The Geelong Cats have given the Hawthorn Hawks another thrashing, victorious by 86 points in a second-half landslide.
Final score
Hawthorn Hawks 48
Geelong Cats 134
The Hawthorn Hawks versus the Geelong Cats has become an Easter Monday fixture over the last decade, but this time, the Hawks look more vulnerable than they’ve been in a long, long time. Join The Roar for live scores and a running blog from 3:20pm (AEST).
After three consecutive premierships and an extended period in the upper echelons of the competition, the buck had to stop eventually for Hawthorn, but few predicted it would come so abruptly.
Just three weeks into the season, the doomsayers are already planning for the end of the Hawks’ era of dominance, with a trio of losses – the most recent an 86-point hammering at the hands of lowly Gold Coast – sending them plummeting to the bottom of the ladder.
Recruit Tom Mitchell has been excellent in midfield, while youngster Ryan Burton has also shown signs 2017 could be a breakout year, but precious few of their teammates have lived up to their lofty reputations.
The end of Josh Gibson’s glittering career looks imminent, the loss of champions Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis in midfield has hindered the productivity of Luke Breust and Isaac Smith, and former Richmond tall Ty Vickery has become a walking punchline for opposition fans.
A loss here would see the Hawks start the season with four consecutive losses, and from there, Alastair Clarkson can all but kiss goodbye to an eighth consecutive finals appearance.
Geelong haven’t started the year in top form either, but they’ve been good enough to get over the line in all three of their matches so far, and a victory here would set them up ideally for the rest of the season.
Much was made of the Patrick Dangerfield-Joel Selwood combination in the Cats’ midfield last season, and while others, notably Mitch Duncan, have lent support in the early rounds, narrow wins over North Melbourne and Melbourne have shown it’s still up to “Dangerwood” to get the job done when the going gets tough.
With Tom Lonergan and Lachie Henderson occupying the key defensive posts, Harry Taylor has been played predominantly up forward by coach Chris Scott, and while he still looks more at home across half-back, going up against a Hawks defence that has been constantly under siege in recent times could help the veteran build up some form in his new role.
Prediction
Unusually for Easter Monday clashes, there is a clear favourite heading into this one thanks to the Hawks’ woeful form of late. Expect Luke Hodge and company to come out firing and make a statement early, but ultimately, the Cats’ class around the ground should get them over the line.
Geelong to go 4-0 by 22 points.
It’s a milestone match for Hawthorn ruckman Ben McEvoy, who will run out for his 150th career match, 91 of which were played with St Kilda, while Will Langford will celebrate game number 50.
Can the milestone men celebrate the occasion with an upset win? Or will it be “Dangerwood” again leading the way for the Cats?
Tune into The Roar from 3:20pm (AEST) for all the live scores and analysis, and remember to chip in with your thoughts in the comments section below.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I'm just asking the question. Ross Lyon has basically thrown this game plan he's been trying to engineer for 18 months out of the window and letting the Dockers play a conventional game of running into space and chasing hard. He's got the best or second best midfield in the league and just letting them play their natural game. The team is energised by the injection of youth and they look like they're actually enjoying the game since they have some freedom. Eventually Lyon will start meddling over the coming months and Freo will begin struggling for wins again. What would you call these Hawthorn performances?
Gecko
Guest
If downhill skiers like Duncan and Motlop are playing well, Hawthorn clearly isn't putting any pressure on the opposition.
Cat
Roar Guru
Past time we ask if intelligent commenting has passed you by ... yes ... yes it has.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Woah, woah, woah. I guess now that Lyon's come good you need to find another target, aye?
Paul D
Roar Guru
Yes he should quit immediately and hand back his 4 Jock McHale medals because he's clearly a fraud Honestly you talk so much rubbish. You make it seem as though Hawthorn should have kept winning premierships indefinitely. The fact you seem to think they're easy to win illustrates your ignorance of football & sport in general
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Hawthorn just know how to win.... Maybe it's time to ask whether this game has passed Clarkson by. Pagan won a premiership in 1999 and was a dinosaur 4 years later. Malthouse the same.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Never said they were impressive this year. I like their defensive structure though, which is why I rate them highly at present.
Tim Miller
Editor
I can see them getting 5 or 6 wins, but only if they improve on today's debacle. A fascinating 2015 Grand Final Rematch awaits next week with West Coast at the 'G. If they lose that, to a team that can't play the ground, then they might be lucky to get even 3 wins for the season.
Tim Miller
Editor
Geelong 20.14 (134) defeated Hawthorn 6.12 (48) by 86 points at the MCG. GOALS Geelong- Hawkins 4, Menzel 3, Motlop 3, Duncan 2, Parsons 2, Menegola, Henderson, Thurlow, Murdoch, Cockatoo, Stewart. Hawthorn- Sicily 2, Gunston 2, Smith, Puopolo. BEST Geelong- Motlop, Tuohy, Duncan, Menegola, Menzel. Hawthorn- Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Smith, McEvoy.
Don Freo
Guest
Wow. Menegola was so much better than Hodge. Let's hope the umps don't follow your sympathy lead with the one vote.
Raimond
Roar Guru
West Coast have not been impressive this year imo.
hal
Guest
They are the only two teams I see them beating.
Tim Miller
Editor
Geelong: S. Motlop, three votes. He's played plenty of good games, but this was the first truly great game I've seen him play. Was everywhere early on, and in a scrappy, ordinary affair, his composure with ball in hand and cleanness by foot was a highlight. And he put the icing on the cake late in the piece with three last-term goals that sunk the slipper in. 33 touches and 3 goals, and he's the type of player that only needs half that much to destroy you. A magnificent performance. Well, that's it from me. We all get the chance to laugh at Hawthorn for another week if we want, as the Cats triumphed by 86 points. Cheerio beloved readers.
Bruce
Guest
Hawthorn at least have the consolation that Gibson, the fist of the century, should miss the next week or two.
Tim Miller
Editor
Geelong: Z. Tuohy, two votes. When the Hawks were on the attack early and then in the third quarter, it was the former Blue keeping them at bay most of the time. Had 22 touches and set up the Cats time and time again from half-back in another terrific display. Was also responsible for the moment of the day, his run-down tackle on Isaac Smith at a critical time in the game a goal-saver.
Bruce
Guest
Hawthorn aren't even competitive at the moment. Looking at their draw, who are they going to beat this season? I'd back them in Round 8 against Brisbane because its in Tassie, and Round 22 against Carlton at Etihad. Is that it? 2 wins for the season? Hard to see who else they'll beat.
Tim Miller
Editor
As always, we end with predictive Brownlow time! Hawthorn: L. Hodge, one vote. Head and shoulders above every Hawthorn player, and unlike many others, actually looked like he cared in the last quarter. The Cats got up and into him at every point, with Menegola and Parsons reported in the process and looking likely for weeks, but the grand old man was a rock across the half-back line with 35 possessions, most of them excellent. The dam wall broke in the end, but it was no fault of Hodgey. But with Roughead, Burgoyne, Gibson, Puopolo, Breust and even Gunston all looking shadows of their past selves, he's the only champion from that Hawthorn era who's playing good footy at the moment.
hal
Guest
It's great that we can win like this without Dangerfield and Selwood dominating. If we kicked straight we would have won by over 100 points. We are running out games well.
Tim Miller
Editor
Cats fans erupt as Geelong win 20.14 (134) to 6.12 (48). The era is over for Hawthorn. They showed a bit of fight at the start of the third quarter, but the Cats were able to ride out the storm and then feast on the carcass of a once-great side at the end. 11 goals to one in the last quarter told the story; the Hawks gave up the fight. The Cats at one stage had 2.12 on the board as inaccuracy plagued them in the first half, but from the moment Nakia Cockatoo bent one through from the boundary line, they kicked 18.2. It looks good, but it also speaks to the complete lack of pressure applied by Hawthorn in those closing stages. The Cats did as they pleased in the last, and while the Hawks' pressure and attack was great early on, their disposal was sloppy and Geelong made them pay time and time again, and when they dropped off, it was an absolute clinic. He's a four-time premiership coach and one of the greatest the game as seen, but Alastair Clarkson might be under pressure to hold his spot for the first time in a long while. Other clubs would undoubtedly love to have him (hello Collingwood) and with Hawthorn looking in need of a fresh face, Clarko could well be up for a switch. For all the talk about him being a great coach and bouncing back, he's just led his charges to their two worst performances in his time at the helm.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Very happy with the Cats defensive line today. Transition could use some work — last quarter Hawks were spent mentally — to get over the likes of the Crows and WCE (only other two teams I consider decent at present).