Geelong captain Joel Selwood bursts out of trouble to set up a late goal for the Cats. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun
CAPTAIN is a moniker that befits a warrior like Joel Selwood.
He oozes leadership, a fine trait that was never more evident than when the contest hung in the balance at the MCG.
Geelong's tardy first half required someone to show the way back against Hawthorn in the second half.
Selwood immediately and instinctively stepped forward in the critical third quarter which the Cats started with a 20 points deficit.
The midfielder simply willed himself to win the ball at a fiercely congested contest in the centre of the ground that set free Mitch Duncan to goal on the run.
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Selwood built on that perfect start after the resumption by floating across a pack of players, with typical disregard for his own welfare, to mark and slot another goal.
And he hit a leading Tom Hawkins on the chest with a bullet pass a couple of minutes later for the big Cat to roost one from 50m to trail by only one point.
It was deflating for the Hawks to watch all their first half toil disintegrate in 10 minutes of sterling Selwood leadership that dragged along senior colleagues like Paul Chapman.
Just the same, it took Geelong until 15 minutes into the third quarter to grab the lead for the first time in what was another cracking contest between these rivals.
Geelong forward Allen Christensen kicked a critical last-quarter goal to set up the Cats victory over the Hawks. Picture:Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun
But you sensed the game was up for the dogged Hawks even when Shane Savage and Jarryd Roughead pulled back a couple of goals to snap the Cats' six-straight run late in the third term.
In the end, Geelong had too much run left and controlled the flow in the same manner as Hawthorn did in the first half.
When most players were sucking in deep breaths, Cats Travis Varcoe, Steven Motlop and Allen Christensen found acres of space to run and carry with devastating effect.
Goals by Christensen, James Podsiadly and Duncan pushed the Cats lead out to 21 points with only 10 minutes left.
And, while the brave Hawks kept coming with answers from Luke Breust and Savage, they were always going to run out of time as much as legs.
Tom Hawkins celebrates after kicking a goal during the 3rd quarter of the Hawthorn vs Geelong match at the MCG. April 1, 2013. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun
Geelong's defence, so shaky in the first half, regained control, with Tom Lonergan containing Lance Franklin to just two goals.
And he had wonderful support from Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie and Jared Rivers, particularly when the dangeous high balls floated within Buddy's reach.
Hawthorn should've gone into the long break with a bigger buffer than 20 points, particularly with 11 more inside 50 entries.
The Hawks dominated the first half, especially the centre clearances, with Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Brad Sewell right on top, and looked far more potent going forward.
Geelong's defenders were under immense pressure, illustrated by rare fumbles from the likes of Corey Enright and Mackie who have withstood the fierce heat of grand final battles.
When the Cats went forward, it was a scattergun approach.
They had been inside 50 11 times before Billy Smedts posted the first goal from a snapshot right against the boundary line.
Geelong increased the intensity in the second quarter, but the fumbles continued and a lack of system up forward presented key targets Hawkins and Podsiadly with few opportunities to operate one-out with opponents Josh Gibson and Ryan Schoenmakers.
At least the goals started to flow, especially with Podsiadly from a toepoke on the goalline and Hawkins two-steps snapshot from a mark close to the behind post.
And when the dangerous Varcoe crumbed a spilled ball at the top of the goal square for another with only seconds left on the clock, it set up an intriguing second half.
It may have taken the Cats 25 minutes to post their first goal and another half hour to find their touch, but the breathtaking manner they wrested the game away from the Hawks after half-time hammered out another warning of who was boss in these contests.
Sam Mitchell leads the hawks of the MCG after their 7 point loss to Geelong at the MCG. April 1, 2013. Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun
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