Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Oliver Caffrey

Cats end Hawthorn's win streak with big home triumph

Geelong celebrated the long-awaited return to GMHBA Stadium with a thumping win over Hawthorn. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Geelong have recovered from their mid-season slump, dismantling Hawthorn by 51 points to bring the Hawks' five-match winning streak to an end.

In their first game at GMHBA Stadium in front of a crowd since 2006, Hawthorn were bullied by the hungry Cats as the hosts cruised to a 16.14 (110) to 9.5 (59) win on Saturday.

Key Hawthorn forward Mitch Lewis, who was playing his first game since round three, was hurt in the final quarter after a heavy collision with Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij.

Mitch Lewis.
Mitch Lewis had to leave the field after a heavy collision in the final quarter against Geelong. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Lewis left the field with blood streaming from his head and looked to be holding his knee, in concerning scenes to cap off a tough match for the Hawks.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and the club refused to confirm if Lewis had been placed in concussion protocols or provide any update on the 25-year-old's knee.

"When I left the rooms ... I thought it's better to go in here a bit naive than have to tell you what I know, so I actually don't know the answer," Mitchell said of Lewis's health.

Opening with five successive behinds - three of them to Jeremy Cameron - Geelong never gave up their lead and won every quarter.

Star forward Cameron returned to close to his best form, kicking 4.4 and having a game-high 13 score involvements.

Small Cats forward Brad Close matched Cameron's efforts with four goals.

Jeremy Cameron (second left).
Jeremy Cameron (second left) kicked 4.4 and had a game-high 13 score involvements for Geelong. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

It was a seriously even performance from the Cats, who overwhelmed a Hawthorn defence missing captain James Sicily with 63 to 39 inside-50s.

Despite losing six of seven games before beating Essendon by 45 points at the MCG last Saturday, the Cats remain well in the hunt to secure a top-four finish.

"I wasn't too flat with how we were going, disappointed and a bit annoyed, but not overreacting," Geelong coach Chris Scott.

"And we're not going to overreact now we've had a couple of wins. 

"Its reasonable to say that the signs are good."

Celebrating his 200th AFL game, forward Gary Rohan produced an electric cameo with two goals in as many minutes late in the first term.

Milestone man Gary Rohan.
Milestone man Gary Rohan was chaired off after kicking two goals in his 200th AFL match. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Premiership fullback Sam De Koning enjoyed his best game since being switched into the ruck three weeks ago, kicking two goals - doubling his career tally - by early in the second quarter and outworking Hawthorn's Lloyd Meek.

Hawthorn had put themselves on the verge of entering the top eight after winning seven of their previous eight matches before the trip to Geelong.

But without Sicily (shoulder), dynamic forward Jack Ginnivan (leg) and young tall Calsher Dear (soreness), the Hawks played more like they did early in the season when they lost the first five games.

Geelong next face wounded reigning premiers Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night, and the Hawks head to Launceston for an intriguing clash with Fremantle on Saturday.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.