The Hawks restricted the Cats for the second straight quarter and piled on four goals in time-on to open a match-high 30-point lead.
Geelong hit back with two goals inside the last two minutes, cutting the gap to 17 points. At the final change the Hawks are ahead 14.5 (89) to 9.18 (72).
The premiers began the term needing to settle after a second quarter which yielded 1.9 despite a mountain of possession.
But they continued in the same wasteful vein, with serial culprit Cameron Mooney hitting the post from close range, and Tom Lonergan repeating the error soon afterwards.
Gary Ablett’s goal at the six-minute mark broke a run of 11 straight behinds, putting the Cats four points ahead.
Hawthorn continued to hit hard on the rebound, with Luke Hodge and Lance Franklin answering Gary Ablett’s goal to keep the Hawks in front.
And the Cats finally began to crack after almost an hour of unrewarded dominance.
Cyril Rioli, Mark Williams and Stuart Dew (twice) kicked goals as Hawthorn surged over the top of the Cats in added time.
Earlier, Clinton Young had to be helped from the ground after hurting his knee in a tackle by Joel Selwood, further reducing the Hawks' options after Trent Croad injured a foot in the first quarter.
Geelong skipper Tom Harley spent the quarter off the ground after receiving a heavy knock just before the long break.
Follow the game live.
Geelong 5.3 6.12 9.18 (72)
Hawthorn 5.2 8.3 14.5 (89)
GOALS
Geelong: Mooney 2, Ablett 2, Chapman, Johnson, Lonergan, Milburn, Rooke
Hawthorn: Williams 3, Dew 2, Rioli 2, Bateman, Brown, Ellis, Franklin, Hodge, Roughead, Young
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
