[View the story "How you saw it: Cats v Hawks" on Storify ]How you saw it: Cats v Hawks It's one of the great modern rivalries and this Easter Monday clash had an even bigger build-up than usual. A bloke by the name of Dangerfield might have had something to do with that. Storified by AFL · Mon, Mar 28 2016 07:50:02
A clear but overcast Melbourne day greeted fans from all over Victoria making their way to the 'G to catch a piece of the first round action.
The queue at the Grand Final Preplay. Opening Round #AFLCatsHawks @heyjude2590Richard Marles
While the Hawks were setting about defending yet another premiership, there were just as many eyes on a new-look Geelong camp.
They're in early at the @MCG for what should be a cracking finale to #OpeningRound #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/2jCIhH5ivlAFL
Ready for round 1 @geelongcats #aflcatshawks #footysback #gocats #cantwaitPaul James
Getting loose with just over an hour to go #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/abGsry7tOSAFL
The Hawks swung a late change after ruckman Jon Ceglar pulled out with a back spasm, allowing Marc Pittonet to debut on a big stage.
Congratulations @MPittonet #HawthornAlways https://t.co/w26w9CEfWLHawthorn FC
A beautiful pre-game tribute to Cats great Paul Couch had a large crowd of both Geelong and Hawthorn on their feet to remember the champion midfielder.
Remembering Cats great Paul Couch #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/eDLL4eqrwtAFL
Nice tribute to Couchy at the MCG today #gunplayer #aflcatshawksShane Laffin
Couchy's friends and family form a guard of honour at the Geelong race #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/StOOOqHgAAAFL
And then it was game time for the final match of round one.
Footy's back!!! @geelongcats #gocats #geelong #ripcouchy #AFLCatsHawksDave Poulton
Round one, yeah! #hawthornalways #aflcatshawks
Easter footy if you don't mind #afl #mcg #aflcatshawksPaul Riordan
G E E L O N G ⚪ #footysback #aflcatshawks #eastermonday
Come on @HawthornFC let's start the season with a win! #HawthornAlways #AFLCatsHawks #TrueColours https://t.co/IkgMARaI8XAlex Coumailleau
It was a slow start from both sides with little in the way of scoreboard pressure early, but Geelong answered Hawthorn's opening goal with four of their own. Former Sun Zac Smith drilled two of those.
QT: @GeelongCats 4.0 (24) lead @HawthornFC 1.3 (9). The Cats have the jump on inside 50s 16-9 #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/3aP7jk11AGAFL
Love to see a Hawthorn heat map right now. Have played as wide as I've ever seen them. #AFLCatsHawksMatthew Beggs
Great start Cats. Smith has earned his money already! #AFLCatsHawksChris C
Good start to Zac Smith's career at Geelong. Two early goals. Great tackle on Ben Stratton set up the last! #AFLCatsHawksJake Bozinovski
A good first quarter from @GeelongCats #AFLCatsHawks. https://t.co/VWJOQRkpdtMitchells Front Page
Lewis, Mitchell, Hodge, Burgoyne, O'Rourke have a combined total of zero tackles. #AFLCatsHawksSimon Morawetz
Great start by the Cats, ran Hawks ragged at times. But Hawks seemed to settle late, even if they're lacking a tall target #AFLCatsHawksNick Bowen
And just as Dylan here requested, the Cats kept building momentum with the first two goals of the second term to make it 6.0 (36). Patrick Dangerfield had an influence on both, bursting out of stoppages to begin the scoring chain.
Cats must kick the first goal here of the second quarter. Started well but a long way to go #AFLCatsHawksDylan Piscioneri
Dangerfield walking into the rooms at HT. #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/ujLPxpDxAeAnte Jukić
Let's go catters!! Keep it up!! #aflcatshawks #geelong @geelongcatsAlicia Walshberg
You can't keep these Cats down! #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/Uosqo3tvgeAFL
.@ZacSmith_2 is looking comfortable as a Cat He’s kicked three! #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/GVBogizykGAFL
Hawks fans right now.. #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/gTMUNFSygtNathan King
But the Hawks aren't ones to give in. At the halfway mark of the quarter, they kicked two in a row through Will Langford and Paul Puopolo to bring Geelong's lead back to 15 points.
He likes playing against the Cats, does Langford. #aflcatshawksAshley Browne
So good to see my man @LincolnMcCarthy out there! Seriously talented.. #AFLCatsHawksLachie Neale
Quintessential Melbourne, Easter, family, season opener, female umpire. It's #AFLCatsHawks @GeelongCats @HawthornFC https://t.co/5gB2T5ewWlTracey Gaudry
But again the Cats would take the momentum, with the lead back out to 31 points just before half time with an opportunistic goal from Tom Hawkins before Mark Blicavs found himself loose on the forward flank and running into to slot another goal.
Can the Cats be stopped? Hawkins soccers one through! #AFLCatsHawks #ohwhatafeeling https://t.co/SeiHiclUGyAFL
HT: @GeelongCats 11.1 (67) lead @HawthornFC 5.7 (37). How’s the accuracy from the Cats! #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/SVeQ4AEhXnAFL
As Hawthorn went into the rooms at the main break five goals behind, some were beginning to ask questions. Meanwhile Cats fans were grinning from ear to ear.
Hawks play Eagles & Dogs next two weeks. Eagles best forward line in league, Dogs forward line scary as well. #worrying #AFLCatsHawksBrad Klibansky
Been hard yards for Hawks' forwards in Roughead's absence. Just one goal between talls Gunston, Sicily, Schoenmakers & rucks #AFLCatsHawksNick Bowen
Not our best half of footy, but plenty of time to turn it around.Your thoughts, Hawks fans?#HawthornAlways #AFLCatsHawksHawthorn FC
67 to 37 COME ON GEELONG!!!@GeelongCats #geelongsvshawthorne #AFLCatsHawks #ohwhatafeeling https://t.co/NAi4toX5ERTara
Cmonnn the mighty Cattersss @GeelongCats The epic Easter Monday clash vs. @HawthornFC capping off an awesome Easter weekend #AFLCatsHawksSally Fitzgibbons
How good has this been so far?? #AFLCatsHawksOsama
Hello paddy ... #aflcatshawksAnthony Oakley
Geez Geelong are looking good. Very good. #AFLCatsHawksJohnnyCee
On to the second half and the Hawks began strongly with goals to Puopolo and Gunston bringing them within three goals.
Perfect start to the third term - Puopolo runs into an open goal.#HawthornAlways #AFLCatsHawksHawthorn FC
Crucial turnover through Duncan and Motlop on centre wing leads to a Gunston shot on goal. #AFLCatsHawksGeelong Cats
Soon after, Shaun Burgoyne threaded a ripper on the run near the boundary line, and then it was Billy Hartung's turn. Suddenly, the Cats lead was just three points.
Here they come... #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/9v4xt4VzCmScott Fredrickson
And with a great creaking and gnashing of teeth the machine awokeJordan
You bet he has! Burgoyne boots an absolute beauty from 50 #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/DVlvKpu8TAAFL
Cracking game this #AFLCatsHawksPatrick McAuliffe
And as Puopolo kicked his third goal Pagan's Paddock style, the Hawks had the lead and it was Geelong being questioned - on a number of fronts.
Geelong hair game is terrible. Look like the cast of a 90s teen drama. #AFLCatsHawksSteve
And the cats have just stopped #AFLCatsHawksjoffa_boy
What is going on! #AFLCatsHawksKat
Luke Hodge everyone #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/8fzEAa9uygAFL
#AFLCatsHawks feels like We've change PMs a couple of times since Geelong scored a goal!!!TITO
Poppy the speedster #hawthorn #AFLCatsHawks #goalRachel McInerney
Incredible 3rd quarter by the defending champs. Pupolo a star in the pocket #AFLCatsHawksDavis Harrigan
#mcg #footysback #afl #hawks #easter #longweekend #autumnEm ✈ + ⛱
At the final change, it was Hawthorn 10.12 (72) leading Geelong 11.4 (70), and suddenly this game was right back where we expected it - up for grabs with one quarter to play.
Who wins #AFLCatsHawks?AFL
All the fancy signings in the world won't count for much if we can't produce 4 quarters of consistent football #AFLCatsHawksMatt Croft
Go the Hawks #hawthorne #hawks #afl #melbourne #mcg #footy #hawthornehawkscaptainseen
Geelong slotted the first goal of the last term through Darcy Lang, but Jack Gunston replied almost instantly.
Lang snaps a beauty off his left. Cats back in front! #AFLCatsHawksGeelong Cats
Despite controlling the early possession and two brilliant forward marks from Dangerfield, the boom recruit missed both relatively simple set shots.
DANGERFIELD! #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/b2slSRfX3nAFL
Watching Dangerfield dominate 4 the Cats against the reigning Premiers is like seeing your ex girlfriend kiss Orlando Bloom. #AFLCatsHawksRyan Fitzgerald
Most disposals by a player on debut for a new club38 - @dangerfield35 @GeelongCats 201637 - Greg Williams SYD 1986#AFLCatsHawks #AFLSwamp
Geez 35 for the Cats can play Josh Jenkins
Paddy Dangerfield. Wow #AFLCatsHawksJack Lonie
Cats fans after every Dangerfield possession #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/kP0oWcq5o8Jeff Wortman
As great as Dangerfield has been, they are two really important misses in the context of the game. Not much talk about that #AFLCatsHawksSmokie Dawson
After a number of missed opportunities, another new Cat stood up, with Lachie Henderson slotting a set shot from 35m out to give Geelong an 11-point lead at the halfway mark of the last.
Great work Lachie! #AFLCatsHawksAlison Smirnoff
Footy's pretty good sometimes. #AFLCatsHawksluke henriques-gomes
What a cracking contest #AFLCatsHawksJames Avemarg
This really is the worlds best game @AFL #gohawks #aflcatshawks #mcg https://t.co/AoaS9QJUNwDangerous Dave
The Hawks tried to peg the margin back as Breust kicked truly but in the end the Cats proved too strong as they finished with the last four goals of the game.
Cats fans can feel it now! #ohwhatafeeling #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/ttjWzJVA6EAFL
#WELCOMETOGEELONGCats soar over the Hawks in the last quarter to win by 30 points. #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/imem4XV41eGeelong Cats
We are Geelong #ohwhatafeeling #AFLCatsHawks https://t.co/R52lNI46RhAFL
You beauty! Great effort lads Mitch Clark
With Geelong's 30-point win over the reigning premiers bringing the opening round to a close it's clear to see the footy community is simply wrapped to have footy back.
Fabulous start @GeelongCats. Welcome Dangerfield, bring on @AFL 2016. #gocatsMartine Oglethorpe
What a first roundAdam Tomlinson
Couldn't have dreamt of a better way to start the season!! Let's go Cats! @GeelongCats #AFLCatsHawks #KennettCurseMichael Jordan
What a fantastic game, Cats played so well & hard. A great way to start the season #AFLCatsHawksHer Gourdliness
And all is good again.... Footy's back #GoHawks #AFLCatsHawksAnthony Peridis
What a return to @afl football this weekend has been! Unreal matches and fantastic results all round :) #Round1Kirstie Fitzgerald
They're happy with that one! #ohwhatafeeling #AFLCatsHawks #TrueColoursafl
analysis