Preliminary final player ratings: From the Wizard with no magic, to the all-time great’s masterclass

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(14) Connor O’Sullivan: Reliable down back, he had seven touches like his near namesake, Mark O’Connor. 5.5/10

(16) Sam De Koning: Played a solid game as Geelong’s second ruckman behind Mark Blicavs. 6/10

(17) Lawson Humphries: Had minimal impact across the game, but also spent a sizable chunk on the bench. 4.5/10

(18) Tyson Stengle: Stengle had several key moments, most importantly a soccer goal in the final quarter that halted Hawthorn’s momentum. Stengle, don’t forget, kicked the first goal of the second half – after 37 seconds – as the Cats stamped their authority on the match. 7/10

(19) Jack Martin: Had a shocking start with no possessions until well into the second quarter, but then he picked up three touches in about two minutes. He can be that sort of player. He kicked a goal after an assist from guess who … Dangerfield. 4.5/10

(28) Oliver Dempsey: Not nearly as influential in this final compared to his stellar game against Brisbane two weeks ago, he finished with 14 touches but only one mark. 5.5/10

(30) Tom Atkins: What an important contributor for Geelong, across the season and in their biggest match of the year so far. Atkins got the first clearance from the opening centre bounce and had four touches in six minutes. He finished with 11 tackles, playing his ideal role as a defensive lynchpin in the middle. 7.5/10

Tom Atkins and the Cats are into another grand final.

(32) Gryan Miers: One of those players who got better as the match wore on. He was in-and-out of the game early but finished with 27 touches and applied a brilliant run-down tackle that summed up Geelong’s desperation and superior attack on the ball. 7/10

(33) Shannon Neale: Not a match-shaper, but he had his moment when he booted a terrific goal about four minutes into the second quarter. He was a good foil for Jeremy Cameron up forward but only had three touches. 5/10

(34) Oisin Mullin: Had a couple of defensive lapses which were costly, one helping Jack Ginnivan to an early goal. Finished with eight touches. 4.5/10

(35) Patrick Dangerfield: A sublime game by the veteran superstar and all-time great – a truly classic finals performance. Firstly, he booted a goal at the 28-minute mark when Geelong desperately needed it. Then his second quarter (nine touches) was instrumental and he dragged his teammates with him. Danger finished with 31 touches and three goals, but his game was much more than numbers: influence, leadership and stepping up in the biggest moments. 9.5/10

(38) Jack Henry: Went to Jack Gunston from the start, but Henry went off injured at the 15-minute mark. He came back on soon enough, but he may have been hindered and not quite having the capacity to stay with the Hawks forward. Only three touches. 4.5/10

(39) Zach Guthrie: Geelong’s leading possession-winner at half-time (with 16). He had 10 in the second term as the Cats started to find their drive. Others took over thereafter, but Guthrie made a strong contribution. 6.5/10

(42) Mark O’Connor: Spent some time running with Josh Weddle and was effective early. Not one of the star Cats, but he didn’t need to be tonight. 6.5/10

(44) Tom Stewart: Was strong early before he went down with concussion at the 26-minute mark of the first term after being crunched into the turf by Mabior Chol. A horrible situation for him and Geelong. 6/10

(45) Brad Close: In and out of the game and finished with 15 touches. Watch the replay for his excellent mark when manned against Nick Watson early in the last quarter. 5.5/10

(46) Mark Blicavs: An impressive game by the dynamic big man who ran, and ran, and ran and tackled. Blicavs had a good battle with Lloyd Meek but, from this vantage point, had more impact around the ground. Blicavs helped himself to four clearances and, wait for it, 11 tackles. 6.510

(13) Jhye Clark (substitute): Subbed on early after Tom Stewart’s horrible moment in which he was concussed, ending his grand final hopes. Clark came on and off the bench, spending 62 per cent of the game on the field. 4/10

Hawthorn

(2) Mitch Lewis: The key forward’s third goal 12 minutes into the second term had him set for a landmark night and Hawks fans dreaming of a grand final. He was then starved of supply and had little impact on the game. 5.5/10

(3) Jai Newcombe: Like many of his teammates, the hero of the Hawks’ finals campaign started strongly but his influenced waned after quarter-time. Had just 20 touches in the final three quarters in a midfield that was obliterated out of the centre – and nobody else stepped up to fill the void. 5/10

Jarman Impey (right) celebrates a telling goal.

(4) Jarman Impey: The rebounding defender had a stinker of a first half. He started nervously and struggled to find the ball, managing just four disposals to half-time, though he finished with 14. He moved forward to kick a goal and set up another when the Hawks challenged in the third term. 3/10

(5) James Worpel: Another on-baller who had his colours lowered. The tough midfielder does his best work in the engine room, but he did not bring his strength to the game with just 16 possessions in what could be his last appearance in the brown and gold. 4/10

(6) James Sicily: The skipper had his greatest effect when the heat was on the ball, forcing the Cats into rushed kicks into their forward line where his safe hands intercepted. He was moved forward late as a Hail Mary but it did not work. 5/10

(10) Karl Amon: The running defender was one of his team’s leading ball-winners with a team-high 28 disposals. The Cats’ smaller forwards were influential, but Amon can hold his head high. His 704 metres gained were a game-high. 6/10

(11) Conor Nash: The big-bodied midfielder did his best work early, but his impact faded as the game wore on. He battled manfully against Smith and Dangerfield but was beaten. He was one of the Hawks’ better on-ballers and fought to the line. 5.5/10

(13) Dylan Moore: The Hawks were at their best when he had the ball. Unfortunately for his team, Moore was another Hawk who was quiet in the second term when the game changed complexion dramatically. His precise kicking under pressure was a feature, as well as his hard running. One of the Hawks’ best. 6.5/10

(14) Jack Scrimshaw: A solid enough performance by the reliable defender, though he did not have his usual influence in the Hawks’ rebounding game. Started on Martin, who did little. 5/10

(15) Blake Hardwick: Started his finals series in a blaze of glory but was another Hawk who had his hands full against the Cats’ red-hot smaller forwards. 4/10

(16) Massimo D’Ambrosio: The wingman did not bring his run and laser-like kicking to the table in a poor performance. His lack of influence was symbolic of a staid running game for his team. 2/10

(17) Lloyd Meek: With Rhys Stanley out, Meek had the chance to stamp his mark on the game but lost on points against the evergreen and reliable Blicavs, who had greater impact around the game. 4/10

Mabior Chol was involved in this incident with Tom Stewart.

(18) Mabior Chol: Battled hard in the ruck and up forward where he competed manfully to bring the ball down. The supply dried after the first quarter. Often criticised for a lack of physicality, Chol showed his intent with a crunching tackle on Stewart that will see him come under the scrutiny of the match review officer. 5.5/10

(19) Jack Gunston: The Hawks’ most dangerous forward, Gunston had a hobbled Henry off the bit with his smarts on the lead. The veteran capped off a fine season with three goals, and had a certain goal denied after a technical free kick was paid against him. Close to the Hawks’ best. 6.5/10

(23) Josh Weddle: Don’t be fooled by the utility’s 13 possessions – he had a Barry Crocker of a game. Weddle started on the wing, was moved forward but had little impact until the final quarter when the match was all but over. The long lay-off due to injury came back to bite. 2/10

(24) Josh Battle: Fought the good fight against Cameron. The Coleman medallist kicked three goals but Battle, who won some key duels early when the Hawks were on top, could not have done much more given the amount of ball heading into the Hawks’ defence. One of few Hawks to put in a four-quarter performance. 6/10

(25) Josh Ward: The young left-footer had a final to forget. One of their best last week, Ward was on the other end of the spectrum in this game, failing to touch the ball after half-time. Eight possessions from 75 per cent game time is well below par for a midfielder. 1/10

(30) Sam Butler: Subbed out 13 minutes into the third quarter. Others were going worse than the small forward, who was strong in the first two finals, but a change was needed, and he was the player sacrificed for team balance more than performance. 3/10

(31) Connor Macdonald: This young Hollywood Hawk was reduced to the role of an extra after a hot first quarter. Largely unsighted after quarter-time, Macdonald managed just 13 disposals and a goal in an ordinary performance. 4/10

(33) Jack Ginnivan: The player opposition fans love to hate put in a strong shift in a lost cause. He was among the Hawks’ most consistent players and one of few to stand up when the challenge came in the second quarter. He can be satisfied with how he played. 6.5/10

(34) Nick Watson: Apart from a spectacular crumbing goal in the second quarter, the Wizard waved his wand and nothing happened. He will be stung with just five possessions on the biggest stage of his career. A humbling game should give him plenty of motivation over the summer. 1/10

(37) Tom Barrass: Though the veteran defender held Neale to just the one goal, he was unable to have any impact intercepting, which denied the Hawks the ability to rebound with any oomph. 5/10

(9) Changkuoth Jiath (substitute): The dashing half-back was injected into the contest midway in the third term as Sam Mitchell frantically reshuffled the magnets but had difficulty handling the hot tempo. His kicking let him down. 3/10

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