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Cats hang on for sweet revenge

Geelong has survived a thrilling come-back by the Hawks to win by eight-points in the 2008 Grand final re-match at the MCG on Friday night.

Hawthorn looked out of the contest by the fourth quarter after being down by 43 points but as Cats star defender Matthew Scarlett started the final term on the bench, Hawthorns two big men - Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughhead booted six goals between them as they almost rescued their team from the dead.

The Cats were led by the exceptional efforts of Gary Ablett (35 touches) and Steve Johnson (27 touches, two goals) as they held on for a 15.21 (111) to 16.7 (103) win.

Both sides were physically aggressive through-out the game with four reports dished out by the umpire, including last year’s Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge.

It seems the rivalry between these two talented sides is only set to get bigger and bigger...is it too early to predict a 2009 Grand final re-match between them?

Hawthorn 3.2 8.4 10.6 16.7 (103)
Geelong 4.8 8.16 14.19 15.21 (111)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Roughead 4, Dew 2, Osborne 2, Bateman, Rioli, Stokes.
Geelong: Gamble 2, Johnson 2, Mooney 2, Rooke 2, Ablett, Blake, Chapman, Enright, Lonergan, Mackie, Varcoe.

BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Franklin, Tuck, Birchall, Bateman, Roughead.
Geelong: Ablett, Johnson, Chapman, Ottens, Corey, Rooke.

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Osborne (hamstring)
Geelong: Scarlett (ankle), Gamble (hip), Chapman (head)