Death, taxes and Hawthorn and Geelong playing out a game decided by a kick.
It’s written in the stars and, as it usually does, it ended with Billy Brownless laughing in the face of Jeff Kennett when it was all over.
It was a dour affair for three quarters, with the Cats holding Hawthorn at arm’s length before the Hawks surged in the final term and made a spectacle of things, going down by just five points.
Cam Guthrie and Mitch Duncan ran riot for Geelong, combining for 80 disposals and 21 marks.
Here’s everything you need to know!
Geelong have the last laugh 😂 pic.twitter.com/J99mj9OSvL
— Brayden Cocks (@brayden_cocks) April 5, 2021
The Moment: Howe clanger allows Cats to seal it
In a game decided be a single goal, a late fourth quarter clanger can be the difference.
Daniel Howe attempting to switch the play to Shaun Burgoyne with a high, loopy kick late in the game was picked off by Jack Henry, who shared it with the speedy Jordan Clark as the Cats took it from one end to the other and made it a little too tough for the Hawks to reel them in.
It’s the closest thing you’ll see to an NFL style pick six in the AFL.
Jordan Clark has wheels. 💨💨💨 pic.twitter.com/XZ6Vo2Tiix
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 5, 2021
The Talking Point: A fun finish, but a lacklustre three quarters
Did you spend as much time admiring the courage of a pigeon in the centre square as you did watching this game? No? Just us? Well, still. This was one of those games.
The man on the mark rule had minimal impact on this one given both teams wanted to chip it short, sideways and move the ball slowly and cautiously.
The Cats want to play a slow and methodical style as they have for a number of years and the Hawks were happy to get behind the ball and let them hold possession.
This made for a dull affair, particularly after three weeks of mostly exhilarating footy.
Only when Hawthorn absolutely needed to take the game on in the fourth term to have any chance of winning did the game pick up in pace.
Hopefully when the next block of the fixture is released, the fun and exciting teams are rewarded with the marquee timeslots.
What’s next?
Geelong faces a tougher task, going against the unbeaten Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday. It’s a game that will tell us a lot about where both teams sit in the pecking order. Hawthorn meanwhile travels west to take on Fremantle in a contest that is tough to get a read on.
FULL SCORE
Geelong: 3.3, 6.4, 9.7, 10.9. (69)
Hawthorn: 2.1, 3.5, 5.7, 9.10. (64)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 2, Henry 2, Miers, Blicavs, Constable, Parfitt, Tuohy, Clark
Hawthorn: Lewis 2, Breust 2, Wingard, Brockman, McEvoy, Koschitzke, Moore
BEST
Geelong: Cam Guthrie, Mitch Duncan, Tom Stewart, Mark O’Connor, Tom Hawkins, Jack Henry
Hawthorn: Jaeger O’Meara, Chad Wingard, Changkuoth Jiath, Luke Breust, Jack Scrimshaw, Jarman Impey
Other: Pigeon
This pigeon has nerves of steel 😂 pic.twitter.com/oulbtLprOH
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 5, 2021
INJURIES
Geelong: Francis Evans (ankle), Shaun Higgins (hamstring)
Hawthorn: Nil.
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