A battle of wills and mild-witchcraft awaits us for the next two and a half hours as Hawthorn and Geelong battle for the first spot in the AFL Grand Final. Live scores and commentary kicks off from 7.50pm AEST.
Let’s just clear the air right now – Kennett’s Curse is absolutely real.
It has been for the last five seasons since then-Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said, “…they don’t have the psychological drive we have. We’ve beaten Geelong when it matters.”
Well, if ever there was a time to beat Geelong when it matters, it is certainly tonight!
Hawthorn has lost their last eleven matches against Geelong, of which the biggest margin has been just 31 points, while nine matches has seen a margin of two goals or less.
Undoubtedly Hawthorn are playing some exquisite football right now, especially their second half against a battle-hardened Sydney Swans in the Qualifying Final a fortnight ago, which saw the Swans outscored eleven goals to three in the second half.
The focus for the week has been on Cyril Rioli and whether he would return to the team.
His performance on the training track on Tuesday suggests his ankle injury has healed and should be good to go for tonight’s game.
Add the forward potency of Lance Franklin coming back from suspension, and the Hawks line-up is the strongest it has been all season.
The back line is top-notch too with Josh Gibson and Brian Lake holding up their end of the bargain for the year.
The Hawks are as well prepared as any to take a grand final spot.
But… there’s the lingering seed of doubt in the back of the mind of every Hawthorn player as they come to the realisation that they haven’t beaten the Cats in eleven matches.
There’s no excuses past tonight – they just have to get the job done.
But we cannot possibly right off the Cats, a side that is aiming for their fourth Premiership in seven seasons.
A team that were close to written off after a poor Elimination Final loss to Fremantle at the MCG last season.
They bulked up their list with great youth and managed to finish second on the table.
A team that some had questioning after a loss in a Qualifying Final to Fremantle at their very own ground, Simonds Stadium, leading into their match against Port Adelaide.
And while challenged throughout the contest, still came away booking their spot into tonight’s preliminary final.
The biggest downside of that match is the loss of Paul Chapman, despite the fact his form leading into the finals had been under serious question.
Corey Enright’s defensive role will need covering, being ruled out during the week with a knee injury.
While you have a better chance hitting a 180 on the dartboard than working out with confidence whether Tom Hawkins will play or even be influential.
However, there’s an aura around this team every time they take on the blokes from Glenferrie Oval.
Is that enough to get them over the line? Look, probably not.
But I wouldn’t want to be Hawthorn taking the Cats lightly, because there’s still plenty of talent in this team that can break you in an instant.
At Hawthorn, prayers are being made… fingers are being crossed…and fans are being prepared.
Just one step away from another grand final appearance, but having to face the most horrendous of curses.
Bailey
Guest
Great win hawks keep it up and win the grand
brian
Guest
Geelong ran out of legs but that shouldn't take away from Hawthorn. Winning your week 1 final got them those fresher legs and so they deserve it. Very si.ilar to how Collingwood ran Hawthorn down in 2011.
JR Salazar
Guest
Same to you. Good day, sir.
MLN
Guest
Get a life
JR Salazar
Guest
And...it's HAWTHORN. No E.
JR Salazar
Guest
And they almost pushed it aside with all those behinds. Need to show patience next week or the season will be a disaster for them.
johnb747b
Guest
Geelong's final quarter was garbage: no structure, no leadership, no common sense. It used to be said of the old North Sydney Bears that they'd thought of every way to lose a game of footy. Geelong came close to the Bears tonight. Credit to Hawthorne but they had the final quarter handed to them on a silver platter.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Hawthorn 14.18 (102) def. Geelong 15.7 (97) Well, that ends our coverage of the First Preliminary Final. Spare a thought for Geelong - they finished the season second... and played their hearts out over the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, they ran out of steam in the final quarter. They were fantastic tonight and almost kept the run going to make it 12 straight wins. A gallant performance, yet gallant doesn't get you into a Grand Final. Thanks for your company tonight. We'll be on from around 7:30pm AEST for coverage of the Second Preliminary Final between the Fremantle Dockers and Sydney Swans from Patersons Stadium - do NOT count the Swans out in this one! Twitter - @TheSportsFreak
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Hawthorn 14.18 (102) def. Geelong 15.7 (97) Quarter by Quarter Hawthorn 3.5 7.8 10.10 14.18 (102) Geelong 4.0 7.4 14.6 15.7 (97) Goalscorers HAW (7) – Jack Gunston 4, Shaun Burgoyne 3, David Hale 2, Brad Hill 2, Brent Guerra 1, Luke Breust 1, Lance Franklin 1 GEEL (11) – Steve Johnson 4, Steven Motlop 2, Allen Christensen 1, Tom Hawkins 1, Nathan Vardy 1, Jimmy Bartel 1, Joel Selwood 1, Cameron Guthrie 1, Harry Taylor 1, Jordan Murdoch 1, Josh Caddy 1 Team Stats Disposals: HAW 383-293 | Disposal Efficiency: HAW 72%-67% |Kicking Efficiency: GEEL 67%-64% | Contested Possessions: HAW 130-129 | Uncontested Possessions: HAW 244-159 | Marks: HAW 102-71 | Marks Inside 50: HAW 16-6 | Contested Marks GEEL 10-8 | Hitouts: HAW 43-25 | Hitouts To Advantage: HAW 9-4 | Clearances: HAW 36-32 | Tackles: HAW 60-43 | Inside 50’s: HAW 64-42 | Free Kicks: LEVEL 19-19 Player Stats Sam Mitchell (HAW) 38 disposals (25 in 2nd Half), 14 contested possessions, 5 marks, 11 clearances, 6 one-percenters, 8 inside 50’s, 1 goal assist Steve Johnson (GEEL) 32 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 8 marks, 5 clearances, 4 tackles, 4 goals, 1 goal assist Grant Birchall (HAW) 27 disposals, 7 marks, 3 one-percenters, 5 inside 50’s Brent Guerra (HAW) 25 disposals, 10 marks, 4 rebound 50’s, 1 goal
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Hawthorn 14.18 (102) def. Geelong 15.7 (97) Well. it took 12 attempts, but when it's absolutely really mattered, the Hawks have finally broken through against Geelong in a total epic! There would have been plenty of Hawks fans who would have thought 20-points at Three Quarter Time, they wouldn't have been able to come off the canvas. But, the Hawks finished the 1st Half strong, and they showed how the legs were oh so important in the final quarter. Four goals to one in the last 30 minutes of the game... Sam Mitchell ended up with 38 disposals, 25 of those in the second half... The Hawks are into another Grand Final. More than anything, it was a high-impact, high-intensity, highly-dramatic contest!
JR Salazar
Guest
Varcoe may as well be the goat for Geelong. He may as well be delisted.
JR Salazar
Guest
Unbelievable. Wow. That was still crappy kicking in the fourth quarter from Hawthorn and a crappier no-siren call. Get that fixed, MCG!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Hawthorn 14.18 (102) def. Geelong 15.7 (97) SIREN!! CURSE BROKEN! The Hawks are into the Grand Final!!!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 0:31 left | HAW 14.18 (102) | GEEL 15.7 (97) Down the middle - Motlop marked, he played on... almost lost it. Varcoe inside 50.... kicks on goal to LEVEL THE SCORES.... MISEED!!!!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 1:01 left | HAW 14.18 (102) | GEEL 15.6 (96) Mitchell pressured... almost coughs it up - it's still a kick the difference! Puopolo, to Gunston... the to the goal line - BEHIND!!!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 1:33 left | HAW 14.17 (101) | GEEL 15.6 (96) The Cats going forward, but Gibson marks at the half back line - kicks to the wing... missed his target, pack forms... comes free! Birchall inside 50 - Hale the target, but spoiled to the boundary!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 2:14 left | HAW 14.17 (101) | GEEL 15.6 (96) Birchall with a long ball to the goal square - DUNCAN!!! Great grab right on the goal line. Plays on - again, down the corridor - STRATTON!! Good grab. Told to take his time... Gives it to Guerra, long ball to the goals, forced through for a behind!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 3:00 left | HAW 14.16 (100) | GEEL 15.6 (96) The Cats try to move forward, they get stonewalled at the wing. Then it's Gunston who marks at half forward... short ball to Hodge. But a horrible kick - Duncan marks in the 50m. His kick is tired - down the middle - but marked bu Ben Stratton.
JR Salazar
Guest
My God, the kicking here from Hawthorn has been diabolical this final quarter.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 4:20 left | HAW 14.16 (100) | GEEL 15.6 (96) This last 5 minutes could still be something different! Sewell in the middle handballs to Smith... then Burgoyne goes out to Brad Hill in a wider spot on the ground... then kicks from 40m out - MISSSED!!!