Geelong has exploded out of the gates in the 2022 Grand Final in a first-quarter blitz, leading the Sydney Swans by 35 points.
Tom Hawkins started it all with the two opening goals of the game – both near identical plays after grabbing the ball out of the ruck and kicking truly.
And his teammates jumped on board from that point including two majors to Isaac Smith as the Cats played with an aura of confidence to run all over Sydney.
Stream the AFL Grand Final replay on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14 days free >
It included Geelong dominating disposals (+46), marks (+22), contested possessions (+19), inside 50s (+12) as well as having 11 scoring shots to Sydney’s one.
The one-sided scoreboard marked the biggest quarter-time margin since 1989 in an astonishing 33-year first.
“What an onslaught, I reckon this quarter-time break couldn’t come quick enough for John Longmire,” Channel 7 called Brian Taylor noted late in the opening period.
The likes of Joel Selwood, Mark Blicavs and Sam De Koning also enjoyed hot starts to the game in shades of Geelong’s domination over Port Adelaide in the 2007 decider.
The football world on social media gave the Cats their due praise.
