GEELONG CATS BELT HAWTHORN HAWKS IN EASTER MONDAY MASSACRE
Ben Jensen 17 April 2017

AFL ROUND 4 2017, HAWTHORN HAWKS V GEELONG CATS GEELONG belted Hawthorn today at the MCG to the tune of 86 points. The Cats dominated the first half though 'only' led by 24 points at half time. The Cats ended the first quarter but with two goals and a costly seven behinds, and led by 7 points at quarter time with the Hawks two goals straight. The second quarter saw the Hawks themselves a bit inaccurate with just the six behinds, the Cats with three goals five. Each of Geelong's goals has come from a different player, Tom Hawkins opening the goal scoring five minutes into the game.

In the first half Harry Taylor has played up forward and while he's had his hands on it quite a bit (12 times) he has only the three behinds to his name. Usual suspect Patrick Dangerfield had the ball 17 times while Steve Motlop led the half-time total Luke Hodge on 18. Sam Menegola was in good touch and the backline combination continues to grow in confidence with each game. In the second half we predicted the Cats would want to push the lead out to 40 points as soon as they can to avoid a Hawks comeback which we've seen so often in recent years, noting this is a fairly different Hawthorn side minus Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis. Hawthorn started the second half off well with a goal to a grinning Isaac Smith, and scored another couple of behinds looking a different side. But Geelong went on to outscore Hawthorn by four goals to two to increase their lead to 34 points at the final break, short of the 40 point buffer but looking well in control.

The Cats were down a player by this stage with Tom Ruggles copping a hefty hip and shoulder to the chest sending him off with concession and Patrick Dangerfield suffered a badly corked hip. It didn't stop the Cats piling on eleven goals straight to the Hawks' two goals in the final quarter, the lead seemingly growing by the minute with the Cats encountering minimal opposition much of the time. Hawkins ended up with four goals, Dan Menzel and Steven Motlop three apiece, Mitch Duncan and new boy James Parsons two each. Parsons may find himself out for a week or two after being reported for rough conduct on former Hawk skipper Luke Hodge - Sam Menegola was also reported for the same offence on Hodge.

Motlop really stepped up and was just about Geelong's best, line-ball with Joel Selwood and Duncan. The backline as mentioned are really developing a good partnership reminiscent of the 2007-2011 team, with Harry Taylor settling back there as the game went on. Lachie Henderson continued his good run since moving from Carlton at the start of last season and fellow Blue recruit Zach Tuohy is earning his keep. Four matches in and Tom Hawkins is in great form as is Dan Menzel.

The Cats play St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next Sunday afternoon in an away fixture. In our opinion Mengola has a fair chance of getting off his charge but Parsons looks in the gun for a couple weeks, both will get some leniancy due to not being reported before. The VFL Cats also had a good win yesterday to start their season against Werribee with a 25 point win.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW

GEELONG: 2.7, 5.12, 9.14, 20.14 (134) DEFEATED
HAWTHORN: 2.0, 2.6, 4.10, 6.12 (48)

GOALS
GEELONG: Hawkins 4, Menzel 3, Motlop 3, Parsons 2, Duncan 2, Henderson, Murdoch, Thorlow, Stewart, Menegola, Cockatoo
HAWTHORN: Gunstan 2, Sicily 2, Puopolo, Smith

BEST
GEELONG: Duncan, Henderson, Selwood, Motlop, Menegola, Menzel
HAWTHORN: Sicily, Hodge, Mitchell, Smith, Brand

INJURIES
GEELONG: Dangerfield (corked hip), Ruggles (concussion)
HAWTHORN: Gibson (cut head)

CHANGES
GEELONG: Nil
HAWTHORN: Ty Vickery (back) replaced by James Sicily

REPORTS
GEELONG: Menegola for rough conduct on Hodge. Parsons for rough conduct on Hodge
HAWTHORN: Nil

UMPIRES: Donlon, Stephens, Chamberlain EM: Jeffery

CROWD: 62,360 at MCG, Melbourne

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