Isaac Smith notches up the first score of the day, albeit minor, following a scrubby Puopolo inside 50. A fast transition from Geelong sees Hawkins miss from 50 at the other end. (Q1 4:55)
Ceglar juggles the mark in front on Stanley with outstretched arms. His set shot from about 35 flies almost at right angles! He’d like to take that one again… (Q1 11:54)
In his first game, Irishman Connor Nash pings O’Connor HTB. It’s on line, but didn’t quite get the distance. Punched through for a point. (Q1 13:39)
Another behind, this time via Fogarty for the Cats. His set shot from just on the arc is rushed through for a minor score. (Q1 15:23)
Menegola pops it up beautifully in front of Hawkins, who’s been involved early. From 40 on a tight angle, the shot is flawless. First goal of the day! (Q1 18:51)
Pressure’s on for GAJ! Isaac Smith gave away the very soft free, then from an identical spot to his crucial miss last week, Gary kicks the goal. (Q1 22:36)
Fogarty dishes it off to Kelly, but on the run the young gun can’t finish, thanks to some hot pressure from behind. Through for a point. (Q1 24:39)
Stewart wraps up Gunston in the forward line. Before the whistle is blown Jack manages to get the ball out to Mitchell. From the pocket, Tom’s snap misses to the near side. (Q1 26:25)
Ricky Henderson chips a short pass to the lethal left boot of Isaac Smith. From outside the 50 on a slight angle, Isaac kicks the goal! First of the day for Hawthorn. (Q2 2:30)
Tom Hawkins goes sky high over Frawley and Shiels to clunk a great mark. From 41 meters on a slight angle, he misses. (Q2 5:17)
Burton kicks inside 50 to no real target, but amongst a group of player Guthrie completely misses the footy. Gunston picks it up and snaps the goal, making Cam pay! (Q2 8:32)
Worpel pings Gaz HTB in the centre bounce and earns the 50m after Scott Selwood kicks the ball away. His shot from just inside 50 is wide. Minor score. (Q2 9:58)
And that’s why you don’t give Luke Breust any space. The footy spills out of a contest where Luke gathers, runs inboard and snaps the goal on his right. (Q2 12:01)
It’s a finals-like atmosphere today with pressure and tensions high all around the ground. (Q2 13:32)
O’Meara hands it off to the running Isaac Smith and that smells trouble. From 48m, directly in front, he kicks his second of the day (Q2 15:18)
Gunston follows up his own work inside his attacking 50, but under pressure his quick dribbler shot is wide. (Q2 17:47)
Burton, Shiels, and then a mark to the late inclusion Mark Pittonet. From 35 on a 45 degree angle, he misses to the near side. (Q2 19:16)
Breust marks over the top of Stewart in the hot spot. Zach Tuohy, his opponent, gave Breust no attention. From 25m with no angle, he nails it. 5 goals in a row for the Hawks. (Q2 20:54)
Under pressure Joel Selwood can’t get boot to ball to clear it out of the defensive lines. Impey picks up the loose ball, but his snap misses. (Q2 26:00)
Ablett dribbles the first goal of the second half to give Geelong the hope they need. Burgoyne gave the little master too much space at the throw in and Gaz made him pay. (Q3 3:51)
Dangerfield claims ruck duties and manages to beat Ceglar and take it out of the ruck. In the forward pocket he hands to Kelly, who snaps, but it’s wide. (Q3 8:07)
Gunston finishes a superb 30 seconds from both sides with intense pressure from all directions. Worpel picked up the footy with class, dished to Henderson, then a Gunston 50m goal (Q3 10:07)
Gunston’s influence continues with a goal assist to Morrison who kicks the easiest of majors. Hawks pushing ahead. (Q3 12:05)
Ablett snags another goal to keep the Cats in the game. Pressure from Guthrie on the Impey clearance caused the turnover and Gaz nailed it from 50 on the run. (Q3 16:22)
Breust feeds it out to Gunston who launches a snap from about 40m, but it’s wide to the right hands side. (Q3 17:20)
From 60m Kelly just pops it up to the hot spot. Tom Hawkins crashes the pack the intent. It falls to the lap of Narkle, who snaps the goal from 25m! (Q3 20:01)
Shoenmakers gets the rapid reply at the other end following a Shiels cleanance. Duncan dropped the marked and Shoenmakers finished well from 40. (Q3 21:01)
O’meara questionably disposes of the ball in a tackle to Shiels, who kicks to the space in front of Ceglar. The big fella goals and the Cats are now on very shaky ground. (Q3 23:05)
The guns for Geelong combine with a chain of inch-perfect kicks. Selwood, Dangerfield, and then Hawkins on the lead. His set shot if OOF. (Q3 25:19)
Mitchell bombs it on his right foot high and hopeful into the 50. Gunston flies, it falls to Puopolo. He snaps from the pocket and misses. (Q3 27:24)
Henry will kick for goal after the 3QT siren. Dangerfield cleared the footy inboard where Scott Selwood found Henry. His shot was lucky to get through for a behind. (3 Qtr Time)
Poppy catches Tuohy HTB in the forward pocket with a pinned arm. Electing for the drop punt from the socket, his shot is across the face and no score. (Q4 3:04)
Gary Ablett almost pulls something out of nothing with a quick snap, but it’s just wide of the post. (Q4 10:23)
Blicavs finds Henry who is one of the only free men in their attacking half. Henry’s kick from 50 to the hot spot gets the lucky bounce as is through for a goal! 20 point margin. (Q4 15:04)
Ricky Henderson is pinged for a deliberate rushed behind, making no effort to keep the ball in play. Menzel snaps from the pocket on his right and goals! Back to 14 points! (Q4 16:38)
Narkle bulls through his opponent and handballs into space to Duncan. Mitch dishes to Kelly who goals from 25m on the run. Game on! (Q4 19:23)
Selwood bombs it forward from the wing and somehow Parsons takes the mark. He’s had a quiet day but this kick is massive. From 45, he misses. 7 points the margin. (Q4 24:03)
Menegola marks strongly at half forward. He looks up and kicks in the direction of Hawkins who marks over his opponent. From 30 on a slight angle, Tom misses! One goal the margin. (Q4 25:48)
O’Meara kicks the goal! Hawks go 12 points up with 57 seconds on the clock. (Q4 30:18)
