Cats storm home to beat Hawks

Geelong have won two of the past three AFL grand finals, but it was the one they
lost that helped stir a comeback win over Hawthorn at the MCG on Monday.
The Cats were battered physically and four goals adrift during the first half, yet
fought back to win by nine points, 14.16 (100) to 13.13 (91).
The win again left Cats coach Mark Thompson awestruck over how often his side finds
another gear when challenged and how much hunger remains among a group which won the
2007 and 2009 flags.
"I think they're an outstanding group, but they have to be if they want to keep
winning," Thompson said.
"They know that every club's aiming to beat them and they get half a sniff and
they're going to try to run over the top of us. We know that that's coming.
"I'm very much in awe of what they're able to do week in, week out. They are a tough
lot of boys and you've got to give them a lot of credit for what they do."
Hawthorn had Geelong's early measure in a bruising clash, by denying them any
freedom in the first half, especially when the Cats kicked a wasteful 1.7 in the
second quarter.
Yet Geelong kicked five goals in the third quarter and grabbed the lead early in the
last term, when Steve Johnson snapped truly.
They had to rally again when Hawthorn kicked the next two goals, but Harry Taylor
and Paul Chapman converted from marks and Shannon Brynes kicked the sealer after a
tackle on an unsuspecting Chance Bateman.
The win was Geelong's third over Hawthorn since they lost to the Hawks in the 2008
grand final, and those three games were decided by a combined 18 points.
Thompson said Hawthorn were probably sick of Geelong, but admitted there was a
determination among his players to avenge the 2008 loss so resolute he did not have
to mention it.
"If you ever lose a grand final you never want that team to ever do that to you
again - that's how I feel and I know the players feel like that," Thompson said.
"I know Hawthorn really enjoy playing us to so ... good matches (result)."
Thompson paid credit to his players for "toughing" the game out.
Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett barely had a moment to himself yet finished with 38
disposals, Brad Ottens overcame a quiet first half to star in the ruck and in
attack, and Cameron Mooney worked hard for four goals.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson also acknowledged the rivalry, but said it was more
Geelong's physical size and strength that turned the tide.
"Their big fellas didn't get any smaller as the game wore on," Clarkson said.
"Ottens and Mooney and (Tom) Hawkins were very, very dangerous as tall targets up
forward and with those strong bodies ... they ended up dominating the fall of the
ball in the middle part of the ground.
"It was nearly like a dam wall about to break in the last quarter and unfortunately
we just couldn't get our ands on the footy long enough."
Hawthorn's best included skipper Sam Mitchell and forward Jarryd Roughead (four
goals), while half-forward Cyril Rioli made a great return from injury, with a goal,
several assists and a handful of strong tackles.
Geelong became the sixth side to win both opening games, and sit in fourth spot
behind St Kilda, Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions.
Hawthorn are seventh, with the best percentage of the four teams to have won one and
lost one.