GEELONG, led by Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel, has beaten Hawthorn by 11 points at the MCG on Friday night in a scintillating clash that well satisfied its build-up.
Before a massive crowd of 86,179 – the largest of the season apart from the Anzac Day match – the Cats kicked three goals to the Hawks' two in an intense last quarter to win 12.16 (88) to 11.11 (77) and tighten their grip on top spot.
Bartel was brilliant with 36 disposals, while Corey Enright (35), Joel Selwood (31) and Joel Corey (30) were damaging around the ground.
Steve Johnson kicked three goals despite some quiet patches and David Johnson, a late replacement for veteran defender Darren Milburn (virus), was another stand-out for the victors.
The Hawks were led by captain Sam Mitchell's 33 touches, Jordan Lewis' 30 and Mark Williams' endeavours to create opportunities for his side in attack.
Lance Franklin kicked 4.5 while Campbell Brown had a surprise impact forward with two goals.
It was the third quarter that really heightened the theme of the evening as Hawthorn pegged back a 17-point deficit while keeping Geelong to a solitary goal.
Their efforts were aided when Cat Paul Chapman left the ground late in the second term with hamstring tightness, after starting the game very well.
He took no further part and the Hawks carried confidence into the new period as forward Jarryd Roughead marked and converted after a five-minute arm wrestle.
When Brown, away from his usual defence, snatched the ball over the back of a pack to boot his second there was just five points in it.
However, a busy Enright ran into an open goal in reply for his side after pouncing on an errant kick from Chance Bateman.
A stunning stage from Franklin saw him take three marks, two of those on Matthew Scarlett, but only convert one of his shots on goal – a banana from the boundary.
The fact he was winning the ball spelt concern for the Cats, who had assigned Andrew Mackie to him at the first bounce.
Scoring then went wanting as the two sides were both starved and wasteful in their opportunities, and Hawk Cyril Rioli's stunning climb to mark and 50m penalty in his favour was beaten by the siren.
The margin was just four points and it took all of 35 seconds for Hawthorn to strike in the final term, as Williams put his side two in front.
The Hawks rued Rick Ladson's miss and Bartel added salt with his second goal, a booming kick from 55m.
Max Rooke drifted forward to mark 40m out and goal, but the Hawks just wouldn't lie down.
Franklin added his fourth thanks to Rioli's defensive pressure and Brown could have levelled scores from 20m out.
With three minutes to play, Steve Johnson capitalised on a Luke Hodge error in the centre of the ground and put the Cats beyond doubt.
The season's most anticipated clash began with vigour and, despite some early exchanges, it took more than six minutes for the first goal.
And it was a lonesome Mathew Stokes in the square who benefited from Cameron Mooney's strong contest at centre half-forward.
Franklin replied as Geelong used a full press to match Hawthorn's similar tactics.
Steve Johnson hit the scoreboard, only for Bateman – without a man on the mark – to waltz to 40m and goal.
Then the Cats found their straps with goals to Chapman, Mooney and Chapman again; and it was four without reply when Steve Johnson read well off a pack.
A late goal from Williams saw the margin 19 points at quarter time, and Roughead opened the second term for the home side.
Brown followed after winning a free kick, but Bartel's impact swelled with his first goal.
However, Mooney conceded back-to-back 50m penalties and allowed Franklin to kick a settler.
Cat Ryan Gamble had the last say of the first half and, with that, the contest was set up for a crowd that rode every wave of it.
It was an audience more than double the size of the previous best for a game between these two clubs, a sign of the times with five rounds remaining until the finals.
Geelong 6.3 8.10 9.12 12.16 (88)
Hawthorn 3.2 6.5 9.8 11.11 (77)
GOALS
Geelong: S.Johnson 3, Chapman 2, Bartel 2, Stokes, Mooney, Gamble, Rooke, Enright
Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Roughead 2, Williams 2, Brown 2, Bateman
BEST
Geelong: Bartel, Enright, Corey, Chapman, Stokes, Selwood, Gamble, D. Johnson, Ottens
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Williams, Bateman, Croad, Rioli, Franklin, Lewis
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Osborne (corked buttock)
Geelong: Chapman (hamstring), Milburn (virus) replaced in selected side by D. Johnson
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Rosebury, Schmitt
Official crowd: 86,179 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
