Another Easter Monday, another Hawthorn-Geelong classic at the MCG. In fact, one of the best yet.
A frantic, last-second rushed behind from star veteran Jack Gunston has delivered Hawthorn the most remarkable one-point win, capping off the latest ridiculous Hawks-Cats classic.
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In a feverish finish to a finals-like game with scores level, the Hawks bombed the ball deep inside 50, leading to a rapid passage of play where the Hawks tried to surge the ball over their goalline and the Cats defended for their lives in an attempt to conjure a draw.
But the ball spilt free to Gunston – who had earlier sent a scare through the camp with a sore hamstring – where he got boot to ball in the final 20 seconds and hit the post to put the Hawks in front.
“Gunston! Like Jimmy Bartel all those years ago, is that the winning point?” Kayo Sports’ Anthony Hudson said on Fox Footy’s coverage, referencing Bartel’s famous behind from a Hawks-Cats 2009 clash.
Gunston threw his hands to his head, thinking he had given the Cats a chance to seal the game with an end-to-end play. But his soccer was enough to earn victory.
The Cats attempted to move the ball quickly down the field, but Nick Watson and Josh Battle brought down Geelong’s Shannon Neale to win a holding the ball free kick and seal a famous Hawthorn win, 13.14 (92) to 14.7 (91).
“Gunston with a famous poster … There’s been so many classics between these two sides, but this is right up there!” Kayo Sports’ Mark Howard said.
Gunston told Fox Footy post-game: “I’m normally dirty on myself for kicking points, so nice to get a little toepoke then!”
It was the seventh time since just 2012 (excluding the Covid-affected 2020) the Easter Monday bout had been decided by 12 points or less.
“That was an amazing game, one of the great games of AFL footy,” Kayo Sports’ David King said.
“Two heavyweights just throwing blow after blow. Fantastic!”
The Cats kicked away during the second quarter — one of the best 30 minutes of the season — to enter the main break with a healthy lead.
But true to the script, the Hawks responded and, through a goal after the siren from Jack Ginnivan, took a lead into the final change.
The Cats built a buffer with the first three goals of the last before the Hawks clawed back with two quick goals of their own.
Jeremy Cameron, who’d endured a relatively quiet afternoon, kicked one of the Cats’ early goals and levelled the scores deep into red-time with a minor score.
The Cats looked home when Neale put them up by six points with 94 seconds left, but a strong mark and goal from Mitch Lewis tied scores once again before Gunston’s moment.
Hawthorn has now moved into the top six and set up a mouthwatering Gather Round clash with the undefeated Western Bulldogs.
Originally published as What. Just. Happened?! ‘Famous poster’ caps utterly bonkers finish to one-point Easter epic
