Cats sneak home against Hawks

Geelong have maintained their perfect record against Hawthorn since their 2008 grand
final loss with a thrilling 12.13 (85) to 11.17 (83) AFL victory at the MCG.
The Cats trailed narrowly at every change before outscoring the Hawks in the last
term to notch the hard-fought two-point win.
The Hawks had several chances to snatch victory in the dying minutes.
Geelong's Harry Taylor did well to spoil a Lance Franklin marking attempt in the
goalsquare, Hawthorn's Clinton Young just missed with a snap, while a Franklin long
bomb as the siren sounded sailed wide.
The victory took Geelong back atop the ladder and ended Hawthorn's seven-match
winning streak.
The Cats have now won four straight against Hawthorn, since losing the 2008 decider,
with none of those victories by more than nine points.
Forward pocket Mathew Stokes starred for the Cats with four of his side's seven
second-half goals, while Franklin booted 3.3 for the Hawks.
Geelong midfielders Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett and Paul Chapman were
all important, with Chapman also kicking a crucial goal from a free kick late in the
last quarter, the Cats' last for the match.
Speedster Cyril Rioli was excellent in the midfield for the Hawks and helped his
side make a strong start to the match, Hawthorn kicking four of the first six goals,
including two to Jordan Lewis.
The Cats dominated the early stages of the second term and a nice snap from Ablett
10 minutes in gave them the lead.
But two late goals to Franklin two minutes apart, both after winning aerial contests
against Taylor, gave the Hawks a seven-point lead at the long break.
The Cats again edged ahead during the third term, with Stokes kicking all of his
side's three goals for the quarter, before a long goal from Young put Hawthorn six
points up at the last change.
Stokes again played a big hand in the final term, putting the Cats in front with a
superb angled snap 11 minutes in, then setting up teammate James Podsiadly for a
goal 15 minutes in to increase the margin.
But goals to Hawks Luke Hodge and Brad Sewell either side of Chapman's major ensured
it went down to the wire.



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next