Gary Ablett and Gary Rohan help lift Geelong to a fighting win over Hawthorn

Not for the first time in his future Hall-of-Fame career, Gary Ablett was faced with some tough questions during the week. However, the Little Master put a full stop to an Instagram mini-scandal and made Easter Monday his own.

Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood celebrate after the match. Picture: Getty Images

Not for the first time in his future Hall-of-Fame career, Gary Ablett answered a week of controversy with sublime onfield heroics.

A goalsquare spekky channelling his dad’s aerial brilliance and a “how-did-he-do-that” checkside goal beggaring belief combined to steal the show.

What an Easter Monday show it was, his performance putting a full stop to an Instagram mini-scandal and overshadowing everything else on the day.

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Fair enough too on a day when he posterized David Mirra with that soaring hanger and effectively killed the contest with a surging goal on the run in the last seconds of the third term.

But spend the time rewinding his audacious checkside goal — you know you want to — and you will find the basis of Geelong’s 2019 premiership tilt.

There is Gary Rohan hurtling himself into the air to contest the ball, before Luke Dahlhaus pounces then squirts a quicksilver handball to the 34-year-old footballing genius.

Gary Ablett was unstoppable against the Hawks. Picture: Getty Images

Gary Ablett the Saviour is a mighty hard storyline to look past.

Yet Geelong’s forward line is unrecognisable to even last year’s front six, and as a result it could march them all the way to the premiership.

Rohan is footy’s biggest bang for buck player, turning eight kicks into four goals by three quarter time.

And Dahlhaus is the re-energised modern-day crumber.

With Tim Kelly and Patrick Dangerfield perhaps the best goalkicking midfielders in the game it is the kind of weapon that can turn finals deep in September.

Rohan said post-match he was loving his role at the club after two of those goals set Geelong up in the shadows of quarter time.

“Obviously Tom Hawkins and Buddy Franklin are different footballers but I am trying to use my pace and ability to get around him. It’s a pretty dangerous forward line when you see Paddy Dangerfield up there in the last quarter too,” Rohan said.

Dangerfield has been in awe of Rohan’s impact in perhaps the best five weeks of his career.

As coach Chris Scott said, there is no point finding a forward line that gives great pressure if it doesn’t have enough cutting edge to hurt the opponent.

“He is frightening with how hard he goes at the ball,” Dangerfield said.

“He can turn on a dime and you have seen those players with broken legs who don’t regain their speed, but for him it’s never been an issue.”

Dahlhaus had the best seat in the house as Ablett kicked the day’s best goal — and celebrated accordingly.

“It was pretty special. These are the types of moments I am cherished coming back home. Playing with someone like Gary Ablett, the greatest of all time.

“I was front and square and as soon as you see him run past, you give it. I was celebrating like I actually kicked it. It was so good. They are the kind of moments I will cherish.”

Gary Rohan celebrates one of his goals against the Hawks. Picture: Michael Klein

BRAVO CLARKO

“All the changes to the game and we’re scoring less,” said Alastair Clarkson only a week ago.

A minute into Monday’s contest and the brilliant strategist has his star forward Jack Gunston playing half back on Gary Ablett.

As usual, a Clarko surprise move paid off early as Gunston surged upfield to set up the Hawks’ second goal.

Ablett was shut out early, Ricky Henderson was on his way to a barnstorming one-goal, 13 possession quarter.

With unlikely extractor Dan Howe and the silky Jaeger O’Meara sharing 11 clearances, the Hawks were belting the Cats in the clearances 24-13 at half time Clarkson had his side in the contest.

Alastair Clarkson talks to his players from the bench. Picture: Michael Klein

As late as the third quarter, as James Worpel’s close-range snap put the Hawks within seven points, the midfield dominance gave them a chance.

But as Clarkson had suspected his Hawks were eventually overwhelmed, even if they never gave up.

Down by only 17 points with 10 minutes on the clock, the absences of Tom Mitchell, Ben Stratton, James Frawley, Shaun Burgoyne and Liam Shiels finally took their predictable toll.

‘GOOD PLAYERS GET BOOED’: SCOTT

Chris Scott says Cats champion Gary Ablett is unfazed by the jeers he cops from the crowd after producing “a pretty special game” on Monday.

Ablett was caught up in the Israel Folau social media controversy and last week explained why he initially “liked” the ruby star’s anti-gay religious post.

But the Brownlow Medalist responded in fine fashion on Monday, producing one of his best games since joining the Cats last season to help pip Hawthorn by 23 points.

Ablett, who slotted three goals and took a spectacular high mark, was booed throughout the match by Hawthorn fans, but Scott said it had little impact on the superstar goal kicker.

“Good players get booed, it seems to be a trend,” Scott said.

“I don’t think anyone really likes it, do they? But does anyone really care that much? Gaz doesn’t.

“It just kept going and going and when you boo players and they keep getting the ball, keep booing them, (because) it’s working.”

Chris Scott says Gary Ablett played a “pretty special game.” Picture: AAP Images

Teammate Patrick Dangerfield said: “You can boo him as much as you like when he is kicking goals on the outside of his foot from 50m.”

“The real good ones feed off it and Gary did today.”

Scott said he spoke to Ablett about the Folau saga for about 30 seconds and urged people to get over the issue. Ablett distanced himself from the Folau slur last week, saying he loves all people.

“His post, if that is what it is called, was shown to me and if he said ‘I love all people’, I think that says it, doesn’t it?” Scott said.

“As a society, we have got to stop hanging people who misspeak.

“You can keep trying to make a story of it if you like, but I think you are being disingenuous if you do that.”

WHICH CATS COULD RETURN?

The Cats now sit atop the table after five rounds and could regain gun defender Zach Tuohy for Sunday’s clash against reigning premier West Coast in Geelong.

Brandon Parfitt hurt his quad early and is in doubt for the clash.