3 JIMMY BARTEL was a stand out performer with 20 touches on Friday night, one of the few Cats to remain influential for the entire match. He was Geelong’s most dangerous forward, kicking the second goal of the match and scoring another after a sensational pack mark in the second quarter. Bartel continued to provide a marking target late in the game and a clever tap on to Joel Selwood resulted in goal midway through the final term.
DT: 108
SC: 97

4 ANDREW MACKIE played on prolific small forward Luke Breust, who finished seventh in the Coleman medal with 53 goals in the home and away season. He managed to add just one goal to his tally on Friday night, thanks to a thorough shut down job from Mackie. While successful in the defensive aspects of his game, Mackie was not able to utilise his long kicking to rebound out of defence. He collected just nine disposals, his lowest total all season.
DT: 31
SC: 53

5 TRAVIS VARCOE found his best form in the final rounds of the regular season, which he was able to carry into the qualifying final. He was particularly influential in the first half, providing excellent run from the half back line. Varcoe contributed three rebounds 50s and four inside 50s with his 19 disposals. His physical pressure was equally important, making four tackles and twice forcing the opposition to kick out on the full.
DT: 75
SC: 69

7 HARRY TAYLOR played on Jarryd Roughead in the first half and restricted the 2013 Coleman medalist to just one goal. He was moved forward in the final minutes of the second term and started inside attacking 50 after the long break. Taylor remained forward for much of the second half, but had limited opportunities. He collected 14 possessions, contributing one goal assist and three clearances.
DT: 51
SC: 77

9 JAMES KELLY was forced to be more defensively minded in order to contain the potent Hawthorn forward line. The rebounding half back gathered 11 disposals rotating between a variety of forwards throughout the match. Normally setting the standard for physical pressure, Kelly laid just two tackles and won four of his possessions in a contest.
DT: 44
SC: 40

13 TOM LONERGAN was given the role of restricting Hawthorn sharp shooter Jack Gunston. Lonergan was impressive in aerial contests, taking an equal team-high six marks, including a big pack mark late in the first term. He took a less spectacular, but more courageous mark to begin the second quarter. In the final term Lonergan started forward, scoring a behind from a set shot with one of his 10 possessions.
DT: 43
SC: 45

14 JOEL SELWOOD reaffirmed his status as a player for the big occasion, delivering a dominant midfield performance. The first few minutes of the game were tightly contested until Selwood broke the deadlock with the opening goal. He added goals in both the second and third terms, at times keeping Geelong in the game single handedly. Selwood had collected 20 disposals to half time and tallied 31 by the final siren despite a strong tag in the second half. He won a game-high nine clearances, contributed seven inside 50s and provided three goal assists along with the three he kicked himself.
DT: 133
SC: 151

17 HAMISH McINTOSH came into the contest refreshed after being rested for the game against Brisbane. He competed well in the ruck against former North Melbourne teammate David Hale, but was exposed when forced to defend. McIntosh won 15 hitouts and was able to effect a centre clearance with one of the eight disposals he collected for the match. In an effort to generate more run Mcintosh was substituted for Jackson Thurlow 10 minutes into the final term.
DT: 48
SC: 58

20 STEVE JOHNSON came into the side under an injury cloud and was the source of a great deal of speculation in the lead up to the match. His disposal was a little rusty after three weeks on the sidelines, but his ability to find the ball was undiminished. He gathered 10 disposals before quarter time and appeared set for another famous finals performance. Unfortunatley Johnson could not maintain the tempo and as a result his influence wained. He finished with 17 possessions and a consolation goal late in the game.
DT: 67
SC: 57

21 JORDAN MURDOCH has missed only one game this year and has averaged one goal per game. He gathered just nine disposals but contributed the goal he has been counted on to kick all season. In a congested forward 50 Murdoch broke away with the ball and snapped an important goal that put the Cats within a kick on the verge of half time.
DT: 45
SC: 49

22 MITCH DUNCAN has emerged as a future star this season and has taken on greater responsibility for this finals series. The young onballer was 86.4% effective with his 22 possessions, but was not as damaging as Geelong would have hoped. This was largely due to the immense pressure applied by the entire Hawthorn side over four hard-fought quarters. Duncan still put up a fight, winning three clearances and making three tackles.
DT: 75
SC: 77

23 JOSH CADDY came into the qualifying final with confidence after a strong finish to the home and away season. The game was a physically demanding battle, as finals often are, and Caddy’s ability to influence the contest on the outside was largely restricted. He collected 13 disposals and won two clearances, one from the centre and another in general play. Late in the year Caddy made an impact in attack, including three goals last week, but two inside 50s was the sum of his forward contribution on Friday.
DT: 47
SC: 48

25 JARED RIVERS was excellent in defence, displaying his versatility and experience in a variety of match-ups. In an effort to swing momentum in Geelong’s favour, both Tom Lonergan and Harry Taylor were thrown forward for significant periods, leaving Rivers to hold the fort. He was rarely beaten in the air and led the Cats with eight spoils. His work at ground level was equally influential, tally 10 disposals and executing with 90% efficiency.
DT: 43
SC: 67

26 TOM HAWKINS received enormous focus from the Hawthorn defence, after kicking five goals against the Hawks earlier in the year and seven against the Lions last week. He was regularly double teamed and had nowhere near the same influence on Friday night. Hawkins took two marks, collected seven possessions and kicked a goal from a set shot after receiving a fortunate free kick in the third term.
DT: 35
SC: 49

27 MATHEW STOKES accumulated possessions consistently, tallying 28 touches by the end of the match. His early disposals were not particularly effective, but he persisted and improved as the game went on. Stokes won four clearances and contributed four inside 50s for two goal assists. Most impressive was his physical application, making a team-high seven tackles.
DT: 115
SC: 95

29 CAMERON GUTHRIE made his finals debut in the qualifying final last year playing as a small defender. Such has been the transformation for the young Cat, he started the equivalent fixture this year inside the centre square. He played a loose defensive role on Hawthorn vice-captain Jordan Lewis and helped restrict him to 20 disposals. Guthrie gathered 25 himself, contributing three inside 50s, three rebound 50s and three clearances.
DT: 89
SC: 95

32 STEVEN MOTLOP was rested for the final game of the regular season and he certainly played with renewed vigour early in the match. The football was difficult to win and Motlop’s pace proved influential to clear congestion once Geelong gained possession. He was double-teamed in a tackle midway through the second quarter and hobbled from the ground with an injured ankle. He returned to play soon after but was clearly restricted and collected a total of 13 disposals.
DT: 35
SC: 40

33 GEORGE HORLIN-SMITH was not part of the team that lost to Hawthorn in round 22, one of only three games the emerging midfielder has missed this season. His great strength is clearances and he certainly delivered in that capacity on Friday night, winning six to sit behind only Selwood for stoppage influence. Horlin-Smith battled hard at the coal face, winning 11 of his 17 possessions in a contest.
DT: 65
SC: 67

34 JOSH WALKER had just one chance to secure a finals berth and did so with an impressive performance against Brisbane last week. He was even more impressive at the start of Friday’s clash, tacking a strong pack mark early in the match, followed by a bigger leap over a bigger pack for a better grab minutes later. He won all six of his disposals in a contest, with the most important a contested mark and goal after the half time siren to level the scores.
DT: 44
SC: 45
40 JACKSON THURLOW wore the green substitute’s vest and was forced to wait more than three quarters before he could run out onto the MCG and make is finals debut. He replaced Hamish McIntosh 10 minutes into the final term in the hope of generating more run for Geelong. The Hawks dominated the second half of the last quarter, making opportunities scarce for young Thurlow. He made two tackles and two spoils and had one handpass.
DT: 10
SC: 6
44 COREY ENRIGHT spent the final rounds of the home and away season as a very high half-back come wingman. He played in a similar position on Friday, although was required to defend more regularly against the Hawks. He gathered 21 disposals and sent the Cats into attacking 50 six times, second only to Joel Selwood and Hawthorn’s Isaac Smith.
DT: 69
SC: 70

46 MARK BLICAVS started the game alongside Hawthorn speedster Brad Hill. He played in a traditional wing position for much of the first half and occasional assisted in the ruck. After the main break he spent more time in defence to allow Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan to go forward. Blicavs was effective in every role he played, winning 14 hit-outs, making seven spoils and tallying a career high 20 disposals.
DT: 81
SC: 103