Hawks all but lock in finals berth with thrilling win over Cats
Alastair Clarkson said after the Hawks' stirring win over Essendon last week that he finally had some kind of gauge on where his team stood in the AFL pecking order. If that was not quite solidified a week ago, it surely was after they slugged out an 11-point win in another classic clash against Geelong at the MCG on Saturday.
The Hawks' 13th victory of the season had major ramifications, for it has all but guaranteed they will return to the finals and may even finish in the top four, with two home-and-away matches remaining - against struggling St Kilda and the Swans in Sydney. For the Cats, who began the round a game outside the top eight, they face the brutal reality that they may not feature in September in a year when Gary Ablett's homecoming was supposed to have solidified their premiership hopes.
Ablett did his best against the Hawks, having 32 touches and three goals, while Patrick Dangerfield was best afield with 40 disposals (26 contested), but the Cats' midfield lacked the run and drive through the opening three quarters to edge the Hawks' more workmanlike brigade. While Tim Kelly and Joel Selwood were among those to lift in the final term, the Cats were left to rue two botched set shots, the latter by Tom Hawkins, who missed from 20 metres in front with 3.20 minutes remaining and his team trailing by seven points.
The Hawks led by 26 points at the final break but only iced the contest late when they were able to counter-attack, with Jaeger O'Meara converting with 58 seconds remaining as rain and lightning turned this into a dark day in more ways than one for the Cats.
"It was nice to kick the sealer but it was a good team effort," O'Meara said.
The Hawks were able to get the job done despite the late withdrawal of skipper Jarryd Roughead (ankle), his absence up forward covered by slick goal-kicking duo of Jack Gunston and Luke Breust.
The Cats ordered Scott Selwood to be a hard tag on Sam Mitchell but the Hawks' ball magnet still finished with 32, having averaged almost 37 a game this season.
Roughead was replaced by ruckman Mark Pittonet but it was the Cats who soon found themselves in injury trouble, for they lost ruckman Rhys Stanley in the second term to a suspected calf injury - he had just returned from that ailment - while Zach Tuohy was hampered by a hand problem.
Cats skipper Selwood was uncharacteristically ineffective in the opening three quarters, as his team struggled to win key contested balls until the final term. They were beaten 12-5 in centre clearances, and are ranked No.11 in this area, an odd deficiency considering the talent they have more often than not at centre bounces.
Hawks' youngster James Worpel reinforced why he was known for his hard-at-it attitude in junior ranks. That the Geelong Falcons product was prepared to take on Joel Selwood for a loose ball in the third term, collect the ball, spin and handball to Ryan Schoenmakers, who then found Gunston for a steadying goal, highlighted why the Hawks have big hopes.
"I just saw the ball and put my nose down ... it turned out all right," Worpel said.
It's no secret the Hawks want to retain possession and crave uncontested marks. That they were able to do this so often was perplexing. Shaun Burgoyne may have been the oldest man on the ground but he had the most tackles (13) and most clearances (7) of any Hawk.
The Cats threatened in the final term, initially through James Parsons dribbling a goal through and Daniel Menzel converting a free kick after Ricky Henderson had deliberately rushed the ball behind. It would be to no avail.
Chris Scott raised eyebrows last week when he said the premiership race was wide open despite the Tigers' sitting on top of the ladder. If the Hawks can maintain the pressure they displayed against the Cats, they could somehow yet pinch one of the more unexpected flags.
Hawthorn v Geelong may be one of the great rivalries but it was an inglorious start to this latest clash. Poor ball disposal ruled early, and there wasn't a goal until the 18-minute mark of the first term when the busy Sam Menegola found Hawkins on the lead in the pocket. The veteran Cat calmly converted, his 50th goal of the season.
Ablett gave a long finger wave after scoring - one perhaps directed at Smith who had shoved him off the ball and conceded a free kick, but also to those suggesting he had lost his magic, having missed a potential game winner against Richmond last week. The Cats, with Dangerfield and Ablett busy, had the run - or so it seemed.
Isaac Smith, enjoying a fine season, sparked the Hawks with a long set shot within the opening two minutes - and it became a procession from there.
The Hawks dominated the centre clearances, Worpel, O'Meara and Liam Shiels were busy, while Gunston and Breust contributed inside attacking 50. Smith had his second for the term, this time from a running goal, and when Gunston and Breust combined, the Hawks enjoyed a 20-point lead.
HAWTHORN 0.4 5.8 9.10 10.11 (71)
GEELONG 2.4 2.6 5.8 8.12 (60)
Goals: Hawthorn: I Smith 2 J Gunston 2 L Breust 2 H Morrison J Ceglar J O’Meara R Schoenmakers. Geelong: G Ablett 3 D Menzel J Henry Q Narkle T Hawkins T Kelly
Best: Geelong: Dangerfield, Ablett, Menegola, Kelly. Hawthorn: Burgoyne, Worpel, Shiels, Hardwick, Mitchell, Smith
Umpires: Shaun Ryan, Matt Stevic, David Harris
Official Crowd: 59,529 at MCG
Votes:
9: Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
8: Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn)
8: Liam Shiels (Hawthorn)
8: James Worpel (Hawthorn)
8: Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn)