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Geelong’s attacking ace Tom Hawkins has kicked 4 objectives and produced a game-busting burst in a spirited 19-point away win over Adelaide.
Hawkins slotted three objectives in a dozen minutes after the Crows briefly hit the entrance within the third quarter of Geelong’s 14.12 (96) to 11.11 (77) victory at Adelaide Oval on Friday night time.
The 35-year-old’s match-turning feats have been decisive in Geelong banking consecutive wins to open their season.
Adelaide now have two losses forward of a testing journey to Fremantle subsequent weekend.
Hawkins, in his 349th AFL recreation, was dominant whereas Tom Stewart (28 disposals, 11 marks) was excellent in his one hundred and fiftieth.
Gryan Miers was one other stand-out with three objectives and 26 possessions, Jeremy Cameron kicked two objectives, skipper Patrick Dangerfield collected 23 disposals in opposition to his former membership and Max Holmes (24 touches) was artistic from halfback.
Adelaide’s Darcy Fogarty, Izak Rankine, Taylor Walker and Chris Burgess kicked two objectives apiece.
The sport got here to a standstill briefly within the third quarter when a pitch invader ran onto the sphere and into a bunch of gamers contesting the ball. Adelaide gamers Matt Crouch and Ben Keays confronted the person earlier than safety took him off the bottom.
Midfielder Matt Crouch gathered a match-high 38 disposals and Rory Laird (29 touches) was additionally busy, however the Crows have been all the time taking part in catch-up after being jumped by Geelong within the opening quarter.
Look again at how the motion unfolded in our dwell weblog.
Key occasions
Ultimate rating
That’ll do us from Friday night time footy
A very good night time for Geelong, and a dream begin to the season for the Cats. One other powerful one for Adelaide to take, with a tricky journey to face Freo awaiting the Crows. They’re definitely on discover already early within the yr.
That is it from me for tonight! I will be again with Andrew McGarry tomorrow to steer you thru Saturday footy, so you should definitely head again to the weblog then. Till then, have a beautiful night time.
Tom Stewart dominates his one hundred and fiftieth recreation
One other shout out for Tom Stewart, who was completely excellent tonight in his milestone recreation.
He completed with 11 marks — 10 of these intercepting — 28 disposals, 15 intercept possessions and 7 rating involvements. He marshalled Geelong’s defence fantastically and was the impassable brick wall Adelaide bumped into time and time once more.
Appears to be like in good condition to say a sixth All Australian this yr. He spoke to Channel Seven after the sport:
“I am actually pleased with the boys. We knew we have been in all probability in opposition to it over right here. So, so pleased with this group and so grateful to the Geelong Soccer Membership to be part of it.
“I am getting a bit emotional now. Like, it is one thing I actually cherish, to have the ability to rejoice with my greatest mates and my children and my spouse and my mum tonight, my sister. I’ll actually take pleasure in this one. They imply a lot to me.”
Tomahawk makes his mark
Subsequent week might be Tom Hawkins’s 350th recreation, on Easter Monday in opposition to Hawthorn, however the massive Cat began celebrating a bit early.
4 objectives all up, and three in a important third-quarter burst, is a giant night time for the famous person veteran. Jeremy Cameron may have matched his tally if not for a wayward last time period.
The Crows could not deal with Geelong’s twin towers, who each look in ominous early season type.
FT: Cats full 19-point win to depart Crows reeling at 0-2
Geelong is likely to be again.
Wins over St Kilda and Adelaide away to begin the season is a severe assertion for a membership scarred by a disappointing 2023. The style of their victory tonight — skilled, mature, meticulous — might be significantly pleasing for Chris Scott and the Cats. They stood as much as one of many league’s highest-scoring groups and utterly shut them down, silencing the gang and grinding out the win.
Tom Stewart, in his one hundred and fiftieth recreation, was one thing else. Finest afield by a mile in my books. The Crows’ midfielders had busy nights, however Stewart’s defensive presence and intercepting capability was simply in regards to the distinction within the recreation.
Considerations for Adelaide? The backline was the massive fear coming into the season and people deficiencies have been highlighted tonight. The Cats are going to be powerful to interrupt down all yr, however there was a scarcity of run and dare in Adelaide tonight that’s in contrast to them. Loads of time for Matthew Nicks to work issues out, however 0-2 is an uncomfortable spot for the Crows to be in.
Izak Rankine kicks a fairly miraculous objective
Effectively that is fairly outrageous. The warmth has very a lot gone out of the sport, however there was nonetheless simply sufficient time for Rankine to fit one from as near the boundary line as is feasible.
A spotlight for Crows followers to go house with.
Brad Shut provides one other! Share boosters for Geelong
I believe Brad Shut was attempting to cross that to a number one ahead, nevertheless it missed everybody by sufficient that it was capable of trickle during.
The lead is out to 26 factors, and the Cats will really feel that’s consultant of their total management of the sport.
Gryan Miers kicks the sealer! Geelong will win in Adelaide!
With all of the Adelaide numbers pushed up the bottom, it was solely going to take one good break for Geelong to threaten the objectives.
Henry, Shut, Stengle and Miers mixed to get it out the again, and that objective shuts the door on Adelaide.
In the meantime, Patrick Dangerfield is on the bench wanting somewhat involved about his hamstring. One to look at after this one wraps up.
Two minutes to play
I believe Geelong have finished sufficient. They have not kicked a objective on this final quarter, however they’ve saved Adelaide to simply two to date.
Three minutes to play
The Cats are hanging on a bit now, however Adelaide want to seek out three objectives in 3:30. Geelong have numbers again, however it will be an Adelaide avalanche to see out this recreation.
Fogarty hits the submit! He is missed an open objective! From 10 metres!
More durable to overlook than kick the objective from there. Darcy Fogarty was out the again, streaming into an open objective. The gang was able to erupt.
He shanked it into the submit. How expensive will that be for Adelaide?
Six minutes to play.
Reilly O’Brien objectives for Adelaide! One thing from nothing!
It is again to 16 factors! The large Crows ruck pinched it from Blicavs, threw it on the boot and watched it sail by way of.
The Cats have given Adelaide an opportunity. Are they ok to take it?
Clock is ticking for Adelaide
Extra misses for the Cats, however although they have not killed the sport off they’ve managed to burn loads of clock.
There’s solely eight minutes left to play on this one. Crows want 4 objectives.
Cameron misses some possibilities to ice this one
Jeremy Cameron has now kicked three consecutive behinds for Geelong. None of them have been simple, however all three have been kickable for a participant of his high quality.
Stengle is the most recent to overlook an opportunity. The Cats had been so correct in entrance of objective for 3 quarters, however these misses are protecting the door ajar for the Crows.
Tex Walker strikes! First blood Adelaide!
The Crows needed to be methodical, however they have been nonetheless courageous with their ball use by way of the center of the bottom. The upshot was a one-on-one battle between Walker and the a lot smaller Jack Henry.
After one more rating evaluation, Walker’s objective is confirmed. It is a 19-point recreation, 15:57 on the clock.
Ultimate quarter is underway
What do these Crows have left within the tank? An 0-2 begin would increase some uncomfortable questions for a staff anticipated to take the following step this yr.
1 / 4 left to vary the narrative.
3QT: Hawkins leads Cats to 24-point lead over surprised Crows
That was so skilled from Geelong. Ruthless, exact. They stood as much as Adelaide once they have been working at their peak and systematically shut them again down once more.
Tom Hawkins was the beneficiary within the ahead line, however the work was finished everywhere in the floor. Patrick Dangerfield lifted in that time period to assist flip the midfield tide, and Tom Stewart is in line for Brownlow votes in his one hundred and fiftieth.
The blueprint is there for Adelaide, and so they’ve come again from this kind of place as soon as earlier than on this recreation. Nevertheless it’ll take one thing particular from right here, in opposition to a Cats facet that’s wanting way more just like the 2022 model than its 2023 cousin.
Tom Stewart simply dropped a automobile
Or no matter it’s you get for mark of the yr nowadays. You have to be holding on to these Tom, for all of our sakes.
Hawkins has 4! Cats on a large cost now!
Geelong have began successful clearances, and — prone to repeating myself — the Crows defence is powerless to cease fast Geelong entries.
Dangerfield discovered Dempsey, who hit up Hawkins by hand, who snapped his fourth of the night time and third of the quarter.
Ollie Henry makes it three in a row for Geelong
When Adelaide kicked these two fast ones to begin the quarter, after which Izak Rankine gave them a lead, you questioned if they might begin to overrun the Cats on this quarter.
Not the case. Geelong have regathered themselves, held their nerve and swung momentum again their approach. And so they have crucially taken their possibilities in entrance of objective, establishing one other 18-point lead. Six minutes to play within the third.
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