TonyK
CibbuanoCats hold off Hawks
March 27th 2009 12:15
GEELONG has downed reigning premiers Hawthorn by eight points in the grand final rematch at the MCG on Friday night.
The Cats led by 43 points early in the final term and withstood a late charge from the undermanned Hawks to prevail 15.21 (111) to 16.7 (103).
Hawthorn was missing seven players from last year’s premiership side - the retired Shane Crawford plus injured players Robert Campbell (buttock), Xavier Ellis (hip), Trent Croad (foot), Jordan Lewis (shoulder), Rick Ladson (knee) and late withdrawal Stephen Gilham (knee) .
The loss was made worse for the Hawks with vice-captain Luke Hodge reported for striking Tom Lonergan in the third quarter while ruckman Simon Taylor also had his number taken for engaging in rough conduct against Geelong midfielder Joel Selwood.
For the Cats, rugged utility Max Rooke was reported for engaging in rough conduct against Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell while hard-running defender Andrew Mackie was also reported for striking ruckman Brent Renouf during a tense final term.
Gary Ablett was at his devastating best with a game-high 35 possessions while Steve Johnson was influential with 27 touches and two goals.
For the Hawks, Mitchell led from the front with 34 disposals while Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead booted five and four goals respectively.
The Cats stamped their authority on the contest in the opening term with Ablett simply unstoppable with 15 touches.
But Geelong failed to translate their dominance around the ground onto the scoreboard - they booted a wasteful 4.8 for the quarter to take a 12-point lead into the first change.
The Cats kicked four of the first five goals of the game but Hawthorn responded with six of the next seven to take the lead at the 22-minute mark of the second term.
Their lead was short-lived with majors from Cameron Mooney, Ablett and Mark Blake giving Geelong a two goal lead at half-time.
The Cats broke the game open in the third term, slamming on six goals to two to take a commanding 37-point lead heading into the final change.
The result looked to be beyond doubt when Corey Enright kicked truly to blow the margin out to more than seven goals.
But the Hawks refused to give in and hit back through Franklin and Roughead who booted three goals apiece for the term.
However it proved to be too little too late with the Cats holding on for a hard-fought win.
HAWTHORN: 3.2 8.4 10.6, 16.7 (103)
GEELONG: 4.8 8.16 14.19, 15.21 (111)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Roughead 4, Osborne 2, Dew 2, Bateman, Rioli, Stokes
Geelong: Gamble 2, S Johnson 2, Mooney 2, Rooke 2, Chapman 2
Mackie, Varcoe, Lonergan, Ablett, Enright
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Franklin, Tuck, Roughead, Hodge, Sewell, Young
Geelong: Ablett, Chapman, Ottens, Selwood, S Johnson, Corey, Rooke, Mackie
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Osborne (hamstring)
Geelong: Nil
UMPIRES: McBurney, Wenn, Ryan
REPORTS: Hawthorn: Taylor reported for rough conduct on Selwood in first quarter. Hodge reported for striking Lonergan in third quarter
Geelong: Rooke reported for rough conduct on Mitchell in the third quarter. Mackie reported for striking Renouf in the final quarter.
CHANGES: Hawthorn: Gilham (knee) replaced in selected side by Stokes
CROWD: 69,593 at MCG
The Cats led by 43 points early in the final term and withstood a late charge from the undermanned Hawks to prevail 15.21 (111) to 16.7 (103).
Hawthorn was missing seven players from last year’s premiership side - the retired Shane Crawford plus injured players Robert Campbell (buttock), Xavier Ellis (hip), Trent Croad (foot), Jordan Lewis (shoulder), Rick Ladson (knee) and late withdrawal Stephen Gilham (knee) .
The loss was made worse for the Hawks with vice-captain Luke Hodge reported for striking Tom Lonergan in the third quarter while ruckman Simon Taylor also had his number taken for engaging in rough conduct against Geelong midfielder Joel Selwood.
For the Cats, rugged utility Max Rooke was reported for engaging in rough conduct against Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell while hard-running defender Andrew Mackie was also reported for striking ruckman Brent Renouf during a tense final term.
Gary Ablett was at his devastating best with a game-high 35 possessions while Steve Johnson was influential with 27 touches and two goals.
For the Hawks, Mitchell led from the front with 34 disposals while Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead booted five and four goals respectively.
The Cats stamped their authority on the contest in the opening term with Ablett simply unstoppable with 15 touches.
But Geelong failed to translate their dominance around the ground onto the scoreboard - they booted a wasteful 4.8 for the quarter to take a 12-point lead into the first change.
The Cats kicked four of the first five goals of the game but Hawthorn responded with six of the next seven to take the lead at the 22-minute mark of the second term.
Their lead was short-lived with majors from Cameron Mooney, Ablett and Mark Blake giving Geelong a two goal lead at half-time.
The Cats broke the game open in the third term, slamming on six goals to two to take a commanding 37-point lead heading into the final change.
The result looked to be beyond doubt when Corey Enright kicked truly to blow the margin out to more than seven goals.
But the Hawks refused to give in and hit back through Franklin and Roughead who booted three goals apiece for the term.
However it proved to be too little too late with the Cats holding on for a hard-fought win.
HAWTHORN: 3.2 8.4 10.6, 16.7 (103)
GEELONG: 4.8 8.16 14.19, 15.21 (111)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Roughead 4, Osborne 2, Dew 2, Bateman, Rioli, Stokes
Geelong: Gamble 2, S Johnson 2, Mooney 2, Rooke 2, Chapman 2
Mackie, Varcoe, Lonergan, Ablett, Enright
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Franklin, Tuck, Roughead, Hodge, Sewell, Young
Geelong: Ablett, Chapman, Ottens, Selwood, S Johnson, Corey, Rooke, Mackie
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Osborne (hamstring)
Geelong: Nil
UMPIRES: McBurney, Wenn, Ryan
REPORTS: Hawthorn: Taylor reported for rough conduct on Selwood in first quarter. Hodge reported for striking Lonergan in third quarter
Geelong: Rooke reported for rough conduct on Mitchell in the third quarter. Mackie reported for striking Renouf in the final quarter.
CHANGES: Hawthorn: Gilham (knee) replaced in selected side by Stokes
CROWD: 69,593 at MCG
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