Review Geelong defeat Hawks "when it matters" by 6 goals to make another Grand Final

[thejester]

The 35 prior to the current mind melded tonight, bringing vengeance for the 2013 prelim. Might be the last time Kennett sees the Hawks and Cats play in a "game that matters", so I hope his words sit well with him.

Unbelievable that he had to sit next to a Hawks supporter tonight. What's the point of running the comp if our legends get treated this way?

 

[Cursed Cat]

Mannagh insane redemption after that start. He owed us 4 and probably got us more.

Mannagh is the ultimate all-or-nothing guy - gets caught, looks stupid and dumb - and then orchestrates match-winning plays - that's Stevie J stuff.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Mackie says stanley is fit to play.

He says Henry is minor (i dont buy that but anyway).

 

[Reg Hickey]

Stanley in for Stewart.
Blitz to play back to help cover Stewart, with some time in the mid/ruck.

 

[Munich]

Fk Hawthorn. Their cocky supporters taking up the back half of our bay and crying about the umpiring for 3 qtrs until they knew they had no chance.

They were veryyyyyy quiet after that.

Pricks.

 

[coylez]

Is Kolo any chance?

I wouldn't

 

[Cursed Cat]

I thought we were gone in that first quarter

Nup.

 

[winty]

How many premierships is it now that they should have won in a row, if only the CFL wasn't in endless conspiracy against them?

Is it 15 or 16?

For all their bleating about Steve Hocking, the fact remains they spent years in the wilderness before he was appointed as GM of Football Operations, won 3 flags when he was at AFL House, and haven't been close to winning one since. They should be on their hands and knees begging for him to go back, but I guess they're not intelligent enough to realize that.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Way too good Cats.

Midfields poles apart. Extremely well drilled across the board.

Good luck next week

Hawks had a great year. Much as I hate to say it IF they can get merrett they will be right there next year.

 

[MisterMarcus]

"Good night fellas. I've seen enough tonight. Hawthorn have shat the bed. We are closer to a premiership than they are.

The only way I can see Geelong competing every year in the finals the last 18 years is due to cheating. The way the comp is structured they should have bottomed out but the AFL turn a blind eye. AND THOSE ****ING HEADBANDS "

Richmond board taking it well

Doggies board also melting pretty hard as well.

Apparently Smith was only front-running when Geelong got on top. As if he wasn't one of the only players flying the flag in the first quarter.....

 

[Catsace]

How many premierships is it now that they should have won in a row, if only the CFL wasn't in endless conspiracy against them?

Is it 15 or 16?

'Stand'

 

[thegerman]

Is Kolo any chance?

No. Thought he had season ending surgery

 

[Lana]

I like how Hawk fans are "coping" by saying this year was "too soon" and next year's the year. It is like they have it scheduled.

The other 17 teams have agency and will have something to say about it. They slog all year and spend millions of dollars to give the Hawks an armchair ride in 2026 because "it is their year"?

Progression just isn't linear, it is just so hard to get this far.

 

[And_ROOS]

I thought we were gone in that first quarter

First half there were moments where we made bad mistakes and got lucky the Hawks didn't punish us like they did GWS and Adelaide, and then that Danger goal meant we went in only 13 points down at 1/4 time rather than being 25+ which the game state probably suggested it should be.

Then that second quarter was quite rough as well, but some of those goals that went in like Neales came just when we needed them.

But some uncharacteristic mistakes and Hawks carried their form from last week and started well. Reminds me of those PFs/QFs from 2013-2019 where a team comes out of the blocks and the QT score is 1.3 to 7.2 etc and the game is just about done.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Hopefully it pushes him to add some strings to his bow.

Danger and Martin dont have long left. There's still a career for Ollie but he needs to get fit and improve defensively.

 

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

Soooooo excited!!!

Danger is a machine!!!

Loving life at the minute!!!

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Our finals have both been tremendously commanding. It seems like we were almost foxing with our end to the season, and the soft run resulted in us being underrated. In both finals, we've been challenged, and then we've just charged away and shredded the opposition in the third quarter. We seem to have found an enviable mix of high-efficiency shut-down defensive role players with extremely damaging mids and forwards. Atkins, MOC and Mullin take away the opposition's weapons and then we overwhelm them with ours in Danger, Smith, Holmes, Dempsey, Mannagh and Cameron.

Credit to Clark too. Was worried about how he'd run out the game, and what it would mean for our structure, but despite some nervous moments, he competed hard and looked good in the contest.

Before the game I felt we had too much talent for Hawthorn, but I've always felt that this Hawthorn group punched above its weight in that respect, but was still plenty to be nervous about. The discrepancy in talent shone through, though I didn't think it would be Danger at 35 destroying them like he did. That Q2-Q3 period was legendary. He was in absolutely everything.

 

[Wojcinski]

Stanley, Knevitt or Bews to come in for Stewart IMO. Magnets will need to move around either way

 

[Munich]

Here's Scotty's presser

 

[joe444]

Stanley in for Stewart.
Blitz to play back to help cover Stewart, with some time in the mid/ruck.

I think that's the only sensible card to play; if Stanley isn't ready then Knevitt or Bews, I'd think.

I know this sounds terrible - but it will force us to turn up with something new on GF Day and that may be exactly what we need, especially if it's Brisbane mk II.

Mind you I LOVE THIS MIDFIELD. So proud of what they have done to turn around what was a clear deficiency two years ago.

 

[catsfootyfan89]

Second-highest scoring total Hawthorn have given up this year.

They picked the wrong game to get steamrolled, eh?

 

[OddYears]

Unbelievable. Danger is something else. Absolute beast captain chest out flaringggg. Beating hawks in a prelim is almost as good as winning the granny. One hand on the cup, let’s flipping gooooo

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Potentially unpopular opinion - I'm also really happy for Bailey Smith. I think the media are protecting their own in relation to him. Even in the final minutes Ben Casanelia (who called him a "dickhead" on X whilst simultaneously mouthing off about how professional should use professional language) was describing his goal in terms which lingered on how unfortunate it was that Geelong fans couldn't truly celebrate the goal with him.

So happy for this mob. Each iteration of the side is a bit different.

I. . .am. . .so. . .with. . .you

Was played as a forward at Bulldogs, when he was a midfielder.

Ummm. . .something about Beveridge

Doing his ACL + all that goes with such an injury for an elite athlete.

Making the decision to join Geelong, yet was criticised by Bulldogs’ fans.

To. . .

Seamlessly fitting into our Geelong team

Contributed immensly to the team

Now, in his first season at Geelong, he’s playing in a Grand Final

I’m utterly thrilled for Bailey


As for Ben Casanelia: ‘how unfortunate it was that Geelong fans couldn't truly celebrate the goal with him.’
WTF does that even mean?

 

[dudusmaximus]

Fair dinkum if Blicavs lines up in defence next week (as expected for Stewey; assuming Rhys comes in), this game has never seen a utility like him. He must be the greatest pick (not just Wellsy's) but in our entire sport. Bold claim, I know. It's the endorphins from the win.

If AFL was an international sport, they would be discussing book & movie deals for Blicavs.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Stanley for Stewart. Done.
Can’t believe Duncan’s name is getting mentioned.

It's not insane. They did use Duncan in the quarterback role some games this year. But I worry about the run in his legs plus the shoulder. Stanley in, blitz key back and zuthrie quarterback is more likely i think.