Rivalry resurrection
Clash opens old wounds as Cats take on Hawks
IT is almost 10 years since Hawthorn did — in the eyes of most Geelong fans — the unthinkable.
Having won 21 of 22 home-andaway games and entering the grand final as firm favourites, the theory went that all the Cats had to do was turn up at the MCG on the last Saturday in September and they would be given their premiership medals.
The Hawks, led by Luke Hodge on the field and Alistair Clarkson off it, had other ideas and they were simply too good on the day for Bomber Thompson’s men.
Nearly a decade on, the rivalry that stemmed from that result and the subsequent comments from president Jeff Kennett about Geelong’s ‘psychological drive’ is worth examining.
From an external perspective it seems to have simmered.
Perhaps not for fans, who thrive on the romanticism of one of the greatest rivalries of the modern era, but among players it is simply not the same as what it once was. How can it be when so few remain from that time?
Last year there were only 62,360 people at the Easter Monday clash — the lowest figure since the fixture became an annual tradition — and after years of nailbiting finishes, the past three matches have had an average margin of 59 points.
But while it is true that the era of Paul Chapman, Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright has well and truly passed, this current crop of players — from both clubs — may well be on track to resurrect their own rivalry.
In Round 17 last year Isaac Smith, almost 12 months on from his famous behind after the siren in the 2016 qualifying final, missed a shot at goal with six seconds on the clock that would have given Hawthorn a two-point win.
The Cats held on thanks to a stoic performance from Patrick Dangerfield and there was a feeling among some people at the Hawks that this mini rut — four straight losses — that the club was in against Geelong had to stop.
Earlier in the season they had been humiliated by 86 points and after another gut-wrenching defeat, albeit in different circumstances, the sentiment was enough is enough.
The players have had a year to stew over that result and if the Round 1 clash with Collingwood is anything to go by, opposition teams can expect a very different Hawthorn to the one that fronted up in the first half of last season.
Clarkson has worked his magic with this list again and has his players firing.
Cyril Rioli looks dangerous whenever he is within 30 metres of the ball and whoever gets him is in for a long day. Jed Bews will likely get first crack and this is a genuine test of how far he has come as a player in the past 12 months.
James Sicily looks as though he was born to play across half back and provides the fire that had previously been supplied by Hodge and Lewis and co through Hawthorn’s premiership winning run.
In the middle of the ground Jaeger O’Meara appears to be over his fitness concerns and provides the ideal support to Tom Mitchell, who Geelong must restrict from racking up big numbers.
It is not fathomable that a player can have 54 possessions and while the Cats have plenty of players capable of winning the ball themselves, Chris Scott will be doing his homework as to how to stop Mitchell.
Alongside Rioli in attack is Jarryd Roughead, one of the smartest key forwards in the game, and without Taylor the Cats will have their work cut out shutting down the Hawks’ scoring options.
It is set up for an fascinating battle, and as Mitch Duncan said this week, the importance of these games has been bred into the culture of his club.
While it might not be as strong as what it was, the rivalry will undoubtedly have another enthralling chapter added to it this afternoon. Football lovers should be salivating over the return of key forwards kicking bags of goals. We’re only two weeks into the season but already we have seen hauls of eight goals from Buddy Franklin and Tom Lynch, while Charlie Curnow, Ben Brown and Jesse Hogan are some of the most exciting players in the competition. Fans thrive on seeing free flowing football and fast ball movement, which results in the high scoring we have seen so far this year. There is a long way to go, but it’s looking like a century could be on the cards for the first time in a decade. Perhaps North Melbourne will prove to be a better side than what people have given them credit for, but if St Kilda expects to play finals then it has to win games like the Good Friday clash. The Saints put in a stinker, and against any other side their inability to rebound from defence with anything close to resembling efficiency would have been punished much earlier. Alan Richardson’s men have a tough month ahead but must make a statement against Adelaide next Saturday night. They need to do it for themselves but also to show the footy world that they stand for something far different to what they dished up against the Roos.