Hawthorn are eyeing a top-four AFL finish after holding off a late Geelong rally to score a nailbiting 11-point win at the MCG.
Hawks star Jaeger O’Meara sealed the 10.11 (71) to 8.12 (60) win in front of 59,529 fans by kicking the last goal of the day with just under a minute remaining.
The Cats trailed by 26 points at three-quarter time on Saturday but slashed the margin to eight points with eight minutes remaining to set up a frantic finale.
Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins had the chance to make it a one-point game with just more than three minutes left but missed a set shot from well inside 50.
The narrow result leaves the Cats outside the eight and in a dogfight to make the finals.
Hawks ball magnet Tom Mitchell had to contend with some close checking from Scott Selwood but was influential with 32 possessions.
Evergreen veteran Shaun Burgoyne was also outstanding with 20 touches and 13 tackles.
Patrick Dangerfield starred for the Cats with 40 possessions, with Gary Ablett important with 32 disposals and three goals.
The Hawks suffered a blow before the opening bounce when skipper Jarryd Roughead was ruled out with a sore ankle.
His absence from the attacking 50 was apparent early as Hawthorn went goalless in the first term.
Hawkins lifted a lacklustre start with the first goal 18 minutes in, helping the Cats to a 12-point lead at the first break.
Geelong ruckman Rhys Stanley limped out of the game in the second quarter, which coincided with a big lift in intensity from Alastair Clarkson’s men.
Isaac Smith led the charge with two majors in a five-goals-to-nil quarter that put the Hawks up by 20 points at halftime.
Ablett added two goals in the third but the Hawks extended their lead to 26 points at the last change.
But as is so often the case in the storied rivalry between these clubs, a thrilling finale ensued as Geelong finished full of running.
Hawthorn will take on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in round 22 and the Cats will host Fremantle at Kardinia Park.
paulywalnuts
Guest
Absolutely. But he hasn’t played all season. Would they bring him back first up into a final, with Sicily (and Howe) set to resume?
New York Hawk
Roar Rookie
Rioli’s retirement is essentially an injury and he would 100% be a walk up start on any team. Including Rioli (who was injured most of the year before retirement) our injury/retirement/suspension list reads pretty poorly - Rioli, Birchall, Sicily, McEvoy, Howe. All are guaranteed starters.
New York Hawk
Roar Rookie
PTS - please tell me you aren’t quoting a Melbourne player’s philosophy on wining finals matches to make your argument? If there is any team that knows a thing or two about what winning finals is about over the last say, I don’t know, pick a period - 5 years 10 years, 30 years, 50 years - it is the Hawks. Collingwood is relevant in the media only. Gone in week one of the finals, no question.
jimbo jr
Guest
Howe and Birchall would be a walk up start in most sides.
paulywalnuts
Guest
Hawks are playing well and have a very thin injury list. McEvoy and Sicily the only real outs, and they should be ready for finals. Birchall a handy standby, perhaps. With so little between so many teams momentum and injuries are even more significant, though of course that can all change in a fortnight. I’m not expecting them to win it this year, but for the first time, I’m not putting a line through them.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
BTW Scribe, the Lions losses are more outliers IMO just like an average Tiges outfit beating the Hawks regularly in their 3peat years.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
doesn't bode well for finals assuming they make it
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Pies looking good this year but until they play finals we know nothing about them yet just like Melb.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
not if they finished top 4, Bruce
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Keep taking comfort in that New York. As Nathan Jones said when asked about the Demons poor record against Top 8 sides " we don't have to beat them in the season, we have to beat them in the finals" .
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Round one was a lifetime ago.
anon
Roar Pro
Obviously they aren't favourite to win the premiership, but if they get Richmond on a neutral MCG in the first week then I think the Hawks win that game 3/10 times. Win that and suddenly they are favourite for the premiership. Richmond would then likely have to travel interstate two consecutive weeks. West Coast are missing too many, GWS have been crippled by injuries, Collingwood are a midtable team, Melbourne is Melbourne.
anon
Roar Pro
They were ordinary in the 2013 GF but Fremantle could only manage one goal in the first half.
anonandon
Guest
2012 wasn't great. Should have been the first of four.
New York Hawk
Roar Rookie
And while I’m at it, if there was ever a team I hold zero fear of as a Hawks supporter it is the pies. Have you even beaten us since the 2011 prelim? The media beat up of how good the pies allegedly are is comical. I am always nervous against the Cats, Swans and bizarrely the Tigers (somehow they managed to beat us a few times during the recent halcyon years of 2011-2016). But the pies I chalk up a win to automatically. Now I remember - you beat us last year after we were up by 40-odd points, took our foot off the gas and choked hugely. Yep, I guess there had to be one.
New York Hawk
Roar Rookie
So you remind yourself that they also easily beat the Pies?
New York Hawk
Roar Rookie
Let’s jot get too carried away. We are not a realistic premiership threat this year but I can definitely see a scenario where we get a player or two in the off-season and become a real challenger next year. I feel sorry for Carlton given their perpetual rebuild, which is probably the ultimate insult to their supporters.
Scott
Guest
The hawks are not old. Got some promising young players coming through. If they make the top 4, look out.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
The second week in a row Geelong has blown chances to take a match. Yesterday they blew two gilt-edged chances to keep piling on the pressure and continue their momentum. They seem to have forgotten how to seal the deal. One thing they do know how to do is flick that switch late in a last quarter.
Slane
Guest
The Cats no longer have their destiny in their own hands. They sit a win outside the top 8 and don't get to play any more top 8 teams . They will be relying on the teams above them to slip up. Not a good place to be. The Cats could now win their last two games by 100 points and still not make the top 8.