Hawthorn held a 21-point lead,having kicked 20 points from stoppages. Sicily was controlling the air and their crumbing forwards were annoying mice under the feet of the tentative Cats.
They had no option but to send Jacob Koschitzke - who had been involved in just nine ruck contests in his 20 previous games - and Irishman Conor Nash into the ruck,and it appeared Geelong would dominate.
That they didn’t do so was credit to Sam Mitchell’s men,as they went to work at the stoppages with Jai Newcombe a standout,and fought on when the game appeared lost.
Sicily a marking man
If you want to point to a reason beyond Sam Mitchell as to why the Hawks have improved this season,you don’t have to look any further than defender James Sicily. In the first quarter he took nine marks - the most in a single quarter in his career to date - frustrating the Cats’ Jeremy Cameron and forcing Geelong to find an alternative avenue to goal. The free agent,who is in talks with the club to re-sign,has to be the Hawks’ next captain.
Isaac Smith booed
Fans pay their money,so they are entitled to boo,but there is no logic to booing a player who helped your club to three premierships as the Hawk fans did to Isaac Smith on Easter Monday. Particularly given that he took up an offer to play out the end of his career in a different environment as their coach Sam Mitchell did at West Coast,Luke Hodge did at Brisbane,and Jordan Lewis did at Melbourne. It’s theatre,but unedifying because most Hawks fans,in their hearts,love Smith. They then turned their attention to Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins late in the match to prove they are world champions at booing.
Hawthorn 5.3 8.4 10.4 14.8 (92)
Geelong 1.4 6.6 11.10 11.14 (80)
Goals
Hawthorn:Moore 4,Gunston 3,Lewis 2,Breust 2,O’Meara,Mitchell.
Geelong:Hawkins 3,Stengle 3,Cameron 3,Holmes,Dangerfield.
Best
Hawthorn:Sicily,Newcome,Mitchell,Moore,Scrimshaw.
Geelong:Blicavs,Stewart,Duncan,Tuohy.