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AFL Finals: Geelong vs West Coast at the MCG
Geelong has stunned West Coast with a fourth-quarter barrage, but have likely lost star Tom Hawkins after an ugly "season-ending" hit
Welcome to our live coverage of the AFL Finals Series semi-final blockbuster between Geelong and West Coast at the MCG.
Geelong is through to a preliminary final against Richmond after a thrilling, see-sawing win over West Coast at the MCG.
The Cats had to come from behind in the fourth quarter, but kicked away with late goals to Tom Hawkins and Luke Dahlhaus to run away with a 13.10 (88) to 10.8 (68) win.
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Hawkins' booted four goals, but his heroics were overshadowed by an earlier hit to the head of Eagle Will Schofield which left him dazed and struggling to get back to his feet.
Replays showed Schofield was slow to get back to his feet after Hawkins collected him with a swinging fist to the head well behind the play in the third quarter.
Footy commentators on Friday night declared Hawkins will likely be suspended for at least one week.
Garry Lyon told SEN Hawkins won't play again in 2019.
“I’ve just seen the Tom Hawkins incident. He ain’t playing again this year," Lyon said.
Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy: "He's in trouble".
Others believe it is highly unlikely that Hawkins would escape with just a fine for the infringement.
Hawkins was also heard apologising to Hickey after the incident.
"See that, Tom Hawkins said, 'Are you alright? Are you OK?' He was concerned about him there," Seven's Brian Taylor said.
"Great sportsmanship shown by Tom Hawkins."
Hawkins delivered a match-winning effort, kicking four goals from six marks, while Esava Ratugolea kicked three. Joel Selwood set the tone in the midfield with 26 touches, while Cam Guthrie (33 disposals) and Zach Tuohy (27 disposals) also impressed. For West Coast, Andrew Gaff (30 disposals and two goals) and Shannon Hurn (23 disposals) were the standouts.
Geelong's win was far from certain with 1o minutes to play.
The Eagles had surged into the fourth term with a four point lead and carried all the momentum into the final quarter after kicking five goals to two in the third term.
The Cats had to reach right to the bottom of their bag of tricks to mount their own comeback - and they found their magician in Hawkins.
West Coast had earlier found a spark of their own in Andrew Gaff - the man who missed the club's 2018 premiership.
Trailing by 31 points in the second quarter, two goals to Gaff pulled West Coast back into the contest.
This time last year, Gaff was sitting on the sidelines, left to think of what might have been as his teammates powered their way to premiership glory. Twelve months later, Gaff turned in a stellar performance, but was left heartbroken once more as the Eagles fell short by 20 points in their semi-final against Geelong.
The hard-running winger was ruled out of the entire finals series after copping an eight-game suspension for the strike on Andrew Brayshaw that left the Fremantle youngster with a broken jaw.
When Gaff drilled second goal to put the Eagles in front he loomed as the hero of the semi-final.
But the Cats had other ideas and Gaff’s Eagles were left stunned as their opposition delivered a scintillating final term to bring the 2018 premiers’ title defence to a resounding halt.
And despite a supreme 30-disposal individual effort, Gaff’s night - and season - would end in heartbreak.
Recalled midfielder Cam Guthrie was outstanding for the Cats with 33 disposals while skipper Joel Selwood - playing in a club record 29th final - wound back the clock with a dominant first half and finished with 26 touches and a goal. Importantly, the Cats also have the monkey off their back after avoiding becoming the first minor premiers in 36 years to bow out of the finals in straight sets.
Here's how the thrilling final unfolded.
Originally published as AFL Finals: Geelong vs West Coast at the MCG