All Eyes On… #Hawk300

The 2021 Finals Series is finally here. While we generally wouldn’t focus too closely on individual accolades this time of the year, when a player the calibre of Tom Hawkins joins the 300 Club, we’ll make our own rules.

Cats’ fans of a certain vintage will remember a very young Tom being rolled out on The Footy Show not long after he’d been drafted. Historically, the father-son rule had been kind to the club, and by the look of the latest young prospect, the footy gods were smiling on Kardinia Park again. Expectations were high.

And yet, here we are many, many years later and the son of Jumping Jack Hawkins not only reached those expectations, he has smashed them.

There’s not enough space here to do his remarkable career justice, but how about this so far: 2 X AFL Premiership Player (2009-2011), Coleman Medallist (2020), Carji Greeves Medallist (2012), 3 X All-Australian (2012,2019,2020), 10 X GFC leading goalkicker, VFL Premiership Player (2007) & Rising Star nominee (2007).

And at 33, he’s playing the best footy of his career.

Go well, Tom.  

All Eyes On… The Portress

Another Covid-affected season, another first-week finals matchup against the Power in Adelaide. While last year’s result didn’t go our way, the return bout in Round 13 this season was something else, and on the back of that, the Cats will arrive at the ground on Friday with plenty of confidence.

Under enormously arduous circumstances, Geelong secured one of the wins of the season despite spending the six hours lead-up to the game in the Adelaide Oval cricket nets due to South Australian Government Covid-19 protocols. 

Jeremy Cameron, powered by nine pre-game instant Moccona’s took centre stage with five goals and 12 score involvements, but there’s no doubt the whole team will be steeled by the memory of taking down the Power that night in the toughest of circumstances.

While they may have spoiled INXS for everyone, and the locals behind the fence are nothing short of hostile, the Cats 4-2 record in the last six visits to The Portress says they’ll be ready whatever gets thrown their way on Friday night.

All Eyes On… Dunc-IN

In news that warmed the hearts of Cats fans wherever they were when they heard it, Chris Scott confirmed on Wednesday that Mitch Duncan is back in the side after 10 weeks on the sidelines. 

While the benefits of #22 returning to the lineup a numerous, he is arguably the side’s best user of the football, and his ability to perform in big games is undeniable.

He was clearly the Cats’ best player in last year’s finals series and even picked up a vote for the Norm Smith Medal in the Grand Final. 

He also loves Adelaide Oval – his 24.7 touches per game there is his best across all grounds. 

Welcome back, Mitch. 

All Eyes On… What Happens Next

While last week’s loss after the siren cost the club top spot on the ladder, the only thing it's really changed is the colour of the scarves on the other side of the fence on Friday. 

Whatever the result, the Cats were likely to play their Qualifying Final in the City of Churches, and again, whatever the result, the boys’ will be on a plane to Perth after the game for either a week off, or to face the winner of Saturday's GWS v Sydney Elimination Final. 

For what it’s worth, since 2000 just four teams have won the premiership from first place at the end of the home and away season, seven teams have won it from second, and six from third, including the last three Richmond flags. 

Whatever the case, Finals are here, the Power are waiting and we can't wait to get started.

GO Cats! 

GEELONG has fallen to Port Adelaide in the second qualifying final at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

Questioned for its record against the best sides in the AFL, Port Adelaide was always confident that when it mattered this year it would deliver. And in its commanding 43-point win over Geelong in Friday night's qualifying final, the Power's point was proved. 

The 12.14 (86) to 5.13 (43) win puts Ken Hinkley's men straight through to their second consecutive preliminary final after backing up last year's qualifying final win over the Cats. Whilst the loss for the Cats will see them play in a semi final next week against the winner of Sydney and Greater Western Sydney.

While the Power are now one win from their first Grand Final since 2007, the questions will come for Geelong. The Cats will again need to go the long way if it is to salute for this year's premiership after losing its first final for the fifth successive season and three of its past four games, putting in their lowest score of the season in its biggest game so far. 

Port Adelaide is known for its flair but its Adelaide Oval victory was far more ferocious than that: the Power smothered Geelong around the ball with relentless pressure, stood up in the big moments and looked the most experienced finals team in the eye and kept running.  

Orazio Fantasia was electric. The former Bomber returned from his hamstring injury to boot four goals in one of the games of his career in his first finals win, before being substituted out of the game with a knee problem in the final term. 

Ollie Wines (32 disposals) was magnificent in the midfield, Travis Boak (32) and Karl Amon (25) were also important, while Aliir Aliir's dominant first half catapulted the Power into ascendancy. 

Geelong were off the pace throughout. Mitch Duncan (32 disposals) and Isaac Smith (23) were honest and Jack Henry (nine marks) tried his best down back, but little else went right for the Cats, with their defenders battling to contain Port's frenetic movement. After combining for 12 goals last time the sides played, 300-gamer Tom Hawkins (two goals), Jeremy Cameron (one) and Gary Rohan (none) had no say on the game.  

Aliir was a big reason for that, hauling in four marks in a dominant aerial performance in the first term to set things up. Two of his grabs led directly to goals – one to Peter Ladhams and another for Fantasia – as Port took a 10-point lead into the first change.

Duncan took no time to settle back into the action in his first game since round 14, with the Geelong star finding a game-high 14 disposals and four rebound-50s as a settling presence.

Fantasia was on fire, slotting a second goal in the next term to stretch out Port's lead to 25 points. He was representative of the difference between the sides: Port was slick, quick and penetrating while the Cats struggled to find their rhythm pushing forward. 

Their disorganised set up was never clearer than when Zak Butters got free inside 50 in the final minute of the half and put the Power 29 points up at the main break. 

The Cats tried some things in the third term, including stationing Gary Rohan in defence as his finals struggles continued, but it didn't click as they were kept goalless. Port's intensity rose further, with Butters' front-on tackle of Cameron, and then more tough work from Xavier Duursma, epitomising their approach. 

When Fantasia slotted another snap to kickstart the fourth term, Port Adelaide had sealed its preliminary spot, with a bigger prize in sight.  

PORT ADELAIDE                          4.3     8.7       9.10     12.14 (86)
GEELONG                                      2.5     3.8       3.11    5.13 (43)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Fantasia 4, Motlop 2, Powell-Pepper 2, Butters, Gray, Ladhams, Marshall
Geelong: Hawkins 2, Cameron, Selwood, Simpson

BEST
Port Adelaide: Boak, Aliir, Fantasia, Wines, Duursma, Byrne-Jones
Geelong: Duncan, Smith, Dangerfield, Henry, Parfitt

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Fantasia (knee), Gray (ankle)
Geelong: O'Connor (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Powell-Pepper (replaced Fantasia in the fourth quarter)
Geelong: Higgins (replaced O'Connor in the second quarter)