However, the Hawks' premiership aspirations have taken a serious hit with forward Jarryd Roughead sustaining a likely season-ending Achilles injury.
The burly goalkicker was carried from the ground midway through the last quarter after suffering the long-term injury, which was all but confirmed by the club after the game.
He was uncontested at the time and had simply accelerated from a standing start when he collapsed to the turf and instantly indicated to the bench he required medical assistance.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said the loss of the 24-year-old was a significant blow.
"If it's ruptured, which they suspect it is, he will miss the rest of the season," he said after the match
"It's a disappointing injury for us because he has just been in such good form but we've just got to move on pretty quickly and find a replacement and just keep going."
The 13.10 (88) to 13.5 (83) victory was the Cats' second over the Hawks this season and came after they reeled in a 17-point deficit in the final quarter.
The last time Hawthorn lost this year was indeed against the Cats in round five, that time by 19 points.
The recent rivalry between the two sides promised an exciting encounter, and the 63,000-plus crowd would not have been disappointed with the tight result. It is the seventh time in nine games that the final margin has been less than two goals.
The Cats failed to kick a goal in the third quarter but the Hawks found themselves in a similar position to their opponent in the fourth and couldn't score at all.
Geelong's three-goal effort in the final term - along with some strong defence as the Hawks pushed forward again and again in the dying seconds - sealed the result.
The Hawks have not beaten the Cats since their 2008 Grand Final triumph, and despite holding their biggest lead of the game at three-quarter time, could not update their record to include a more recent winning result.
Their evening was soured with the Roughead injury, and a hamstring complaint sustained by Clinton Young late in the second quarter.
Young was replaced by "super-sub" Luke Breust, who has been the Hawks' substitute player for the past five games.
Influential players
James Podsiadly had his previous career-best tally of five goals, achieved on six occasions last year, surpassed by half-time. He easily out-marked Josh Gibson several times and was even beating the Hawks' backman to the ball before Ryan Schoenmakers stepped in for a turn. He ended with 6.1 and was involved in two final-term goals despite struggling when the Hawks double-teamed him after the break.
When the Hawks got a five-goal run on early in the second quarter, it was Sam Mitchell who got them going in the engine room. After a reasonably quiet first quarter (seven touches), the former skipper got moving to find the ball 14 times in the second. He also had two of the Hawks' 12 clearances for the quarter - and four for the half - to his name.
Stats that matter
The Hawks trailed by as much as 20 points in the first quarter - and 19 late in the second - only to keep the Cats goalless in the third after forcing a dramatic shift at the stoppages.
After trailing by four in the clearance count at quarter time, the Hawks began to get on top in the second to be in front by one at the main break.
By three-quarter time, the Hawks were on their way to seeking redemption for their round five 19-point loss and were leading 31 to 23 at the stoppages.
But there would be one more twist to this story with the Cats winning 10 clearances in the last quarter to the Hawks' eight to win the match, despite losing the overall count, 39 to 33.
The most talked about calf in town
All week, talk surrounded the condition of Franklin's calf after he missed last Sunday's win over Fremantle. Would he be named, would he play, would he be a late withdrawal? On Thursday night, he was in the Hawks' side, and on Saturday morning he passed the fitness test required to get a spot in the final line-up. When the team sheets were lodged 90 minutes before the game, Buddy's name remained clearly etched. By then the growing crowd at the MCG already knew the spearhead would play - he'd been out on the ground for 15 minutes having shots at goal with Roughead.
No need for panic
With the media watching Franklin's calf all week, it wasn't surprising a sore Max Bailey was not on the agenda. For the second week running, the unlucky ruckman sent a scare through the club's supporter base when he was a late withdrawal from the line up. Against Fremantle last Sunday, Bailey left the ground minutes after the first bounce after receiving a knock below the waist. This week the big man - who has overcome three knee reconstructions in four years - missed with a cork he sustained later that game. So Hawks fans, you can breathe out. Bailey might be keeping the medical staff busy again but his knees are intact and he should return next week against Gold Coast.
What it means
For the Cats, it means they've prevailed in another tight one - their fourth for the season with the final margin under a goal - and Chris Scott is the most successful coach in his debut year after surpassing the previous record set by former South Melbourne coach Johnny Leonard in 1932. Leonard presided over 10 straight wins in his first season as coach; Scott now has 11.
For the Hawks, the result isn't the biggest concern to come out of the evening. The loss of Roughead for the season is hugely worrying, especially given late replacement ruckman Brent Renouf was not imposing in his first senior game since round seven, Bailey is still finding form and David Hale is on his way back through the VFL. Roughead had kicked 16 goals for the year and absorbed a key defender each week, as well as providing assistance as the back up ruckman. His absence will hurt the Hawks deeply.
What the coaches said
Geelong - Chris Scott
"I'm just saying the same things, it's getting boring. I certainly have had a very small impact on the character of our players and I continue to marvel at it.
"We were outplayed for big parts of the game. They had a few injuries late, which really hurt them, and in a lot of ways we were fortunate to win.
"But at the end of the day, our guys do just find a way. It's not a fluke. It obviously keeps happening."
Hawthorn - Alastair Clarkson
"We played a quality side. They're not on top of the ladder and unbeaten for any other reason. They are a great outfit and such a resilient and disciplined group and we just ran out of legs and a couple of soldiers near the end.
"Our blokes were brave, but bravery doesn't necessary win you big games and Grand Finals. We have to improve a bit but our boys will benefit enormously from the experience tonight."
Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
Geelong: It was the magic of Johnson that stole the limelight with him finishing the match with 119 points. James Kelly was also instrumental in the victory with 118 points, while a sensational last-quarter performance by Selwood propped his score up to 108.
Hawthorn: The Hawks had five players who finished the match in triple figures. Youngster Liam Shiels played his best game in brown and gold, finishing with a game-high 140 points. Next best for Hawthorn was Brad Sewell with 120, while Jordan Lewis (116), Rioli (111) and Mitchell (110) also impressed for Alastair Clarkson's men.
The next four
Geelong: The Cats will reignite their fierce rivalry against St Kilda next Saturday night at the MCG before returning to Skilled Stadium to take on a struggling Adelaide outfit. The long-anticipated clash against former coach Mark Thompson is next on the agenda when the Cats meet Essendon at Etihad Stadium in round 15. They then travel west to take on the Eagles at Patersons Stadium.
Hawthorn: Alastair Clarkson's men travel to Tasmania next week to face Gold Coast, before they line up for blockbuster clashes against Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG. The Hawks then return to the Apple Isle to take on the Brisbane Lions in round 16.
FIRST QUARTER
In doubt during the week with a calf injury, it didn't take long for Lance Franklin to exert his influence when he kicked the first goal of the match after a patient build-up from defence. But the rest of the term was dominated by Geelong, with the Hawks struggling to find a way through the Cats' forward press. Podsiadly was causing major headaches for his opponent Josh Gibson, with two first-quarter goals and the assisting of another to Travis Varcoe.
Paul Chapman led the way with eight possessions and four clearances. With the Hawks' forward structure falling down and the Cats' loose men in defence holding sway, Geelong's forwards were benefiting from the open spaces in their own forward 50. The free-kick count also raised the ire of Hawthorn supporters when it read 12-to-1 in favour of Chris Scott's men for the quarter.
Geelong by 19 points
SECOND QUARTER
The Hawks needed a quick goal and it was Jordan Lewis who delivered within a minute of the restart. It sparked the brown and gold into life and they kicked five unanswered goals. The Cats were making mistakes in the back half with a questionable 50m penalty against Jimmy Bartel, an errant kick across goal by Daniel Menzel and a missed tackle from Matthew Scarlett, all leading to Hawthorn goals. Isolating the J-Pod on Gibson was the way forward for the Cats with the 29-year old unstoppable. Podsiadly had a career-best six goals by half-time as Alastair Clarkson shifted Ryan Schoenmakers onto the big man. In a tale of two halves, the Hawks kicked the first five goals of the term before the Cats kicked five unanswered, four of which belonged to the J-Pod. Two late goals to the Hawks gave their side some momentum heading into the half-time break and allowed everyone to catch their breath after a blistering 12-goal second term.
Geelong by six points
THIRD QUARTER
After the sensational first half, the second half started in subdued fashion before a moment of brilliance from Mitchell. With the ball up for grabs in the middle, the former Hawthorn captain beat the clutches of Joel Corey and Steve Johnson before releasing Cyril Rioli, who set up Shane Savage for a memorable goal. Franklin was beginning to muscle his way into the match, beating three Cats to snap one of his trademark goals then setting up Michael Osborne with an unselfish pass. Geelong needed someone to support Podsiadly, with the Hawks swarming the big man at every opportunity. When "super-sub" Breust brought down Cats captain Cameron Ling and kicked truly, the Hawks' lead was out to three goals as the Cats failed to register a single goal for the quarter.
Hawthorn by 17 points
FOURTH QUARTER
The Hawks, who haven't lost a final quarter since their round five loss to the Cats, started with an early set shot from Breust on a tight angle that ended out of bounds. Steve Johnson answered at the other end, and when Menzel snapped another goal within a minute, the Cats were within a goal. Some sensational work on the wing by Joel Selwood to keep the ball alive ended in the hands of Stevie J again, and the game had turned on its head. Disaster struck for the Hawks midway through the quarter with Roughead leaving the ground on a stretcher after suffering an Achilles injury. With the Cats controlling play, missed chances to Selwood kept the Hawks in with a sniff. But the Cats held their opponents at bay to record a memorable win, despite Hawthorn fans wanting a free kick to Franklin for hands in the back late in the match.
Geelong wins by five points.
Geelong 5.2 10.2 10.6 13.10 (88)
Hawthorn 2.1 9.2 13.5 13.5 (83)
GOALS
Geelong: Podsiadly 6, Johnson 2, Chapman, Vardy, Varcoe, Stokes, Menzel
Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Sewell, Young, Lewis, Rioli, Whitecross, Renouf, Savage, Osborne, Breust
BEST
Geelong: Podsiadly, Kelly, Enright, Chapman, Selwood, Johnson
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Franklin, Shiels, Sewell, Rioli, Lewis
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Hawthorn: Max Bailey (cork) replaced in the selected side by Brent Renouf, Young (hamstring), Roughead (Achilles)
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Travis Varcoe replaced by Darren Milburn at three-quarter time. Hawthorn: Clinton Young (hamstring) replaced by Luke Breust during the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Farmer, Findlay
Official crowd: 63, 476 at MCG
