The best Easter Monday Hawks-Geelong clashes
High scoring, momentum swings and a deciding set shot in the dying seconds. Was this the best Easter Monday clash we have seen in recent years? There’s plenty of quality games to choose from. VOTE
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Easter Monday has had its fair share of classics over the past decade thanks to the rilvary and immense success of Hawthorn and Geelong.
The two teams have given footy fans plenty to smile about in these blockbuster games, full to the brim with momentum shifts, awe-inspiring moments and top-shelf footy.
For the first time since 2010, the Hawks and Cats aren’t able to light up our Easter Monday.
We’ve taken a look at the best Easter Monday clashes between the two clubs.
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VOTE ON THE BEST HAWKS-CATS EASTER MONDAY GAME
HAWKS-CATS EASTER MONDAY CLASSICS
ROUND 2, 2010
Hawthorn 13.13 (91) defeated by Geelong 14.16 (100)
Brownlow votes: Brad Ottens 3, Sam Mitchell 2, Gary Ablett 1
Trailing for most of the day, a goal on the eve of three-quarter-time from Brad Ottens put Geelong within three points. A brilliant leaping mark from the ruckman deep inside 50 set up another, Steve Johnson receiving the handball and claiming his side the lead with a characteristic snap from the pocket. After Hawthorn edged back in front, it was Lance Franklin with a characteristic goal of his own, bringing the house down with a miraculous set shot goal from beyond the paint on a tight angle. Two goals down, the Cats rose to the challenge with Paul Chapman marking back with the flight close to goal and kicking truly, giving them a three-point lead with five minutes to go. With Channel 10’s famous five minute warning in play, Shannon Byrnes laid a brilliant rundown tackle up forward on Chance Bateman. He slotted the goal and secured the win.
Stats kings: Gary Ablett was everywhere with 38 disposals and six tackles, while Cam Mooney (four goals) and Shannon Byrnes (three) were damaging up forward.
ROUND 2, 2012
Geelong 14.8 (92) defeated Hawthorn 13.12 (90)
Brownlow votes: Jimmy Bartel 3, Sam Mitchell 2, Tom Hawkins 1
KFC SuperCoach: Tom Hawkins 169, Sam Mitchell 141, Brendan Whitecross 133
Hawthorn forward David Hale made it five goals in a row for the Hawks in the early stages of the third term, extending their lead to 21-points. From there, the momentum seesawed dramatically as the Cats piled on four goals to level the scores, before the Hawks responded with three of their own to take a three-goal lead into the final term. As the rain began to pour, wet-weather specialist Jimmy Bartel came to the fore, bringing the Cats to life.
James Podsiadly cleverly got onto a loose ball out the back and ran into an open goal, putting the Cats in front six minutes left. A tense, hard slog ensued as the game went down to the wire. Down by two points with 15 seconds left, a long kick into the hotspot saw Jarryd Roughead nearly hang on to a spectacular mark. Jack Gunston crumbed the loose ball and snapped on goal under pressure, the ball trickling over for a behind as Cats fans breathed a sigh of relief.
Stats kings: Tom Hawkins clunked 12 marks and booted three goals but Jimmy Bartel was the difference with 20 disposals, eight tackles and two goals. Sam Mitchell won 30 disposals, laid seven tackles and booted a goal.
ROUND 1, 2013
Hawthorn 12.14 (86) defeated by Geelong 13.15 (93)
Brownlow: Sam Mitchell 3, Joel Selwood 2, Andrew Mackie 1
SuperCoach: Sam Mitchell 141, Joel Selwood 126, Grant Birchall 122
The infamous Kennett curse was still going strong but a slow start from Geelong saw Hawthorn appear set to break their nine-game losing streak to the Cats. Trailing by three goals at the main break, a Cats resurgence led by skipper Joel Selwood put the Cats 21-points up midway through the final quarter. With the game dead and buried, there was another twist in the tale as the Hawks responded with two goals. Eight points down, a miraculous move from Cyril Rioli set up goalsneak Luke Brust with under 90 seconds left. From 30m out on a slight angle, Breust shanked his set shot to the left, shattering the hopes of a late comeback. The victory brought up 10 consecutive wins for the Cats against Hawthorn since the 2008 Grand Final.
Stats kings: Sam Mitchell led all comers with 37 touches, while Joel Selwood had 33 possessions.
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ROUND 2, 2018
Geelong 18.9 (117) defeated by Hawthorn 18.6 (118)
Brownlow votes: Tom Mitchell 3, Ben McEvoy 2, Gary Ablett 1
SuperCoach: Tom Mitchell 148, Gary Ablett 144, Joel Selwood 140
When Jarryd Roughead took a strong contested mark and kicked a goal to put the Hawks four goals ahead with 12 minutes to go in the last quarter, Geelong looked shot. But like many of these Easter Monday games, you just can’t count out a comeback. A long bomb set shot from Sam Menegola and a great finish from James Parsons quickly put them within a goal. The Cats continued to pepper the Hawthorn defence, until Brandon Parfitt narrowly squeezed through an opportunistic snap in congestion to level the scores with 3:41 left on the clock. It was veteran Jarryd Roughead who stood up in the dying seconds, outbodying undersized defender Zach Guthrie to reel in another grab close to goal. While he only managed to kick a behind, it was all that mattered as the Hawks held on by the slightest of margins.
Stats kings: Gary Ablett Jnr tallied 35 disposals in his first game since crossing back from the Suns, with him, Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Tim Kelly combining for 122 disposals. Tom Mitchell led all comers with 40 possessions, while Dan Menzel kicked four majors for the Cats.
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ROUND 5, 2019
Hawthorn 13.12 (90) defeated by Geelong 17.11 (113)
Brownlow votes: Tim Kelly 3, Ricky Henderson 2, Joel Selwood 1
SuperCoach: Ricky Henderson 133, Tim Kelly 129, Patrick Dangerfield 127
While it wasn’t a close finish in the end, this game came to life in the final quarter – a feature synonymous with Hawks-Cats clashes. Leading by just six points with five minutes remaining in the second quarter, Geelong put the foot on the accelerator, kicking eight-goals-to-four to set up a five-goal lead at three-quarter-time. The game looked to be over when Hawthorn conceded the first goal of the last, but majors to Jaeger O’Meara and Ben McEvoy kept the door ajar. In commentary, Channel 7’s Tim Watson had completely written the Hawks off and Brian Taylor went off his head when Hawk Ricky Henderson slotted a miracle checkside from the boundary to put them within three goals.
“TIM, TIM, TIM, have we got you?” Taylor shouted in his enthusiastic manner.
With the game in the balance, Tom Hawkins spoiled the party for Hawks fans, marking close to goal and kicking truly to put the result beyond doubt.
Stats kings: Gary Rohan kicked four goals while Tim Kelly (29 and two goals) and Ricky Henderson (33 touches, 10 marks) were both influential.
Originally published as The best Easter Monday Hawks-Geelong clashes
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