One of the AFL’s most celebrated rivalries continues when the league’s only two undefeated teams, Geelong and Hawthorn, go head-to-head in a potential grand final preview on Easter Monday.
The Hawks’ hot start to their premiership defence has gone to script. The club won their first four matches by an average of 52 points, flexing their muscle with a 99-point thrashing of the Suns on the Gold Coast last week. Hawks fans could not have asked for a better start to not only their premiership defence but also life after Lance Franklin, who is currently struggling for form at the Sydney Swans.
The Hawks will face the first acid test of their premiership defence when they take on the Cats this weekend. It would have been a rematch of last year’s grand final, if not been for Fremantle’s stunning victory at the Cattery last September.
It was the Dockers’ shock victory over Geelong which sent Chris Scott’s men to the Hawks’ half of the finals draw, ruining the dream grand final between two AFL powerhouses. The Hawks would have had to end the so-called ‘Kennett Curse’ losing streak against Geelong in the biggest match of the year.
After Hawthorn denied Geelong consecutive premierships in 2008, former President Jeff Kennett claimed that the Cats “lacked the mentality to beat Hawthorn” and that “they’ve beaten them when it matters”.
His comments, along with a vow from Paul Chapman that the Cats “should never lose to Hawthorn again”, conspired against the Hawks as the Cats would defeat them 11 times in a row between Round 1 in 2009 and Round 15 last year.
Cats fans entered the 2013 preliminary final confident that they could continue their dominance against the Hawks, and that their odd-year dynasty could continue after having won flags in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
The Cats were without Chapman though after the 2009 Norm Smith Medallist was suspended for a high bump on Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray in the semi-final. It cost the Cats not only their dominance against the Hawks, but what would have been their fifth grand final in seven years.
Still, the Cats led by 20 points at three-quarter-time and looked set to continue their streak until the Hawks rallied in a tense final quarter to take the lead by six points with a minute remaining. Geelong’s Travis Varcoe missed a running shot on goal in the final 30 seconds that would have sent the match into extra time.
Geelong didn’t completely dominate Hawthorn throughout that 11-match winning stretch – most matches were very close, with the only blowout coming when the Cats took out the the 2011 qualifying final by 31 points.
Tom Hawkins kicked a post-siren goal in round 19, 2012, when the Cats went from one end to the other with 40 seconds remaining on the clock to once again sink Hawk hearts.
But the rivalry goes back to the 1989 Grand Final, regarded as one of the greatest AFL deciders of all time.
The Hawks had finished on top of the ladder and were the defending premiers, while the Cats were appearing in their first Grand Final since 1967 and going for their first flag since 1963.
The Cats made a huge statement early when Mark Yeates ran straight into Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton, setting the tone for a grand final classic. Brereton’s injury was one of a few suffered by the Hawks that day, but it looked like they would cruise to their eighth VFL flag when they led by 36 points at three-quarter-time, the scores reading Hawthorn 18.13 (121) to Geelong 13.7 (85).
But the Cats, led by Gary Ablett’s nine-goal performance, rallied in the final quarter to reduce the injury-hit Hawks’ lead to just six points with less than a minute to play. The Cats would ultimately fall short of their first premiership since 1963, but Ablett was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for his role in the Cats’ final-quarter surge.
This marked only the second time in which the best player in the Grand Final came from the losing side, with subsequent Norm Smith Medallists in losing teams including Nathan Buckley (2002) and Chris Judd (2005).
The rivalry between the Cats and the Hawks is now one of the most celebrated in the AFL. Both sides are undefeated to start season 2014, but by Monday night one team will suffer their first defeat of the season, barring an unlikely draw.
It remains unclear who will start as outright favourite, with the Hawks holding top spot on percentage and the Cats having started 4-0 for the fifth time in the past seven seasons.
The Hawks have history against them entering this MCG showdown. Although they have beaten Geelong in two of their three recent finals meetings at the MCG, they have not beaten the Cats in a regular season match at the ground since Round 7, 2002, and not during the regular season since Round 4, 2007 (in York Park in Launceston).
It is difficult to predict a winner with confidence, though if you’re a Geelong supporter you can stake some claim to optimism given your team’s recent dominance.
Whoever wins this match may also assume premiership favouritism, a tag which the Hawks have long held since the start of the year.
Bring it on.
Den1968
Guest
Must be great being a Hawthorn supporter. Lose all the worthless home @ away games @ winning the 2 games that in the end are what really mattered 2008 Grand Final @ 2013 Preliminary. Cost the Cats 2 flags. When both face of in another important game lets hope the Cats eventually break the Hawthorn psychological barrier. Kennet was right. Hawthorn will beat them when it matters, that's the real curse if you ask me. Noticed Geelong won again today surprise,surprise
Pete G
Guest
I hope Hawthorn look at the opportunity of developing Spangher into a full time backman - he's big - mobile - takes a decent mark and seems to have a pretty good head on his shoulders. Lake aint gonna play forever and Gibson is always undersized - Schoenmakers is not my preferred long term prospect as I have seen him cost us too many matches at the danger end. Rather he was in the forward line where his brain lapses wont cost us so dearly (you would hope). I know people say Spangher is a journeyman but I don't agree - I think he has just lacked opportunity and a settled position. He probably hasn't been in our best up back last few weeks but its not his settled position - I reckon he could make it his. He also lifts the crowd and in situations where they are under siege a big play from hi would bring our crowd to their feet and really lift the team. Hes only 2cm shorter than Buddy and he's 8 cm bigger than Cheney and 5 more than Gibbo.
Cat
Roar Guru
True about tackling numbers until you look at the hawks v. essendon game where hawks had about 100 less possessions then essendon and still 20 less tackles then essendon.
Pete G
Guest
Bit hard to go by tackles - you don't have to tackle so often if you have the ball in hand which says a lot about the Hawks start to this season I guess. From what I have seen the Hawks aint lacke in defensive pressure - just haven't needed to tackle as often but when they have it seems t have been pretty fierce as it was in the GF as well last year when everyone expected it to be freo who played that role better. I was looking at the teams from last year and I gotta say I'd prefer our outs and ins. Out for Geelong assuming Mackie doesn't play - Mackie/Christensen/Caddy/Hunt/Corey/Vardy and then throw in Chapman and Pod generally and the Hawks go in without Stratton (maybe) Guerra/Franklin/Shiels/Bailey (replaced hopefully by McEvoy)/Whitecross and Sewell and from memory only Franklin kicked a goal in the prelim out of those and none of those appeared in our est in the prelim - vs motlop who scored two goals, Christensen in best and scored a goal, caddy a goal, Vardy I think a goal. Its going to be a close one and also interesting as really you are looking at two fairly different teams clashing to the ones who fought out the last 2-3 close ones last year. Looking forward to seeing how Langford gets on with the pressure this week.
Cat
Roar Guru
In the 2 H&A matches Geelong and Hawthorn contested in 2013 Hawthorn had 9 goal kickers in each and lost both, in the final vs. Geelong in 2013, Hawthorn had 7 goal kickers and won. As for rucks, yes a fit McEvoy is better then last years offerings but so too can the Cats say exactly the same thing. Geelong has always had a spread of goal kickers and has never required Hawkins or jpod to kick bags to win. I think it will come down to pressure, Geelong is averaging 77.8 tackles per game while Hawthorn is averaging 47.8 a game. What kind of scoreboard pressure might Geelong be able to exert if Hawthorn stays close to that average tackles? If hawthorn has to change its tactics to apply more pressure and more tackling what kind of knock on effect will it have on the rest of its game plan? A win or a loss for either side won't mean a whole lot. I predict another less then 2 goal game. I hope its the Cats who win, but if not, oh well, the team who does continue on undefeated will have more pressure applied to them, while the loser of the match will get to fly under the radar a bit.
Pete G
Guest
Cats missing a lot of players and Caddy going down won't help their cause. I reckon it will be neck and neck until last quarter and I think the spread of goal kickers Hawks have will allow them to break free a bit. Cats will miss the Chapman effect - no Josh Hunt - Christensen not playing and Stevie J might have a lot of touches but a lot of those not very effective last week if I am not mistaken - I reckon his snaps and miracle plays are slowly fading as he is that fraction slower so has that little bit less time to do that sort of thing. Going to be a big game but I think with four wins on thhe board each neither team will be devastated by a loss so long as not embarrassed. I reckon the two teams this week most scared of a loss will be Freo and the Swans. I think Deep Thinker might be a little hopeful that the Cats will have more legs this year and our backline has contained some monsters recently and doesn't have to deal with the duel target of Hawkins and Pod this time round (albeit the Pod is aging fast). Shame about Sheils - he's been great this year so far. Hopefully Lakey is TRULY ready to go and not just thrown back in. McEvoy will make a big difference to this result as well if he is really fit.
hawker
Guest
you can only buy a reserved seat , but you can still buy them at the ground
Cat
Roar Guru
Thurlow will slot right in for Mackie, if Mackie doesn't get up (and honestly I'd rather they'd rule him out now then take any chances at all).
Cat
Roar Guru
Thurlow will slot right in for Mackie, if Mackie doesn't get up (and honestly I'd rather they'd rule him out now then take any chances at all).
Deep Thinker
Guest
Freo did Hawthorn a great service last year by beating the Cats in the qualifying final - it caused Geelong to run out of legs at the death. There will be no such leg up this time. Based on the score at 3/4 time in the prelim - my tip is Geelong by 20.
Mango Jack
Guest
Someone posted elsewhere that you cannot by tickets at the ground. Sounds ridiculous to me, but it will mean a smaller crowd. This game deserves to be a sellout.
Bogga
Guest
If you want to see the best game of football this year, it will be this one. However, I think Hawthorn will break the shackles in the last quarter (rather than choke like they have done in the past) and win by 5 or 6 goals in the end. But it will still be a high-class contest. The Hawks seem to have picked up where they left off, full of confidence. The cats, while winning, still seem to be moving people about and are not 100% settled. Seemingly more interested in having the best team by the finals rather than the best team by round 5.
Kevin
Guest
You seem to have overlooked that the feeling between these two teams began when Leigh Matthews knocked out Neville Bruns one day. Hooray to both teams and the way they play the game. Will Easter Monday's crowd surpass that off Anzac Day?
Bobby
Guest
Mackie out is a huge loss if he doesn't play. My tip is the hawks if he is out, the cats if he plays. That is how important I see him. Stratton is ok but gets found out in these games against the cats so the real man the hawks need is lake, although it seems unlikely he will play
Cat
Roar Guru
please bring back Schoenmakers, he always has terrible games against Geelong.
Mango Jack
Guest
Yeah, been really impressed by Cheney. A good replacement for Guerra.
hawker
Guest
yes I agree Lake back for hawkins would be ideal. Cheney has done a commendable job as an undersized KPD but tomahawk would be a bridge too far
Brian
Guest
I can't see us bringing back all 3, especially with Geelong beating us for leg speed so often recently. They would certainly want one probably Lake to play on Hawkins and drop either Cheney or Duryea. McEvoy if fit would come in too. I think if we can match them in the midfield where they have been a tackling machine then our forward line can win the day.
Mango Jack
Guest
I will never get tired of watching last years prelim final. It helps being a Hawk fan of course, but just such an intense, great game. Ditto the 1989 GF. Lake, Stratton and Shoenmakers could all be back for Hawthorn, a huge boost to their defence, which has been holding up well anyway. Also McEvoy back in the rucks. Can't wait for Monday's clash. Should be a cracker. Hawks by 8.