New-look Cats attack gets the better of Hawks
FOR the past decade, the Geelong and Hawthorn rivalry has centred on the Cats’ defence curtailing a dangerous Hawks attack.
Match-ups such as Tom Lonergan on Buddy Franklin, Harry Taylor on Jarryd Roughead and Corey Enright on Cyril Rioli were big enough to draw spectators through the gates alone, and keeping Hawthorn’s score to 90 or under was often enough to see the Cats win.
While that rang true again, yesterday’s game was all about Geelong’s forwards — a newlook attack that boasts a countless number of dangers.
There were nine individual goal scorers for the Cats yesterday, led by recruit Gary Rohan, who booted four goals from just 12 disposals.
Champion Gary Ablett, in a new role forward this season, showcased his experience with three goals, while midfielders Tim Kelly and Patrick Dangerfield also hit the scoreboard with two apiece.
Ablett at times turned back the clock, hauling in a flying mark in the second quarter that would have surely brought a smile to his old man’s face. The other multiple goal scorer for the Cats was Rhys Stanley, who has produced his most consistent run of form since joining Geelong.
While his former St Kilda teammate Ben McEvoy won the hitout contest comfortably, it mattered little in the final result, with Stanley pushing forward to kick two crucial goals in the second term to start opening up a lead for the Cats.
The first was on the run from 50m, finding himself well clear of his nearest opponent to have an open look at the sticks, before he took a contested mark inside-50 while resting forward to slot his second in 10 minutes.
Luke Dahlhaus and Gryan Miers also hit the scoreboard with one apiece, with Harry Taylor producing his best game for 2019 to keep the Hawthorn forwards accountable, with a major just after quarter-time. Tom Hawkins, who had kicked at least one goal in 140 of his 153 games since the start of 2012, kicked his sole goal for the game late in the final term to snuff out a Hawks comeback, but Geelong’s swag of understudies had already posted 100 points well before then.
But Hawkins would be pleased more than anyone to share the load with his brigade of crumbers.
The biggest absence from the list of goal kickers was Esava Ratugolea, who was thrown into the ruck more as the game went on due to his lack of impact up forward.
Ratugolea finished with just six disposals and two marks.
With just one goal to his name through five rounds this season, the 20-year-old faces a nervous week with Zac Smith, Ryan Abbott and Darcy Fort among the back-up talls looking for a senior call-up.