HAWTHORN DEFEATS GEELONG, WINS FIRST PREMIERSHIP SINCE 1991
Ben Jensen 27 September 2008

By Ben Jensen (In München) HAWTHORN defeated Geelong by twenty six points in front of over 100,000 people at the MCG today to claim their first premiership since 1991. The Hawks certainly played better, kicking goals when they had to, as evidenced by their score of eighteen goals and just seven behinds. The Cats on the other hand should have been in front at half time, the miss from metres in front of goal by Cameron Mooney epitomising their day, managing more scoring shots than the Hawks but at an inaccurate eleven goals twenty three. Luke Hodge was deemed best on ground, the former Geelong Falcon claiming the Norm Smith Medal ahead of teammates Stuart Dew, Cyril Rioli and Chance Bateman and Campbell Brown. Trent Croad broke a bone in his foot and was forced from the field in second quarter, was was fellow key defender and Geelong captain Tom Harley, who was badly concussed after an accidental clash of heads.

HAWTHORN 5.2, 8.3, 14.5 18.7 (115) DEFEATED
GEELONG 5.3, 6.12, 9.18 11.23 (89)

GOALS
HAWTHORN:Williams 3, Dew 2, Franklin 2, Roughead 2, Rioli 2, Hodge, Ellis, Bateman, Young, Brown, Ladson, Mitchell
GEELONG: Mooney 2, Rooke 2, Ablett 2, Lonergan 2, Johnson, Milburn, Chapman

BEST
HAWTHORN: Hodge, Sewell, Ellis, Osborne, Dew, Crawford.
GEELONG: Ablett, Ling, Scarlett, Johnson, Selwood, Corey.

CROWD: 100,012 at MCG

UMPIRES: M Vozzo S McLaren S Ryan

INJURIES: HAWTHORN: Croad (broken bone in foot) GEELONG: Harley (concussion)

REPORTS: Nil

THIS WAS ABOUT THE HIGHLIGHT FOR THIS GEELONG SUPPORTER