Selwood and Dangerfield delight but heartbreak for Smith as Cats defeat Hawthorn by two points
GEELONG is into a preliminary final after an incredible two-point win over Hawthorn, with Isaac Smith missing a shot after the siren.
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THE king might almost be ready to give up its crown.
Hawthorn’s grip on the premiership cup was finally loosened on Friday night in a September classic not decided until after the final siren.
A game for the ages lay in Isaac Smith’s hands, the triple-premiership player granted the opportunity to ink his name in club folklore.
Smith marked a Luke Breust chip 40m out from goal with seconds on the clock.
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There would be few players at the Hawks you would rather have take the kick but in a moment of pressure footy has rarely produced the country kid’s kick was off target.
Elation for Geelong, devastation for Hawthorn.
The result? Thrusting Hawthorn into a do-or-die semi-final against the dangerous Western Bulldogs and granting Geelong a second bye in three weeks.
Mark this down as a September classic, the latest episode from the game’s best rivalry the greatest yet.
Suddenly the fear of a straight-sets Hawthorn exit is likely to swell with every sleep.
The quest for a historic four-peat has never looked so unlikely. Should they advance next week, a preliminary final in Sydney will await.
The Cats’ push to add a fourth flag in a decorated decade is on target.
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Actor Justin Theroux sat in the MCG stands and witnessed drama the shrewdest Hollywood minds couldn’t dream of scripting.
The Hawks were charged with the arduous task of manufacturing a coast-to-coast goal with 36 seconds on the clock.
When Luke Breust marked alone at half-forward 17 seconds later it seemed more than likely.
When Corey Enright stood the mark and somehow smothered the kick it looked a golden opportunity had been bungled.
Breust would fetch the footy and spot Smith standing alone 40m from goal.
This was an ill-tempered affair littered with spot-fires threatening to flash into fisticuffs.
Josh Caddy put the Cats one point in front with less than five minutes to play in what was the defining goal.
Hawthorn has produced plenty a hero in September in previous seasons but this time the Cats proved too good.
Patrick Dangerfield’s first half was quiet. He finished with yet another best-afield performance.
The tackles, smothers and powerful possessions by draftee Sam Menegola in the final minutes will be cherished by coach Chris Scott.
Bruise brothers Joel and Scott Selwood treated Sam Mitchell like a pinyata.
Problem was, according to Brownlow Medallist Shane Crawford, that’s what Mitchell loves.
And Mitchell chalked up his 13th final with more than 30 disposals.
A brutal Tom Hawkins tackle on James Frawley in the third quarter sparked a rush of goals.
Hawthorn’s control crumbled as the lead swapped three times in the dying stages.
Steven Motlop would put the Cats in front at the last break.
The trading of blows wouldn’t end there.
Cyril Rioli, Cam Guthrie and the silk of Shaun Burgoyne swapped the lead and swelled heartrates of the 87,533 in the stands.
Alastair Clarkson has long scoffed at the importance of contested ball.
At the MCG the legendary Hawthorn coach’s theory was franked in emphatic fashion.
The lopsided 170-118 count had little impact, Hawthorn able to generate plenty of chances to secure victory.
It’s an outcome continuing to bamboozle some of the game’s most intelligent stats boffins.
In the first quarter goals were as scarce as gold nuggets.
So when Luke Hodge gift-wrapped counterpart warrior Joel Selwood a free kick, 50m penalty and major to start the second term the price was hefty.
Cool Hand Luke became Hot Head Hodge, the moment of aggro following some old-fashioned scragging at the first break.
The Hawks had things fortified in the backline. But without Buddy, Roughy and 2016 ice man James Sicily the question was whether they had the heavy artillery up front.
In Luke Breust, Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo they didn’t have the cannons, but three little gun forwards.
Debate has raged about Jimmy Bartel’s place in the team.
on Friday night he was deployed as a defensive forward, tasked with minding Josh Gibson in a tactical tick for Scott.
Dangerfield’s second quarter lacked bite. His third took a chunk out of Hawthorn and proved critical to the result.
His mission to wear footy’s crown has never looked more likely.
GEELONG 2.3 5.5 10.9 12.13 (85)
HAWTHORN 1.2 6.6 10.7 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Geelong: J Caddy 2 L McCarthy 2 S Motlop 2 T Hawkins 2 C Guthrie D Menzel J Selwood M Blicavs.
Hawthorn: L Breust 3 C Rioli 2 J Gunston 2 R Schoenmakers 2 S Burgoyne 2 B Hill.
VOTES
3. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
A quiet first half morphed into a monster second half.
2. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
The warrior again rose to the September challenge with an inspiring midfield display laced with aggression
1. Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Franked his selection last week as All-Australian captain with a textbook captain’s performance. Seven inside 50s proved critical on the scoreboard.
BEST
Hawthorn: Hodge, Lewis, Mitchell, Breust, Gunston, Whitecross, Birchall, McEvoy, Shiels
Geelong: Dangerfield, Selwood, Guthrie, Menegola, Hawkins, Blicavs
Originally published as Selwood and Dangerfield delight but heartbreak for Smith as Cats defeat Hawthorn by two points
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