Cats pay price as Hawks cash in

WE knew, just knew, it would be an epic.

Even with Hawthorn well ahead on the scoreboard, we just knew.

Geelong brings out the best in the Hawks and vice-versa.

They had their chances, the Cats. After losing the early territory battle yesterday at the MCG, the Hawks feasted on basic Geelong skill errors and a distinct lack of horsepower up forward outside of Tom Hawkins.

Therein lies the problem for Cats coach Chris Scott.

Too many chiefs in and around the ball-winning areas and only the one avenue to goal.

Patrick Dangerfield threatened to blow the contest apart, posting 20 disposals in the first half alone, including 13 contested possessions.

Gary Ablett chipped in with 15 disposals in the same period, one more than Joel Selwood (six), Tim Kelly (five) and Mitch Duncan (three) combined.

Losing ruckman Rhys Stanley (calf) in the second quarter only compounded Geelong’s woes as Hawthorn squeezed and strangled the Cats.

Is Geelong a premiershipcalibre team? Can it be trusted?

Miscued kicks and bungled marks isn’t usually the domain of serious contenders.

But that last quarter was something else, Ablett finishing with three goals while Kelly sprung to life in red time.

But the Cats paid for clumsy errors and all of a sudden the premiership dream punctured.

They lacked urgency and spirit for much of the day, bar Dangerfield, especially his rock star midfield lieutenants, whom a frustrated former Geelong great Billy Brownless accused of being “lazy” on Triple M.

Geelong’s star-studded midfield – bar Dangerfield – was completely outplayed.

“We played great passages of footy when we had to rather than really starting that way,” Dangerfield, who brushed off a corked thigh in the second half, said.

“We weren’t great around the ball. Our efficiency wasn’t that good. We dropped marks in critical areas and the same with turnovers. So when you turn the ball over against Hawthorn in areas that you have potential to score, they’re so good at slingshotting and maintaining possession that they turn your scoring opportunities into scoring opportunities for them.”

James Worpel stepped up again and inspired a crucial goal after body-lining Joel Selwood in the third term.

Liam Shiels called the shots around stoppages, while the oldest player on the ground, Shaun Burgoyne, led allcomers with a career-best 13 tackles. HAWTHORN V GEELONG BEST 0.4 5.8 9.10 10.11 2.4 2.6 5.8 8.12 GOALS INJURIES UMPIRES CROWD