Steve Johnson stood up in the absence of his long-time forward/midfield partner-in-crime Paul Chapman. Johnson was a prolific ball-winner in the middle and the game's equal leading goalkicker with four. Few players have ever relished the big stage of the finals as much as Johnson. On Friday night, Stevie J delivered one of his best finals games - and given his record in September, that's saying something.
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Who fizzled?
The Cats have struggled to find an effective ruckmen since Brad Ottens' retirement at the end of 2011. And although they toiled hard their young team of Mark Blicavs and Nathan Vardy was comprehensively beaten by Hawks duo David Hale and Max Bailey. The Hawks won the hit-out count 43-25 and Hale was damaging up forward with two goals and three contested marks.
The moment
The Hawks looked as though they could kick themselves out of a Grand Final berth when Luke Breust missed one of their many set shots at the 21-minute mark of the final quarter. At the time, the Hawks trailed by four points and seemed to have all the momentum, having coming back from 20 points down at three-quarter time. But as long as the "Kennett Curse" was alive and well the Hawks were never going to take anything for granted. Shaun Burgoyne stepped up to kill the curse less than a minute later when he took a handpass from Jack Gunston and ran into an open goal. It put the Hawks two points in front and they would hang on to break their streak of 11 losses to the Cats.
One vote: Shaun Burgoyne. The Hawk utility is a class act and rose to the occasion on Friday night. Finished with 24 possessions and three goals and thrived in the frenzied contest when others wilted.
Two votes: Sam Mitchell. The Hawks' former skipper was as prolific as ever on the preliminary final stage. He worked hard to keep the Hawks in it when the Cats held sway and had 11 final-quarter touches as the Hawks charged home. Finished with a game-high 38 possessions, 11 clearances and eight inside 50s.
Three votes: Steve Johnson. Brilliant from the opening bounce to the final siren, Johnson was unstoppable and finished with 32 possessions and 4.1. The Hawks tried to stop him by switching Liam Shiels to him late in the second quarter, but Johnson continued on his merry way.
The quote
"I don't know what to do. Usually I'm sitting at home having frothies on Grand Final day" - Brian Lake
The tweets
What a game that's what finals footy is about feel for the cats
— Ian Nutsy Callinan (@callinan37) September 20, 2013
Wowee what a game! Sam Mitchell such an unbelievable leader. Shows why it's the best game in the world. #AFLFinals #aflhawkscats
— Jordan Lisle (@MooseyLisle) September 20, 2013What the banners said
Hawthorn:
The Mighty Hawks
#Always Relentless
Geelong:
Experience
Greatness
Let the battle begin
The replay they won't want to see
Brian Lake was renowned for his occasional brain fades at the Western Bulldogs and the star Hawks full-back produced a clanger he'll want to forget at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter. With the ball in his hands in the Hawks' defensive 50, Lake tried to pinpoint Max Bailey with a short pass across goal. But Lake's kick sat up, Mathew Stokes intercepted it and passed to Steve Johnson, who would convert a set shot from 40m out.
The tone-setter
Big men become even bigger in the contested cauldron of finals and Hawk David Hale signaled early that he was determined to stamp himself on Friday night's contest. He set up the game's opening goal when he hit Jack Gunston on the lead and then, more significantly, took a pack mark about 25m out from goal with Geelong talls Nathan Vardy and Mark Blicavs. Hale missed the shot on goal, but made no mistakes when he took another pack mark seven minutes later.
