Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Geelong great Tom Hawkins has called out the Cats hierarchy for not speaking to the public on Thursday and explaining their actions regarding the secret concussion waiver with premiership defender Jake Kolodjashnij.
“It’s hard to formulate an opinion when there has been so little information given,” Hawkins said on Kayo Sports on Friday night.
“As a football spectator now, I was frustrated with the process, that it has taken so long to hear from the Geelong Football Club. We heard from Steve Hocking. It was a misstep.
“I don’t know – I think there is still more to be played out. I just find it staggering that yesterday [Thursday], they [Geelong] didn’t front the media and talk us through the process of what has actually happened.”
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell sounds pretty dejected as he spoke post game.
He praised the Lions but rued his own side’s missed opportunities and skill errors.
“We were outclassed tonight. I think we are better than that. Brisbane were pretty good,” Mitchell said.
“We saw it as an opportunity to compete against the best and we weren’t up to it tonight, but I think we are better than that.
When asked about the moment where he hugged Hawks star Jarman Impey, Lohmann was honest.
“I just hugged him,” Lohmann told Kayo Sports.
“He said ‘nice finish’ and I said ‘thanks brother’. He’s a good man.
“That was a nice one.”
Lions coach Chris Fagan was in fine form post-game, praising Kai Lohmann for his performance of five goals and 24 disposals.
But he fears the career-high game would see Lohmann “strutting” around the club this week.
“That was one of the great games wasn’t it?” Fagan told Kayo Sports.
“He had a lot of possessions; what did he kick? Five goals? He was outstanding.
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall didn’t spare the Hawks in his assessment of their loss tonight.
“They [Brisbane] took on a team that many had thought might be ready to challenge,” Dunstall said on Kayo Sports.
“And they showed them in no uncertain terms that they have a long way to go.”
On the topic of the Lions, Dunstall can see the two-time premiers finishing high on the ladder after that win.
The Lions have romped home in a 67-point statement win over the Hawks.
The reigning premiers put themselves in prime position to secure yet another top-four finish, while the Hawks suddenly face some serious doubts about their ability to contend for a grand final berth or premiership.
“They are just doing it with ease, really controlling things and you can see what it has done for their percentage,” Jason Dunstall of the Lions said on Kayo Sports.
“They’ve put themselves in a very strong position.”
The hugs are one thing, but now the Lions are just gifting goals to each other as the Hawks can only watch on.
Sam Draper marked close to goal and Ryan Lester, in game 250, just sauntered into the forward line, gave him a yell and booted a goal with no one around him.
That was just his fourth goal since 2018.
“The inspiration, the glue guy, the culture-setter,” Gerard Whateley said on Kayo Sports about Lester’s goal in his 250th.
Lester does not get the accolades of his high-profile teammates, but he continually works tirelessly for his side and has become one of the more popular members of the squad – particularly given how hard he’s been made to work for his spot.
Lions 112, Hawks 52 with five mins to go.
Gee, Kai Lohmann seems like an empathetic young man.
He just kicked the most classy of forward pocket goals, which went through on an almost impossible angle.
As he kicked, Lohmann was tackled to the ground by Jarman Impey.
The pair were locked together as the ball sailed through, so Lohmann just moved his arms around Impley and gave him a delicate little hug before the Hawks star helped him to his feet.
