure.
That’s okay, there’ll be free Hawks further up the field you say? Not the case.
It was a credit to Chris Scott and his defensive group’s set up, that Hawthorn rarely, if ever had a free player in space at half forward or inside 50.
Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston all struggled to have an impact because they were competing against two, three and sometimes four Geelong opponents in the air.
Defender Josh Hunt led the way with 10 marks, Corey Enright had nine, Andrew Mackie eight, Harry Taylor six and Tom Lonergan five and you could probably need three or four hands to count how many spoils each of those defenders had on the night.
It seemed as though every time Hawthorn got itself inside attacking 50, it rebounded out just as quickly as it entered.
The stars
For Hawthorn, it was Sam Mitchell who led the way from start to finish with 36 disposals, four clearances four tackles, six inside 50s and four rebound 50s despite being closely tagged by Geelong’s Taylor Hunt.
David Hale was pretty good as a second ruckman who pushed forward, kicking two goals from 19 touches. He also had 20 hit outs.
Brian Lake and Josh Gibson were again good in defence, with the pair conceding just one goal to their direct opponents Tom Hawkins (no goals) and James Podsiadly (one).
Gibson’s rebound out of defence was stopped by the Cats, managing only 13 touches but his ability to zone off his man and act as a third-man up was effective.
Lake took 10 marks and overcame a shaky first half to be one of Hawthorn’s best along with fellow defender Ben Stratton who again showed why he’s one of the Club’s most improved players.
For Geelong, they were again led by Captain Joel Selwood who had 34 disposals (19 contested), seven tackles, eight clearances and kicked a goal.
The defenders – Lonergan and Taylor were excellent on Roughead and Franklin, while Enright and Mackie were also excellent both as defenders and rebounders off half back. They both had 22 touches, took nine and eight marks respectively and had seven and four rebound 50s.
From nowhere, Jordan Murdoch was the match-winner with three final quarter goals to go along with his 17 disposals.
What the coaches said
Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson: "We didn't play anywhere near as well as what we can, and Geelong played really good footy, particularly early on.
"They had the game on their terms, playing the game that they wanted to play.
"Their defence was superb, they rebounded the ball really well in the first quarter in particular, controlled the ball by hand and foot, and we were stuck halfway between playing wet weather and dry weather footy.
"We didn't take the game on enough, didn't search for the options that were available to us.”
Geelong’s Chris Scott: “We've played our best games against the best teams this year, which is a good sign.
"It shows us, in slippery conditions like tonight, we can mix it with good teams."
