AFL Round 17 Geelong v Hawthorn: All the news and analysis as Hawks hit a wall down the highway
Like many clubs before them, Hawthorn headed down the highway and drove straight into a wall, writes JOSH BARNES. But this was a game that told us more about Chris Scott’s Cats.
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Like many clubs before them, Hawthorn headed down the highway and drove straight into a wall.
The plucky Hawks hit Geelong on Saturday with their best chance to win there in 18 years – and not just because it was only the second time they had actually played at GMHBA Stadium in that time.
But from the very first minutes of a 51-point defeat, it was clear Sam Mitchell’s side was out-positioned in unfamiliar territory.
Chris Scott has now coached at his home ground 106 times and won 88 of those matches, often simply because he sets up the ground just as he chooses.
On Saturday, Zach Tuohy started as the loose in defence and Geelong just dominated field position.
The home side won the inside-50 count by 25 and so often it was Geelong jumpers running and carrying at speed, while Hawthorn players stood still with ball in hand.
Having battled in the middle of the ground for much of this season, Geelong’s onballers got to work, led by growing ruck Sam De Koning and new midfielder Tom Stewart.
For much of the night, it was a text book Cats home clinic.
Early in the second quarter, Melbourne great Garry Lyon told Fox Footy: “it’s just like Geelong have welcomed them to the home ground and closed off all avenues”.
Jason Dunstall agreed: “This is about the team that has been up the top for a long, long time, bullying the up and comer”.
The Hawks hadn’t conceded more than 80 points in a game since back in round 9 but the Cats ticked past that with plenty of time left in the third term.
It wasn’t just the young Hawks who looked lost playing at GMHBA Stadium.
Jack Gunston had played in Geelong twice before and totalled 11 disposals.
On Saturday – like his first game there back in 2011 – he was subbed out, and this time he had just two touches.
This wasn’t a genuine smashing, and while the five-game winning run stalled, the Hawks will drive back up the Westgate older and wiser.
Midfielders James Worpel and Will Day fought on to the end, Jack Scrimshaw tried to hold back the tide and Dylan Moore again impressed All-Australian selectors.
Those at Hawthorn know it’s not all about playing finals in 2024 and the eye remains firmly on the future and nights like Saturday should only help build that long-term finals contender Mitchell is after.
The Cats remain the model for that and eased their way through to an important win and percentage boost.
Two goals in his first 57 games...
— AFL (@AFL) July 6, 2024
Sam De Koning has two in the first half today!#AFLCatsHawkspic.twitter.com/FgjVp7ZLYC
“They really set the game up well, and we struggled to get any territory. Because of that, we had two options – one was to go long and straight and try to shut the game down a bit, and the other one was trying to open it up and play with a little bit more flare,” Mitchell said post match.
“We tried both … but they were too good for us structurally. They don’t leave many gaps, and when you give them a five-goal start … they were a bit too sharp for us today.”
Geelong’s second half last week against Essendon was its best two quarters in 10 weeks and this was perhaps the most complete game the team has played all season.
Despite losing twice at home this year, the fortress remains intimidating and Scott appears to have solved one glaring issue in the ruck with De Koning.
Playing deeper forward, Jeremy Cameron kicked four goals and could have had seven, and waxed with Shannon Neale in the best game of his career so far.
Smaller types in Tyson Stengle, Brad Close, Gary Rohan, Gryan Miers and rising star favourite Ollie Dempsey are seriously formidable sidekicks.
Even if Tom Hawkins doesn’t get back in this side, he will have watched on smiling as the Cats forward half is in excellent shape.
As a full-forward in the last three weeks, Cameron has had 19 scoring shots and only kicked nine.
Look out once he finds his kicking boots.
NIGHTMARE ON RETURN
Hawthorn spearhead Mitch Lewis’ comeback game ended in disaster, after the full-forward copped a heavy knock to the back of the head and landed awkwardly on his left knee.
Playing his first game since round 3, Lewis copped an errant elbow in the head from Geelong’s Jake Kolodjashnij when floating back with the flight in the final quarter.
Lewis was left prone on the ground for multiple minutes while the Cats swept the ball into attack and kicked a simple goal.
Lewis also had his leg caught under him in the fall and landed awkwardly on his knee.
The left knee was heavily strapped and he appeared to struggle to put weight on it before walking from the field without any limp, while holding a towel up to the back of his head.
Speaking after the 51-point loss, Mitchell would not shed any light on the extent of concerns for his knee after missing more than three months of senior football with a cartilage issue.
“Fair bit of blood and he was a bit battered after the game and a bit sore and sorry for himself. I haven’t spoken too much to the medical guys, I’m not sure what’s come out of the game just yet,” Mitchell said.
“Hopefully (Lewis is) not too bad, he was probably a bit too courageous in that incident.
“I don’t think so at this stage, but that’ll continue (to be assessed). I don’t think they did that at this stage, but we’ll see over the next 24 hours I guess.
“He had two ice bags on when I left the rooms just then. I thought it’s better to go in here a bit naive than have to tell you what I know, so I actually don’t know the answer … time will tell.”
Lewis missed the start of the 2023 season due to a knee injury and had not played since his side last met Geelong, on Easter Monday, due to a persistent knee injury.
Lewis showed some good signs in his return match, kicking two goals as his Hawks were comfortably outshone by the Cats.
Goalkicking legend Jason Dunstall said Lewis “went down heavily didn’t he … it was a very fair contest.”
SCOREBOARD
CATS 4.5, 9.7, 13.11, 16.14 (110)
HAWKS 1.1, 4.3, 7.5, 9.5 (59)
BOURKE’S BEST Cats: Cameron, Stewart, De Koning, Duncan, Dempsey, Mannagh. Hawks: Moore, Worpel, Day, Jiath, D’Ambrosio, Hardwick.
GOALS Cats: Cameron 4, Close 4, Rohan 2, De Koning 2, Neale 2, Miers, Blicavs. Hawks: Chol 2, Moore 2, Lewis 2, Worpel, Jiath, D’Ambrosio.
UMPIRES Donlon, Fisher, Wallace, Williamson
INJURIES Cats: nil. Hawks: Lewis (head/knee).
CROWD 33,188 at GMHBA Stadium
BOURKE’S VOTES
3. Jeremy Cameron (Geel)
2. Tom Stewart (Geel)
1. Sam De Koning (Geel)
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