RECAP: Patrick Dangerfield plays one of the great finals as Geelong make grand final over Hawthorn
Patrick Dangerfield has produced one of the great finals performances to pull Geelong into another grand final with a clutch preliminary final victory over Hawthorn.
Follow all the action from the MCG with our live blog.
Final formalities
Both sides have lined up and are ready for the national anthem before getting to work.
Final tips. Who do you have winning tonight?
Booooo
The Geelong fans have made the voices heard early as they booed the Hawks onto the field.
However, with around 95,000 in the house the boos sounded for the Cats as well.
The crowd could be a major factor if this clash goes to the wire tonight.
McAvaney’s call
Bruce McAvaney has watched a lot of footy over the years, and as one of the greatest rivalries in the AFL reignites tonight, the Channel Seven legend believes the Cats will prevail in what he is calling the “third chapter” in the historic battle between Hawthorn and Geelong.
“Geelong has to be the favourite. They’re on a long winning run. They’ve had the easier draw going into the finals, but I think the footy they played in the first week of the finals is as good as I’ve seen all year,” he told The Nightly.
It will be a battle between Hawthorn’s crop of fresh-faced, brash stars and the Cats’ young turks, as well as both sides’ experienced and accomplished veterans leading the way.
“It’s the next chapter in this incredible story between these two teams — with the 1989 grand final arguably the greatest of all time, and then the Hodge-Selwood era,” he said.
“I see this as maybe the third chapter in this incredible story that got going in ’89, then we had that long, long run over a decade ago. And now we go to the third.”
Hawthorn sub
Changkuoth Jiath will wear the subs vest again for the Hawks after starting from the pine last week as well.
Geelong sub
Youngster Jhye Clark will be the sub for the ‘home’ side tonight.
Welcome!
It’s finally preliminary final weekend and we have one of the great modern rivalries to kick us off!
Geelong and Hawthorn have plenty of history and both will be desperate to show who is boss.
The Hawks have faced a hard road to the penultimate weekend after finishing in eighth but dealt with the minor premiers Adelaide with ease last week.
Meanwhile, the Cats and their veterans have had two weeks of rest to prepare for another shot at a grand final.
Who will come out on top?
