The biggest modern-day rivalry in the game delivered yet again and the timing couldn't have been better. Congestion, rolling mauls and the quality of the product had re-emerged as issues through round five, but if you were watching the final game of the round you couldn't look away. Easter Monday football has become a marquee event on the AFL calendar and a season-high crowd of 80,222 was treated to the game of the year so far. Both sides entered the match undefeated and there was an average winning margin of just 8.4 points in their last 12 clashes. There were still errors and missed opportunities, but the cream rose to the top.
2. "The greatest team of all"
After five games, the Cats stand alone, undefeated, at the top of the table. So where do they sit in the bigger picture this season? It's a question sure to occupy many minds this week as the Cats prepare for another top-of-the-table clash against 4-1 Port Adelaide. Chris Scott's team just keeps reinventing itself and finding a way to stay at the head of the pack. Placed by the pundits in a group of chasing clubs behind Fremantle, the Sydney Swans and the Hawks pre-season, the Cats are now the team everybody is chasing.
3. Tag-teaming Selwood
Averaging 29 possessions and with six goals from four games, Joel Selwood was an obvious opponent for young tagger Will Langford. But could the 21-year-old Hawk stop the competition's form midfielder? Selwood had just eight possessions in the first half and he was forced to earn most of them the hard way. At the last change, with Langford still following him everywhere except the Cats' huddle, he had won 14 and five clearances. Mitch Hallahan was substituted on for Ben McEvoy in the final term and went to Selwood, but it was a move that let the Hawks down. Selwood won six possessions and three crucial clearances in the final term, doing his best work when it mattered most.
4. Taking the hits
It will be a late Monday night for the Match Review Panel, with more venom in this clash than most. Whether any reports emerge is another issue, but there were bruises to be nursed and cuts to be treated post-match. Matthew Stokes copped an open palm to the face from Jonathan Simpkin and left the ground temporarily with an eye injury, and Steve Johnson and Jordan Lewis exchanged blows on an off the ball all day. Luke Hodge left the ground bleeding and returned to lay a crunching late hit on a courageous George Horlin-Smith in a marking contest. That's just a sample.
5. Hawkins tears shorter Hawk apart
At 197cm, key forward Tom Hawkins stood tallest when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter. Opposed to medium defender Kyle Cheney (187cm), it appeared only a matter of time before he exerted his influence on the match. With a growing reputation for standing up in big games against the Hawks, Hawkins was well held in the first three quarters, taking his marks near the boundary and kicking 2.3. With two of his jumpers torn to shreds, he was forced to don Josh Walker's No.34 in the final term. It was a touch tight, but it didn't stop him from booting three goals in 10 minutes in a match-winning burst.
