Had a couple of electrifying bursts in the first half, and had 17 touches and four clearances by half time. Ended with 34 touches (game-high, equal with Steve Johnson), eight clearances, and never stopped trying.
Jimmy Bartel - 7
Exploded out of the blocks for a 13-touch first quarter, but went missing in the second. Finished with 24 touches and lacked the influence he usually brings to the fray.
Mark Blake - 4
The omission from last year's Grand Final side started on the bench and came on to handle himself just fairly. Had 20 hit-outs, but didn't get much of it otherwise.
Paul Chapman - 7
The much talked-about inclusion had a reasonable game, ending with 22 touches, four tackles and one goal. A solid performance for someone who hasn't played for three weeks.
Joel Corey - 7
Started strongly with four tackles in the first quarter, and ended as one of the Cats' most prolific ball winners. Had 30 touches, laid six tackles, and delivered the ball into attack six times.
Corey Enright - 6
Started alongside Cyril Rioli and often found himself playing in the hole in front of Buddy Franklin. Went quiet in the second after finding the ball early, and ended with 25 touches, most of which were uncontested.
Tom Harley - 3
Was beaten by Campbell Brown in the first term but started to work his way into the game in the second. Put his body on the line and suffered concussion shortly before halftime. Bravely returned in the fourth but had little impact.
Josh Hunt - 3
Played on small forward ark Williams, who kicked three goals and had plenty of influence near goal. Made a few mistakes and didn't have his best game.
Steve Johnson - 8
Had Brent Guerra as an opponent early and shook him after a steady start. Was the Cats' leading possession getter by half time, although remarkably without a goal. Finished with 34 touches – the most he's ever had in an AFL game.
James Kelly - 2
Struggled to get into the game and didn't have much of an impact. Picked up just eight touches and couldn't contribute on a consistent basis.
Cameron Ling - 7
Tasked with running with Sam Mitchell. Hurt his knee in first quarter, had it strapped and return to keep the Hawks' skipper to two touches for the term and 13 for the game while collecting 20 himself.
Tom Lonergan - 4
The feel-good story of 2008 continued when he booted the first goal of the game. Had Stephen Gilham as an opponent, then got Trent Croad before the backman got hurt. Ended with two goals but made some costly mistakes.
Andrew Mackie – 5.5
Took Shane Crawford when he came off the bench, but played too wide of the Brownlow medallist. Didn't do a great deal, although he ended with 13 touches and four inside 50s.
Darren Milburn - 4
The oldest Cat started on the bench and didn't do much once he came on. He kicked the goal in third quarter that halted the Hawks' run of six, but that was his shining moment.
Cameron Mooney - 4
Suffered from terrible kicking yips in the third term to spray two shots on goal. Ended with two goals, three behinds and one scoring assist, but was beaten too often and couldn't make an impact.
Brad Ottens - 5
Started in the middle but moved forward in the first half in an attempt to stretch the Hawks' defence. Was the most prolific big man on the ground but still wasn't as influential as hoped.
Max Rooke - 5
Started on the bench and came on to play a part in minding Luke Hodge. Ended with 13 touches and seven tackles, but was another Cat down on the day.
Matthew Scarlett - 7
Started, as expected, on Buddy Franklin and beat him one-on-one in the first half. Didn't get a great deal of the ball, but was good in spoiling the Coleman medallist. Wasn't the Cats' worst.
Joel Selwood – 7.5
Had 11 touches in the first quarter but petered off in the second when the Hawks got a run on. Got his act together to end with 29 possessions in his second grand final in as many years. A class act.
Mathew Stokes - 3
Had a quiet first half and found it tough to work his way into the game. Ended with seven touches and just the one behind, with the Hawks' defence making proceedings hard for the small forward.
Harry Taylor - 3
Picked up Jarryd Roughead in the first, and it was a largely unexciting match-up for most of the game. A costly turnover in the third where he dropped the ball under pressure resulted in a Hawks' goal. Not a good game.
Travis Varcoe - 4
The quick forward started on the bench and was another Cat who didn't rise to the occasion after a stunning preliminary final performance. Ended with 12 touches and one point.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
