Opinion Has the overall Hawthorn & Geelong rivalry softened a little?

[rapidfire7]

Is it just me, or has the overall Hawthorn & Geelong rivalry softened a little?

Regularly self organising pre-season matches against one another.

Players moving between the 2 clubs without too much "hoo hah'.

And just a general vibe about it.

There just seems to be a bit more overall respect between the two clubs today than there once was. Feels like that to me anyway.

Wheras, the bad blood between the Hawks & Bombers seems to be as strong as ever,.. no doubt very heavily inflamed once again by the whole Merrett fiasco.

Thoughts?

 

[SSSSSS]

I don't really recall there being too much bad blood between the sides anyway (maybe outside of the supporters). Seems to be two teams that really respect each other and have had immense recent success that happen to share a competitive rivalry.

 

[Gavin Excell]

While this is probably true i will say that I personally dont care much for the hawthornes

 

[hawkman]

I don't really recall there being too much bad blood between the sides anyway (maybe outside of the supporters). Seems to be two teams that really respect each other and have had immense recent success that happen to share a competitive rivalry.

Paul Chapman may disagree

 

[Mr Meow]

Paul Chapman may disagree

That was the last group where it was strong. I'd argue that it ended once Chappy got himself suspended in 2013 and the Kennett curse broke a week later. By 2016 the Cats team was very different to the '08-11 era sides. Then Bartel and Enright retired and it wasn't until 2024 where both teams were strong at the same time.

Mitchell is the main unifying factor. He loathes us and so might try to keep it going.

 

[SSSSSS]

Paul Chapman may disagree

Yeh but I don't think he had any beef with the players. Moreso Jeff running his mouth.

I don't really recall that much animosity. Certainly not to the extent of the Bombers/Hawthorn rivalry.

 

[ReturningHawk]

Proper rivalry that has lasted very well from 2008 until now. It has been dramatic on field at times but never got nasty. No eye-gouging.

Sure enjoy watching Geelong lose but there’s no denying they are good.

 

[MadMaxx]

For mine - Same but different.

I hate Essendon with a passion. They are a bunch of Next Tuesdays, and I am so glad they have been in a death spiral for 22 years

I hate Geelong, but I respect them as a great football club

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

That was the last group where it was strong. I'd argue that it ended once Chappy got himself suspended in 2013 and the Kennett curse broke a week later. By 2016 the Cats team was very different to the '08-11 era sides. Then Bartel and Enright retired and it wasn't until 2024 where both teams were strong at the same time.

Mitchell is the main unifying factor. He loathes us and so might try to keep it going.

Be nice if he worked out a way to beat you. We had a good plan in the prelim and we were executing it but when the switch got flicked by you blokes we were found wanting. If we want Geelong to take us serious again we need to consistently take it up to you guys like Easter Monday last year.

 

[Mr Meow]

Be nice if he worked out a way to beat you. We had a good plan in the prelim and we were executing it but when the switch got flicked by you blokes we were found wanting. If we want Geelong to take us serious again we need to consistently take it up to you guys like Easter Monday last year.

Same issue for us with Brisbane and we used our one surprise trump card in a final that wasn't knockout. Otherwise they always find a way to have one quarter where they utterly destroy us and take away the match.

Some of these things are clearly mental, or simply a case of one team matching up well on another. It's only a matter of time until the Hawks get Geelong as we don't have as many weapons as Brisbane.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Still alive and well for me! The shitness of losing the Grand Final last year was somewhat lessened by beating Hawthorn the week before. I don't think a victory over any other team would have lessened that shitness!!!!

 

[MisterMarcus]

I don't really recall there being too much bad blood between the sides anyway (maybe outside of the supporters). Seems to be two teams that really respect each other and have had immense recent success that happen to share a competitive rivalry.

Was going to say, it's a "rivalry" born of mutual respect and some great on-field contests against each other. Not some 1920s suburban geographic or culture wars, or not because of one team's insecurity towards the other (which a couple of Geelong and Hawthorn rivals seem to have.....).

Just good old fashioned "You're a tough opponent who I love to compete against and win" respect.

 

[SSSSSS]

Was going to say, it's a "rivalry" born of mutual respect and some great on-field contests against each other. Not some 1920s suburban geographic or culture wars, or not because of one team's insecurity towards the other (which a couple of Geelong and Hawthorn rivals seem to have.....).

Just good old fashioned "You're a tough opponent who I love to compete against and win" respect.

I can really only think of maybe three or four 'spiteful' incidents between Hawthorn and Geelong.

Obviously Matthew on Bruns.
Dermie v Yeates and the square up in the 89 GF.
Kennett's word post the 08 GF.

There were some heavy hits between the side in the 2010s but they were usually for the most part in the field of play (a few isolated ones such as Selwood busting Guerra's eardrum).

I'd probably be able to rattle off maybe a couple of dozen for Hawthorn V Essendon.

Funnily enough I could probably think of more spiteful incidents with a team like North - for some reason we seemed to really like belting them.

 

[Mr Meow]

I can really only think of maybe three or four 'spiteful' incidents between Hawthorn and Geelong.

Obviously Matthew on Bruns.
Dermie v Yeates and the square up in the 89 GF.
Kennett's word post the 08 GF.

There were some heavy hits between the side in the 2010s but they were usually for the most part in the field of play (a few isolated ones such as Selwood busting Guerra's eardrum).

I'd probably be able to rattle off maybe a couple of dozen for Hawthorn V Essendon.

Funnily enough I could probably think of more spiteful incidents with a team like North - for some reason we seemed to really like belting them.

Smith smiling before deliberately missing the 2016 QF post siren shot...later revealing he was headed to Geelong all along - probably the last "spicy" moment. It's all been pretty vanilla since then.

 

[The 747]

Produces some great games but it's not really bitter like some other rivalries. Think there is some respect both ways for what the other club has been able to do.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Is it just me, or has the overall Hawthorn & Geelong rivalry softened a little?

Regularly self organising pre-season matches against one another.

Players moving between the 2 clubs without too much "hoo hah'.

And just a general vibe about it.

There just seems to be a bit more overall respect between the two clubs today than there once was. Feels like that to me anyway.

Wheras, the bad blood between the Hawks & Bombers seems to be as strong as ever,.. no doubt very heavily inflamed once again by the whole Merrett fiasco.

Thoughts?

I watched the Grand Final two more times the week following it last year.

From a supporter perspective it's hotter than ever.

And the Essendon rivalry is only significant to anybody who was lived through the 80's, and Essendon nuffies who work in the media. The rest of us don't need to waste our time on it.

 

[rapidfire7]

I watched the Grand Final two more times the week following it last year.

From a supporter perspective it's hotter than ever.

And the Essendon rivalry is only significant to anybody who was lived through the 80's, and Essendon nuffies who work in the media. The rest of us don't need to waste our time on it.

Re-watching the Cats vs Lions GF multiple times made you realise the Cats vs Hawks rivalry is stronger than ever? I don't really get it.

 

[Mr Meow]

Re-watching the Cats vs Lions GF multiple times made you realise the Cats vs Hawks rivalry is stronger than ever? I don't really get it.

I think he means that like that Xtreme guy, watching Geelong lose felt almost as good as watching Hawthorn win the flag.

The issue is the feeling isn't mutual. Geelong supporters generally don't live vicariously through other teams in that way. Once we're out, who cares what happens.

 

[rapidfire7]

I think he means that like that Xtreme guy, watching Geelong lose felt almost as good as watching Hawthorn win the flag.

The issue is the feeling isn't mutual. Geelong supporters generally don't live vicariously through other teams in that way. Once we're out, who cares what happens.

Wow that is kinda intense if that's the case.

Especially, as it is the Hawks who have caused far, far more pain to Geelong over the decades.

 

[Mr Meow]

Wow that is kinda intense if that's the case.

Especially, as it is the Hawks who have caused far, far more pain to Geelong over the decades.

To be fair most neutral supporters enjoyed it a decent amount - and Richmond + Western Bulldogs fans absolutely creamed themselves. I think a few Hawks were just salty over losing a final to Geelong "when it mattered" - although I'm sure that will be goalpost shifted to GFs now.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Mitchell is the main unifying factor. He loathes us and so might try to keep it going.

Don’t think this is true at all. Mitchell is a competitor who hates losing…to anyone.

The Hawthorn v Geelong rivalry has been on the back of two great clubs trying to get the better of each other, but there’s always been mutual respect (unlike other rivalries others might mention), apart from when Jeff was mouthing off like a dunce so many times.

I still think it’s our biggest rivalry.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Re-watching the Cats vs Lions GF multiple times made you realise the Cats vs Hawks rivalry is stronger than ever? I don't really get it.

Mr Meow nailed it, somewhat.

I was being controversial on purpose. I definitely enjoyed the game because Geelong lost. That played a part in rewatching it once.
Gave it another watch primarily because I'm a footy nuffie who loves Grand Final day, and it was such a unique game.

An absolute arm wrestle for almost 3 full quarters, then the margin was suddenly approaching 11 goals in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Also, 9.5 to 5.1 in the final quarter. We're in an era where people bemoan the lower scoring games and yearn for the freedom footy of the 80's and 90's. That quarter felt like it was ripped straight out of a different era of football. For that reason, it struck a nerve with me from an entertainment perspective.

 

[ReturningHawk]

Mr Meow nailed it, somewhat.

I was being controversial on purpose. I definitely enjoyed the game because Geelong lost. That played a part in rewatching it once.
Gave it another watch primarily because I'm a footy nuffie who loves Grand Final day, and it was such a unique game.

An absolute arm wrestle for almost 3 full quarters, then the margin was suddenly approaching 11 goals in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Also, 9.5 to 5.1 in the final quarter. We're in an era where people bemoan the lower scoring games and yearn for the freedom footy of the 80's and 90's. That quarter felt like it was ripped straight out of a different era of football. For that reason, it struck a nerve with me from an entertainment perspective.

Was quite similar to 2021. Is remembered as a bit of a blowout but was actually a great contest that was decisively won after half time. 2019, 2022 and 2024 were non-events and very disappointing. I enjoyed the 2025 granny though as a game.

 

[kazzooka]

At the height of the rivalry I didn't ever really hate Geelong like i do for Essendon and Sydney, and sometimes North.

I hated losing to Geelong by small margins 11 times in a row. Much of that time Geelong was the better side but there are games that we should have won that we found a way to lose.

I don't think the players had huge hatred either, I know many of the players of that 2008-2016 era were friends. Smith and Worpel leaving to go there aren't really a big as other moves.

Franklin going to Sydney after they beat us in 2012 (apparently arranging it soon after that grand final) AND after them poaching Kennedy and McGlynn was more disappointing.