Tom Hawkins has placed on a masterclass as Geelong produced their most spectacular efficiency since final 12 months’s AFL grand ultimate in a 28-point win over Essendon.
Veteran ahead Hawkins kicked 4 targets within the Cats’ devastating 38-0 opening surge and completed with a career-best bag of eight in Sunday’s 20.12 (132) to 16.8 (104) victory on the MCG.
Patrick Dangerfield (26 disposals, 10 clearances, 14 inside-50s) starred and Jeremy Cameron added three targets to reclaim a share of high spot within the Coleman Medal race.
Tom Stewart (26 disposals), Gryan Miers (24) and Isaac Smith (19) additionally contributed because the reigning premiers flexed their appreciable muscle towards one of many season’s early kind sides.
Essendon’s Jake Stringer (26 disposals, 11 clearances, 4 targets) put in his greatest show for a while, Sam Weideman added a career-best 5 majors and Darcy Parish (38 touches, 9 clearances) was busy.
Stringer dragged the Bombers again inside 23 factors through the third quarter along with his fourth objective however the ruthless Cats had been too robust.
Hawkins has constructed into the season after present process foot surgical procedure and has tallied 19 targets throughout Geelong’s (4-3) four-match successful streak, which has put them on the optimistic aspect of the ledger for the primary time this 12 months.
Cats veteran Zach Tuohy was a late withdrawal earlier than the bounce but it surely was largely optimistic from that time ahead as Hawkins monstered Brandon Zerk-Thatcher early.
The highly effective ahead kicked 4.1 from 4 contested marks and 6 disposals within the first time period and Geelong’s 27-point lead at quarter-time ballooned to 46 earlier than the primary break.
Geelong’s Jack Bowes was substituted with a calf damage however substitute Tanner Bruhn kicked two targets from intelligent snaps.
The Bombers, coming off a five-day break after the Anzac Day loss to Collingwood, had been flat within the decisive first 20 minutes and had been mauled 6-0 in early centre bounces by the Cats, who hadn’t performed since final Saturday after they beat Sydney.
They ended up successful that battle (19-15) as Stringer (9) and Parish (5) set to work within the centre sq. however an excessive amount of injury had been finished.
Essendon mounted a problem with 4 of the primary 5 targets within the second half earlier than Hawkins and Cameron kicked steadiers for the Cats.
The end result continued Geelong’s latest dominance over Essendon, their five-straight wins coming by a mean margin of 47 factors.
It additionally gave Chris Scott a 9-5 benefit over brother Brad Scott in head-to-head battles.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
