Hello and welcome to Zero Hanger's live coverage of Friday night's preliminary final between Geelong and Hawthorn at the MCG.

The Cats enter the contest after a week off, having cruised through their home qualifying final against Brisbane a fortnight earlier. For the Hawks, they're riding the high of elimination both GWS and Adelaide so far this September from their eighth-placed finish to the home and away season.

The Hawks will need to snap Geelong's seven-game win streak to book their place in this year's season decider, which would be their first in a decade. Sam Mitchell's men bring good form of their own into the contest, having lost just one of their last five.

MATCH STATS >>> GEELONG VS HAWTHORN MATCH CENTRE 

Cats vs Hawks LIVE:

Final score:

Talking points

Tom Stewart concussed

Geelong defender Tom Stewart will miss the 2025 Grand Final after suffering a concussion in the second quarter of the second preliminary final.

Stewart was taken in a heavy tackle and helped from the field by trainers, with Geelong making the substitution at halftime.

Expect the discussion about the positioning of the finals bye - before the finals series or before the grand final - to reach fever pitch this week, given the absence of a star player for this year's decider.

For Geelong, they will have a decision to make - who comes in?

Jed Bews is an option, as is Rhys Stanley.

Jack Henry's fitness will also be a watch following an ankle injury, playing through the game but at times looking hampered.

Generational Dangerfield

It was one of this century's greatest finals performances from Patrick Dangerfield.

The 35-year-old had 32 disposals, kicked three goals and won eight clearances in a herculean performance to drag his side to victory.

Every time the Cats were challenged - it was Dangerfield who stood tallest.

Dangerfield kicked Geelong's only goal of the first quarter when momentum was with the Hawks, had some moments in the second quarter, and then his 10-disposal, two-goal third term opened up what proved to be an insurmountable buffer.

It was his 30th final - and outside of Dustin Martin, and perhaps Joel Selwood, it's hard to mount an argument for many being as consistent for as long as Dangerfield.

Holmes playing a grand final

In 2022, Max Holmes famously missed the Cats' premiership after tearing his hamstring in the preliminary final.

Last year, he again got injured in the preliminary final - albeit the Cats failed to qualify for the big dance.

There were no such injury concerns for Holmes on Friday night, who was one of the game's best performers with 25 disposals and a goal, bringing his trademark linebreaking power.

Third quarter propels Geelong

A withering seven goal burst propelled Geelong to victory.

Hawthorn was plucky, and got it back to within three goals for a short period of the last term, but realistically - that was where the game was won.

Two goals in a minute to Jeremy Cameron and Shaun Mannagh late in the quarter, in particular took thw wind out of Hawthorn's sails.

Geelong's centre-forward players all performed, allowing the Cats to expose Hawthorn's backline at ground level inside 50 and around stoppage.

Gryan Miers and Mannagh hit their targets, Dangerfield was inspired and Tom Atkins was superb.

 2025-09-19T09:40:00Z 
Geelong WON BY 30 POINTS
MCG
GEEL   
115
FT
85
   HAW
    #AFLCatsHawks
MATCH CENTRE ▶︎   

Fourth quarter:

0:00: Geelong is through to the 2025 Grand Final. It was comprehensive in the end, with Geelong outplaying a plucky Hawthorn for three of four quarters to win by 30 points. Patrick Dangerfield put in a generational performance. Bailey Smith shushed the haters with a starring performance. Shaun Mannagh and Gryan Miers lifted when their team needed. Max Holmes is through to a first grand final after being cursed in previous preliminary finals. Tom Atkins set the tone, then went to another level in the second half while silencing Jai Newcombe. Jeremy Cameron kicked three. There's storylines everywhere and a chorus of Geelong fans are beaming with emotion at a raucous MCG.

7:14: SURELY THAT is the sealer. Tyson Stengle soccers off the ground and the margin is 24 points with less than eight to play.

08:08: Mabior Chol takes a mark, kicks a goal and trims the margin back to three goals! Hawthorn go through the middle of the ground and Lloyd Meek hits up Chol, who calmly converts. Hawks back in this - but worth noting it is raining heavily.

11:07: Back-to-back goals for Hawthorn, both via free kicks, to Dylan Moore and Jack Gunston. The margin is at 23 points. The Haws will continue going - is there some life in this?

Final crowd: 99,597 - the biggest non grand final crowd since 1971!!!

15:32: Nail, meet coffin. Geelong leads by 35 points and have one foot in the grand final. Gryan Miers has the latest goal. It's taken three quarters but Geelong has broken Hawthorn's back. What a mighty team the Cats are.

16:00: When Patrick Dangerfield retires, this is a game that will be reflected on as a microcosm of his entire career. He's got another goal and the margin is at 29 points. This is unreal from a modern-day great.

19:01: Jack Gunston gives Hawthorn a pulse! After missing a shot late in the third quarter, Gunston kicks a set shot from the arc gun-barrel straight and the margin is back to 22 points.

Third quarter

0:00: Seven goals to three Geelong's way in that quarter. Twenty-eight points up - they're going to take some catching. Patrick Dangerfield, Gryan Miers and Shaun Mannagh all lifted in that quarter, while the reliability of Tom Atkins, Bailey Smith and Max Holmes helped allow Geelong to punish Hawthorn around the stoppage. Dangerfield, in his 30th final, had 10 disposals, four clearances and a goal in that quarter alone - what a player! Nick Watson and Josh Weddle have combined for just nine touches so far and both will need to lift if Hawthorn are to pull off a miracle. Does Sam Mitchell consider changing Weddle's role? Massimo D'Ambrosio has hit some beautiful kicks this game so Hawthorn would love the ball in his hand more, while Mitch Lewis has three, Jack Ginnivan has looked damaging and James Sicily has been a brick wall. All of that won't matter, though, if Hawthorn don't score the first goal of this final term.

1:45: Yet another stoppage goal to Geelong, this time to Shaun Mannagh...margin out to 28 points. Next goal MUST go to Hawthorn.

02.15: JEZZA! The Cats spearhead has his third via an opportunistic goal from stoppage and extends the margin to 22 points deep in stoppage time in the third term. They'll take some catching - particularly with their greater finals experience and more rested bodies compared to Hawthorn.

7:10: Gryan Miers and Patrick Dangerfield both involved in setting up Jack Martin - an important Cats goal to break a streak of three for Hawthorn which has had momentum for the last few minutes.

11:42: Goals to Jack Gunston and Connor McDonald trim the margin to 14 points. Both goals set up by great transition footy.

SUB ACTIVATED: Changkuoth Jiath replaces Sam Butler (tactical).

14:30: Gryan Miers has been HOT to start the third quarter. Two goal assists, and a holding the ball tackle early in this third quarter after a very quiet first half. Jeremy Cameron has extended Geelong's margin to 26 points. Danger signs for the Hawks, which have conceded six straight goals either side of halftime.

16:20: Geelong have the first three of the third term, with Paddy Dangerfield and Max Holmes extending the lead to 19 points. Dangerfield has 17 disposals but has had enormous influence on this game.

19:30: A dream start for Geelong, with Tyson Stengle banging one through after a centre clearance win for the Cats. And who set it up? Gryan Miers. Of course he did.

Note: The main break gives us a chance to look back at the big storyline of the game. Star Geelong defender Tom Stewart won't play the AFL Grand Final if the Cats qualify after being substituted out with concussion.

Mabior Chol was the tackler and the Match Review Officer will have big decision to make on his availability. If the MRO believes he showed careless conduct, made severe impact and high contact, the Hawk will be suspended for three weeks. The big question will be whether Chol showed a duty of care or used excessive force.

Second quarter

0:00 Geelong lead 43-42 at halftime. The first quarter was a battle in the clinches; the second has followed a more gung ho style for both sides. The Hawks' big margin was 21 points but, for the first time all game, Geelong claimed the lead in the last minute of the second term and hold a one-point halftime lead. It's a battle of the titans. Karl Amon (17 disposals) and Jack Ginnivan (15) are the leading ball-winners for Hawthorn, while Jack Scrimshaw has been a rock in defence alongside skipper James Sicily. Bailey Smith (16 disposals) has looked damaging for the Cats, while Zach Guthrie also has 16 touches. Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Atkins some other prominent players for Chris Scott's men.

3:56: This has the hallmarks of a pearler. Geelong has kicked the last two, wrenching back momentum and controlling the footy to trim the margin to two points. Jeremy Cameron and Tyson Stengle the goal-scorers.

8:28: Nick Watson! That will be an enduring highlight of the 2025 AFL finals series. Watson pounces on a front and centre on his opposite peg from 40 metres out on the boundary line. It comes after a quiet start for the livewire, but he shows that he only needs an inch. That. Was. Special.

11:10: Shaun Mannagh hits back for the Cats. He's uncharacteristically missed a couple of kicks going forward but struck it beautifully from 40 to give his side a needed settler.

12:26: Mitch Lewis is emerging as a huge factor in this game. He has three, including two from outside 50. Has had a career riddled by injury but is standing up unbelievably in the biggest game of his career. Margin back to 15 points.

14:29: For the second time this quarter, Jack Gunston has exposed Jack Henry at ground level, with the defender carrying an injury sustained in the first quarter. The veteran Hawks forward hits up Mitch Lewis, who converts from point-blank range, extending the Hawks' margin back beyond a kick.

15.59: Back-to-back goals for Geelong, with Mark Blicavs rewarded for an outstanding start with a goal out the back. The Cats are roaring back into this - experiencing is counting for plenty in this cracking finals series.

16:41: Shannon Neale gives Geelong the first of the second quarter. It follows a contested mark in the first quarter, before Patrick Dangerfield was given a free kick, highlighting his promising start. Since Dangerfield's first quarter goal, he's inserted himself into the contest, and set up Neale to run and jump at it. Margin back to nine points.

18:00 Jack Henry will attempt to play out the game with Stewart unable to return, but he looks severely hindered by his ankle injury. Gunston got away from him on the lead inside 50 which gave him an early unconverted shot on goal.

SUB ACTIVATED: MASSIVE NEWS out of the MCG with Tom Stewart subbed out with concussion following Mabior Chol's tackle. Was excessive force used? Was Tom Stewart left vulnerable as a result of the tackle? This is an enormous story either way - Stewart will definitely miss the 2025 AFL Grand Final, should the Cats progress, while the Match Review Officer has a big decision to make regarding Chol.

Quarter 1

0.00: A much improved last two minutes from Geelong, which followed up its goal with locking the ball in its forward end and could quite easily have kicked another via either Brad Close or Gryan Miers, who both missed gettable chances in general play. It was a tough start for Geelong, which is -31 in disposals and -19 in marks. They have had more inside 50s, but haven't had the direction going forward to enable them to capitalise, while Hawthorn's ball movement has looked dangerous and Conor Nash and Mitch Lewis, in particular, have imposed. We wait on the fitness of Jack Henry and Tom Stewart. Conor Nash leads the way for Hawthorn with 10 disposals and a goal, while Bailey Smith has nine disposals and four tackles for Geelong. Mark Blicavs and Tom Atkins have also been influential for the Cats, while James Sicily, Massimo D'Ambrosio and Dylan Moore are among Hawthorn's more prominent players.

1:30: Patrick Dangerfield wins a free kick from a marking contest inside 50 and he drills the set shot to put Geelong on the board. The Cats have been outplayed all ends up in the first quarter, but trail by just 15 points with less than two minutes to go in the term.

Note: Tom Stewart looks worse for wear after a bruising tackle by Hawthorn's Mabior Chol. All of Chol's body weight went through Stewart, who was tended to by several trainers before making his way off.

6:13: Conor Nash makes it three on the bounce to start proceedings for Hawthorn. Dylan Moore deserves plenty of credit for that goal, though, showing great composure to hit up the Irishman, who converted his second shot of the quarter. Hawthorn have looked the better team so far and are getting rewarded on the scoreboard. Geelong needs some calm.

7.55: For all of Hawthorn's dominance, Jai Newcombe has been caught holding the ball twice - by Connor O'Sullivan and Tom Atkins. Atkins and James Sicily are the early leading ball-winners with seven touches apiece.

Note: Jack Ginnivan is getting a finger strapped but has returned and looks unhindered.

Note: Jack Henry has gone down with what appears to be a left ankle injury. He is struggling to put weight on his left side. Trainers are aiding him off the field.

12:24: Jack Ginnivan's into the game! He did what he does best, crumbing a marking contest at the teeth of goal and coverting. The ball has largely lived in Geelong's forward half, but the defence of Tom Barrass, Blake Hardwick and James Sicily has prevented the Cats from converting. Hawthorn have struck the first two blows.

17.09: Mitch Lewis opens the scoring in the preliminary final with a pearler from outside 50! Some fluid ball movement from the back half for the Hawks gives them the first goal of the game after Geelong's three early forward forays were intercepted.

19.18 (remaining): Tom Atkins is the man to start on Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe, a man built for finals. Atkins is the Cats' leading clearance-winner in 2025 - will a negating role have an impact on Geelong's ability to get on top in the contest? The first play certainly would suggest not, with Atkins winning the first centre clearance and having two early touches. Oisin Mullin, meanwhile, will start on small forward Nick Watson.

The match is scheduled to start at 7:40pm (AEST).

 

Pre-Game - Geelong enter the match as the favoured outfit, however the trend that has seen clubs book a home preliminary final and enjoy a break over the second week of September hasn't always worked in the home side's favour. The Hawks will look to do what Brisbane could last year, coming from outside the top six and claim four wins this month to return to the promised land.

At selection, the Cats enter the match unchanged from the side that defeated the Lions by 38 points two weeks ago. The Hawks have also made no changes to their side.

Geelong have claimed the past four meetings between these two sides, including a seven-point victory when the two clubs went head-to-head earlier this year.

Both teams stuck with their selected lineups, with Jhye Clark named as the Cats' sub and Changkuoth Jiath filling the role for the Hawks.

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