CATS BOW OUT OF PREMIERSHIP RACE TO HAWKS
Ben Jensen 20 September 2013

AFL FINALS 2013 HAWTHORN HAWKS V GEELONG CATS GEELONG were defeated by Hawthorn tonight by the barest of margins, leading by twenty points at three quarter time but blowing that lead as the quarter went on. The final term was brutal. Luke Bruest kicked the opening goal a few minutes in before Josh Caddy steadied for the Cats with his first five minutes later. The Cats then coughed up a couple goals they shouldn't have. They very nearly found themselves behind with just six minutes to play as Luke Bruest found himself with a chance to put his side in front, but he somehow missed. Shaun Burgoyne didn't make the same mistake however the next play, the Hawks two points up with 05:33 on the clock. The Hawks went on to score two more behinds to make their lead four points with four minutes to go.

Travis Varcoe had the chance to draw the game with a shot at goal with just over thirty seconds to spare but wasn't able to steady up and slot it through instead only managing a behind, the margin five points. The Hawks perfected the kick out and in fact had a shot to extended the lead after the siren but played on instead, no further score registered.

GEELONG led Hawthorn by twenty points at the final change after a seven goal to three third quarter. The Hawks kicked the first goal of the quarter but from then on the Cats dominated, and had a little luck. Two miraculous goals in the last two minutes were what may prove to have broken the Hawks' back, but plenty of footy to play yet. The first saw Travis Varcoe dish off a handpass quicker than the cameras could record to Steven Motlop who goals from an all but impossible angle. A minute or so later Harry Taylor slotted one from the opposite pocket on a very tight angle across his body. Josh Caddy was subbed on for Josh Hunt pretty much coinciding with the Cats' revival, as White came on for the Hawks' Max Bailey.

HAWTHORN led Geelong by four points at half time. The Cats held a seventeen point advantage midway through the quarter but three goals and three behinds from the Hawks gave them the advantage at the main break. Steve Johnson had three goals for the Cats, while Norman Gunston had three for the Hawks.

Looking back at the match, if they dare, Geelong and fans won't be happy, especially with the goal given away to Hill halfway through the quarter, Bartel in the goalsquare put under pressure unncessarily and the ball ended up in the hands of Hill who made no mistake from close range; .

HAWTHORN: 3.5, 7.8, 10.10, 14.18 (102)
GEELONG: 4.0, 7.4, 14.6, 15.7 (97)

GOALS
HAWTHORN: Gunston 4, Burgoyne 3, Hale 2, Hill 2, Bruest, Franklin, Guerra
GEELONG: Johnson 4, Motlop 2, Hawkins, Bartel, Corey, Christensen, Guthrie, Murdoch, Selwood, Taylor, Vardy

BEST
HAWTHORN: Burgoyne, Mitchell, Gunston, Lake, Birchall, Gibson, Hale
GEELONG: Johnson, Lonergan, Guthrie, Taylor, Selwood, Motlop, Caddy

INJURIES
HAWTHORN: Franklin (right elbow), Puopolo (right ankle), Guerra (corked hip, left shoulder), Whitecross (ACL)
GEELONG: TBA

SUBSTITUTES
HAWTHORN: White, replaced Bailey third quarter
GEELONG: Caddy, replaced Hunt third quarter

CHANGES
HAWTHORN: Nil GEELONG: Nil

UMPIRES:

FIELD: Dean Margetts (6) Brett Rosebury (8) Mathew Nicholls (15) EM: Troy Pannell (28)
BOUNDARY: John Morris Ian Burrows Michael Saunders Michael Marantelli
GOAL: Chris Appleton Luke Walker EM: Stephen Williams

CROWD: 85,569 at Melbourne Cricket Ground

PRE-MATCH TIP: "Cats by 2 points"