After the Hawks had led narrowly for much of the first 40 minutes of the game, Geelong kicked three of the last four goals to half-time to lead by just a point at the main break.
The Cats threatened to get away in the third quarter, moving three goals clear, but Hawthorn crept back to within a goal at the last break, and after a titanic, goal-for-goal struggle in the final term, Geelong prevailed to hand the Hawks their third straight loss.
Geelong’s win was all the braver for the loss of All-Australian ruckman Steven King, who took no part after half-time having sustained a knee injury in the second quarter, but costly all the same with Brad Sholl also sure to face video scrutiny after an incident involving Daniel Harford in the same term.
But the Hawks also had some cause for complaint with the umpiring during the game with several decisions favouring the Cats, none more so than a missed infringement on Rayden Tallis, from which Peter Riccardi strolled in and kicked a goal.
“It was a good battle, Hawthorn have had a jump on us in the last couple of years,” Ben Graham said. “We set out to have a win today, full credit to them they fought it out, but it was good that we had a win.”
“It was to and fro and fantastic because we haven’t beaten Hawthorn for a while and they embarrassed us last year in the finals,” Garry Hocking said. “We lost Kingy (Steven King) at half-time but it was just fantastic to get 10 goalkickers and a great win.”
Best players for the Cats included Justin Murphy, David Clarke, Brad Sholl, Darren Milburn, Cameron Ling and Garry Hocking, while Ronnie Burns led the way up forward with four goals, including two in the last quarter.
For Hawthorn, Daniel Harford, Tallis and Joel Smith played well, Smith having a fascinating duel with Burns, while Brett O’Farrell made the most of King’s absence to dominate in the ruck, and Nathan Thompson kicked four goals, and debutant Bill Nicholls three.
In the first quarter, neither team could establish lasting control, the Hawks grabbing a narrow lead - 3.2.20 to 2.5.17 - courtesy of goals to Thompson (two) and O’Farrell, while Hocking and Burns notched majors for the Cats
Thompson slotted his third goal early in the second term, but after Daniel Harford missed a sitter on the run from metres out, hitting the post, Geelong booted the next three goals through Graham, Adam Houlihan, and Brenton Sanderson.
Harford was then knocked down behind the play, and after regaining his feet, had words with Cat Sholl, before Hawthorn stayed in touch at the long break with the last goal through O’Farrell, to trail by a point, 5.5.35 to 5.4.34.
Glenn Kilpatrick and Harford traded goals early in the third term, before the Cats kicked the next three through Ling, Clarke and Burns to pull 18 points clear.
First-gamer Nicholls and Jade Rawlings goaled, and Thompson added his fourth on the siren after Riccardi got one back in his return from injury, as Geelong led by six points at the last change, 10.8.68 to 9.8.62.
In the last quarter it was goal for goal, Geelong kicking four through Riccardi, Burns, Paul Chapman and Burns again, but on each occasion the Hawks quickly got it back through Mark Graham, Brett Johnson and Nicholls twice, before the Cats held on in the final minutes.
Scoreboard:
GEELONG: 2.5 5.5 10.8 14. 9 (93)
HAWTHORN: 3.2 5.4 9.8 13.12 (90)
Goals: Geelong: R Burns 4 P Riccardi 2 A Houlihan B Graham G Kilpatrick D Clarke B Sanderson G Hocking P Chapman C Ling. Hawthorn: N Thompson 4 B Nicholls 3 B O'Farrell 2 D Harford B Johnson J Rawlings M Graham.
Best: Geelong: R Burns B Sholl D Clarke J Murphy T McGrath G Hocking. Hawthorn: N Thompson J Smith D Harford L McCabe B Nicholls B O'Farrell.
Injuries: Geelong: S King (knee). Hawthorn: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: C Mitchell, D Howlett, M Avon.
Official crowd: 37,526 at Colonial Stadium.
