Whatever Geelong is paying star midfielder Paddy Dangerfield, they're getting him cheap.
The former Adelaide Crows champion was simply brilliant in his first game for his new club, racking up 44 possessions in a best-on-ground display as the Cats overran Hawthorn to chalk up a 30-point victory at the MCG, 18.8 (116) to 12.14 (86).
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson was under no illusion about the threat Dangerfield (pictured) posed, but had tried his best (publicly at least) to suggest his players wouldn't concentrate on just one member of the opposition.
"Whether he's in a Crows jumper or a Geelong jumper this time, he's a talented player," Clarkson had said in the lead-up to the match. "We've got to be observant obviously of the talent he's got, but there's 21 of his mates that are also a pretty formidable unit.
"It will be the whole of Geelong side that we play, rather than just Paddy Dangerfield." At times yesterday it must have seemed it was just about Dangerfield.
He had gathered 20 possessions by half-time to help Geelong take a five-goal lead into the main break, although to be fair he had plenty of mates helping out.
Former Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith also showed he could be a great pick-up, booting three goals in the first half to expose Hawthorn's lack of height in defence.
It was all Hawthorn in the third term, however, the premiers booting 5.5 while keeping the Cats goalless to take a two-point lead and all the momentum into the last quarter.
An early goal by rookie Darcy Lang was a sign of things to come, the small forward booting three for the term as Geelong kicked seven goals to two to run away with the game.
The margin could have been even greater had Dangerfield not missed two easy set shots from close range after excellent marks.
GEELONG 4.0 11.1 11.4 18.8 (116
Goals: Smith, Caddy, Lang 3, McCarthy, Hawkins 2, Motlop, Blicavs, Guthrie, Murdoch
Best: Dangerfield, Blicavs, Guthrie, Caddy, Duncan, Lang, Selwood
HAWTHORN 1.2 5.7 10.12 12.14 (86)
Goals: Puopolo, Gunston 3, Langford, Breust 2, Burgoyne, Hartung
Best: Mitchell, Frawley, Puopolo, Lewis, Gibson, Burgoyne, Hartung
Crowd: 74,218 at the MCG
