GEELONG 4.0 11.1 11.4 18.8 (116) HAWTHORN 1.3 5.7 10.12 12.14 (86)
Goals: Geelong: D Lang 3 J Caddy 3 Z Smith 3 L McCarthy 2 T Hawkins 2 C Guthrie J Murdoch L Henderson M Blicavs S Motlop.
Hawthorn: J Gunston 3 P Puopolo 3 L Breust 2 W Langford 2 B Hartung S Burgoyne.
Umpires: Scott Jeffery, Robert Findlay, Jacob Mollison. Official Crowd: 74,218 at MCG.
Chris Scott was not surprised by the part Patrick Dangerfield played in Geelong's round-one win over Hawthorn on Monday.
More AFL Real Footy Videos
- Video duration
- 01:30
Geelong hang on in Easter Monday thriller
Geelong hang on in Easter Monday thriller
A new look Geelong Cats outfit has held off defending AFL premiers, Hawthorn in a thrilling round one clash at the MCG.
Up Next
James Hird's father speaks out
- Video duration
- 03:51
- Video duration
- 03:51
James Hird's father speaks out
James Hird's father speaks out
James Hird's father Allan talks to 3AW about his view on his son's overdose and the Essendon doping saga.
- Video duration
- 00:00
James Hird pushed out of Essendon
James Hird pushed out of Essendon
LIVE: Essendon is expected to announce they have parted company with senior coach James Hird, effective immediately.
Up Next
Essendon offers support following Hird health scare
- Video duration
- 01:32
- Video duration
- 01:32
Essendon offers support following Hird ...
Essendon offers support following Hird health scare
Following a suspected overdose, players showed up to training and kept mum about their distressed coach. Vision courtesy Seven News, Melbourne.
Up Next
Heeney wants midfield spot
- Video duration
- 00:47
- Video duration
- 00:47
Heeney wants midfield spot
Heeney wants midfield spot
Isaac Heeney makes his message clear about where he wants to play in 2017.
Up Next
Mitchell and Cotchin get their 2012 Brownlows
- Video duration
- 00:48
- Video duration
- 00:48
Mitchell and Cotchin get their 2012 ...
Mitchell and Cotchin get their 2012 Brownlows
Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin are presented with their Brownlow Medals after more than four years in a special ceremony in Melbourne.
Up Next
Dangerfield: No players, no game
- Video duration
- 00:20
- Video duration
- 00:20
Dangerfield: No players, no game
Dangerfield: No players, no game
Players Association representative and reigning Brownlow medalist Patrick Dangerfield talks tough on the AFL's discussions with the PA over contract talks.
Up Next
Roughead reveals he's been given all-clear
- Video duration
- 00:47
- Video duration
- 00:47
Roughead reveals he's been given all-clear
Roughead reveals he's been given all-clear
Jarryd Roughead has been told his treatment was successful and he is 'cancer-free'.
Geelong hang on in Easter Monday thriller
A new look Geelong Cats outfit has held off defending AFL premiers, Hawthorn in a thrilling round one clash at the MCG.
The Geelong coach was more excited about the crucial midfield depth that Dangerfield is helping the Cats develop.
Dangerfield finished with 43 possessions – 22 of which were contested – as Geelong gave up a 31-point lead to the Hawks before regrouping in the last term and winning by five goals.
The star recruit also racked up seven clearances, 10 inside-50s and laid five tackles in his first game in blue and white, taking a big mark in the last term but missing three shots on goal.
Joel Selwood, Josh Caddy and Mitch Duncan were the Cats' other influential midfielders, with ruckman Zac Smith kicking three early goals and Darcy Lang scoring three in the last term.
"He just wants to play his part, [and] it was a pretty good part today," Scott said of Dangerfield.
"He's had a good preparation and anyone who saw his first half over in Fremantle a couple of weeks ago probably expected him to play like that again.
"I haven't spoken to him yet post-game, but I suspect he's thinking he can play even better than that, I mean, there were a few errors in front of goal.
"The exciting thing is, it was a really good start, and I thought Joel Selwood was outstanding off the back of his [limited] preparation.
Mitch Duncan was reported late in the match for a clash with Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge, but Scott was not concerned that Duncan may miss next week's match against GWS.
"We've had a pretty good look at it. We haven't looked at it exhaustively, but we've got no concerns, no concerns at all," he said.
"In fact if you ask Hodgey, I think he would say he should have no concerns either. If that's reportable, Luke Hodge would have been reported 50 times in his career."
Geelong was not a team to rely on individuals, he said. "We're a bit more about the combinations, because the best teams over a long period of time show that if you're relying on one player you're kidding yourself.
"History's a very good side. The best teams have very deep midfields and I think we'll be working more towards making sure we balance our midfield, rather than saying Selwood and Dangerfield need to do it for us."
Scott was pleased at his players' ability to work their way back into the game after all the third-quarter momentum went against them, and against a side as tough to beat as Hawthorn.
"We're really happy to beat them. We've struggled to beat them, we've struggled to get close to them in recent times and our self-talk has been that we are a new team and a relatively new list as well," he said.
"This is a bit of validation, but a bit of perspective is important. They, I don't think, were as forward in their preparation as we were.
"As much as we've changed our team, they've changed theirs as well.
"They'll get better as the season goes on. I'm sure. We're still looking at them as the team to beat irrespective of what happened today."