Hawthorn 2.0 7.6 11.8 17.14 (116)
Geelong 9.3 10.5 14.9 18.10 (118)
Goals: Hawthorn - Gunston 4, Breust 2, Burgoyne 2, Puopolo 2, Rioli 2, Hale, Lewis, Roughead, Sewell, Whitecross
Geelong - Hawkins 6, Chapman 4, Duncan 2, Johnson 2, Christensen, Mackie, Walker, Podsiadly
Best: Hawthorn - Mitchell, Rioli, Stratton, Gunston, Breust, Burgoyne, Hale, Sewell
Geelong - Hawkins, Johnson, Selwood, Kelly, Stephenson, Chapman, Lonergan, Taylor
Crowd: 65,287 at the MCG
It was a heartbreaking end to a game that had it all in Round 19 last season as the Cats made it nine straight wins over Hawthorn since the 2008 Grand Final.
The contest was fierce and the momentum swung throughout the game, but in the end, it was Geelong who beat Hawthorn at their own game.
With pressure and precise kicking hallmarks of Hawthorn’s game style in 2012, Geelong challenged Hawthorn with their own style, and won.
The Hawks finished the game with 60 ineffective kicks to Geelong’s 44 and consequently, Hawthorn’s kicking efficiency was down, going at 65 per cent compared to Geelong’s 71.
The marking power of Tom Hawkins too, proved too strong for the Hawks to combat as Ryan Schoenmakers and Josh Gibson found themselves undersized down back.
The Cats took 16 marks inside 50, compared to Hawthorn’s nine for the game. It meant the Hawks had to work harder to set up scoring chances, while the Cats were able to pin point targets inside 50 with ease.
It was a fierce Geelong that jumped out of the blocks, catching a slow-starting Hawthorn off guard.
The Cats put the Hawks to the sword in the opening quarter, booting nine goals to two in a devastating performance that had most thinking the game was over at quarter time.
But when you look at the history of these two sides, you know anything is possible. And indeed, anything was on this chilly August night at the MCG.
What followed in quarters two, three and four was nothing short of remarkable as Hawthorn woke from its slumber and turned the tables on the Cats.
The Hawks booted five second quarter goals to Geelong’s one to close the margin to 17 points at half time.
It was the work of Grant Birchall, Cyril Rioi, Sam Mitchell and Jarryd Roughead that sparked Hawthorn’s comeback as well as a marked improvement across the board as the Hawks upped their pressure on the Cats.
Pressure and precise ball movement had the Hawks roaring back into contention to claim an unlikely victory.
After the long break, both sides threw everything they had at each other and, were playing with such commitment and determination fans could have been forgiven for mistaking the contest for a Grand Final such was the pressure and intensity.
The Cats took a 19-point lead into the final change but that was soon evaporated as Hawthorn weren’t to be denied.
A slick Jarryd Roughead handpass set up a Shaun Burgoyne for a goal sparked the Hawks and when Matt Suckling and Isaac Smith dared to take on the Cats through the middle, the Hawks were suddenly within seven points.
The Cats responded, but when Brendan Whitecross tied the scores and Brad Sewell put the Hawks in front, it seemed the streak was over.
But, the footy gods had one final twist in mind as Tom Hawkins marked 50m out and would kick for goal with seconds remaining on the clock.
The football sailed through the middle as the siren sounded and handed the Cats their ninth straight win over Hawthorn, an unbelievable finish to what is an unbelievable rivalry between the two sides.
