Best of the best: Premiership star Isaac Smith names his top games from the Geelong-Hawthorn rivalry
Isaac Smith reckons Geelong and Hawthorn have the best rivalry in the game, and he would know. He’s named the five best clashes between the two sides over the last 13 seasons.
Isaac Smith can confidently say he believes the Hawthorn-Geelong rivalry is the best of the last 20 years.
He would know. The winger was dropped into the thick of it when he joined the Hawks in 2011, as Jeff Kennett’s curse was bubbling along.
Smith played 20 games against Geelong while with Hawthorn, and three the other way when he crossed to the Cats in 2021.
Of those 23 games, remarkably 11 were decided by 12 points or less, and Smith won 10 of the contests.
With the Cats hosting the Hawks in Geelong on Saturday, Smith picked out his top five battles between the arch rivals.
1. PRELIMINARY FINAL, 2013
Hawthorn 14.18 (102) def Geelong 15.7 (97)
Right up there with the greatest games of the modern era, the Hawks came from 20 points down at the final change to win through to a grand final and finally end the Kennett Curse. It was Hawthorn’s first win over Geelong since the 2008 grand final.
Isaac Smith says: “Geelong was obviously in charge going into the final quarter and Ben Stratton and Shaun Burgoyne rocked up. I think Stratton took three intercept marks in the middle of the ground and Geelong were bombing it straight up the middle and Shaun Burgoyne turned it on the middle and kicked that amazing goal.
“I’m sure we were concerned at some point in time but we had worked the whole year at trying to close games out and we knew we had to be within touching distance at three quarter-time.
“I’m sure Stratton was underrated from the outside because he didn’t get that fanfare but he was kamikaze the way he attacked the ball and you could ask him to do anything for the team and he would do it. He had as much respect from his teammates as anyone in that side and he was able to lock down some of the best forwards and also help out.
“Geelong was probably winning (during the ‘curse’ era) because they were the better side and they managed games better. Psychologically at times things like that when they are built up so big publicly, in turn it becomes internal. Then psychologically it does have an impact but I remember breaking it in 2013 and pretty much the meeting before the game, on the day before, Clarko (Alastair Clarkson) said ‘enough is enough, it is ending tomorrow’.”
2. ROUND 19, 2012
Hawthorn 17.14 (116) def by Geelong 18.10 (118)
All footy fans can picture this night and Tom Hawkins thumping one through from 55m to win the game after the siren. The Cats started incredibly and led by 51 points at one stage, but the Hawks pulled them back and appeared to have control, until the Cats went coast-to-coast to win it.
Smith says: “We reeled it all the way back and I thought we were going to win. It felt like we had control of the whole match after quarter-time there and then ‘Hawk’ steps up after the siren from 55m and bangs it through.
“I can’t remember where I was standing when he kicked the goal but as soon as he marked it I remember thinking, ‘oh this is going through’. And he is probably not known for his kicks outside 50m to be honest.”
3. QUALIFYING FINAL, 2016
Geelong 12.13 (85) def Hawthorn 12.11 (83)
A seesawing classic final in front of 87,533 fans, the game rested with Smith, who pulled a set shot from 50m out after the siren to the right.
Smith says: “You have got to be pretty level about it all I guess. You have so many opportunities to win or lose games and that is the beauty of sport. There is always success and there is always failure, it doesn’t matter who’s career you look at. At that time it was my turn to fail. You certainly learn more about yourself from that situation than the games where you win.
“It was not ideal seeing Harry Taylor celebrating and carrying on like an absolute pork chop but that is sport isn’t it.
“It goes down into folklore as one of the great games of the Hawthorn-Geelong rivalry.
“We lost the qualifying final and although you were devastated that you missed it (the shot at goal) we had a game to play the next week. As the days went on the harder it got. I sort of stopped going to the supermarkets and cafes. I remember my wife was in Europe and as soon as she got back and we lost to the Bulldogs (in a semi-final) we went straight to the airport and booked flights out of the country and didn’t come back for a few weeks. It wasn’t an ideal time to be honest, you couldn’t step out in Melbourne without copping a fair bit of ridicule.
“That’s sport, you put yourself out there and you are going to have moments of success and failure. That’s just life.”
4. ROUND 17, 2017
Geelong 13.10 (88) def Hawthorn 12.13 (85)
In Luke Hodge’s 300th game, Hawks fans – and players – felt relief when a red-hot Patrick Dangerfield limped from the field with a sore foot. He was sent to full-forward and put together an iconic second half, finishing the game with 5.6 from 13 shots. With eight seconds on the clock, Jack Gunston spotted Smith inside-50. He played on from the mark and just missed a shot to the right.
Smith says: “Roughy (Jarryd Roughead) cleaned up Danger right at the end of the first quarter and we thought, ‘right we are a genuine chance here now’.
“Then he went up forward and turned into Gary Ablett Sr and took a hanger on Stratto. I remember I had body on him and I was like ‘there is no chance I can even attempt to go with him here’.
“I have played against some players – I remember Nic Naitanui played a game where I thought that was so influential as a player that nobody could go near him – and I remember in that game, Danger was as influential in an individual game as I have ever played against. He was on a different level.
“We had multiple players on him and I remember getting the call to sit in the hole in front of him and I was thinking ‘well that is going to do no good, he is just going to obliterate me’. He was near sprinting like a 100m race to get out of the blocks to take marks. It was as impressive an individual performance as I have played against. It was a really cool experience to be out on the ground and witness it.
“I remember taking the mark (at the end of the game) and didn’t know how far out I was and I should have taken a set shot but I played on. I thought it went through because I got tackled while I kicked it. When I hit it I thought ‘that’s going through’. I should have just gone back and had a shot at goal to be honest.”
5. ROUND 3, 2021
Geelong 10.9 (69) def Hawthorn 9.10 (64)
The build up to this Easter Monday meeting was all about Smith, as he played against Hawthorn for the first time. He copped some boos from Hawks fans. A memorable Jordan Clark running goal gave Geelong enough breathing space to hold on late.
Smith says: “I always enjoyed the booing because I took it that they respected the player, or they were disappointed that you were gone.
“I remember I had gastro the night before. I didn’t sleep, it was coming out of both ends and my wife wanted to call the doctor and tell them I wasn’t playing but I said ‘are you kidding, I have to play this game’.
“I ran out on the ground and not one of the Hawks players talked to me. I think Sam Mitchell gave them the advice that I quite like a chat so keep everything silent which was quite annoying. I got in a good push and shove with Jarman Impey, who I am good mates with, so that was quite funny.
“It was a bit weird but I am so glad I got to do it. It was odd but what an experience and there were unbelievable leanings to take out of it.
“It was an awesome goal by Jordan. And I was very ecstatic to get the win.”
AFL’s Friday night footy… but make it Gen Z
It’s the new age footy experience where fans are taken beyond the four walls and granted inside access like never before. Now AFL’s Friday night footy is targeting a wider Gen Z audience.
Have caravan, will travel: Inside Jeremy Cameron’s post-footy plans
Jeremy Cameron will pack up and go once he kicks his last goal. But before then he is certain the Cats will keep defying football gravity, despite what some doubters have told him.