Geelong has re-asserted its authority over Hawthorn but not before threatening to self-destruct in Friday night's season opening clash at the MCG just as they did against the Hawks in last year's AFL grand final.
The Cats nearly surrendered a 43-point lead early in the final term and again kicked for goal poorly throughout before hanging on to win 15.21 (111) to 16.7 (103) - their 43rd win in their past 46 matches.
And it was a costly night for the undermanned Hawks in more ways than one after vice-captain Luke Hodge and ruckman Simon Taylor were reported and Hodge in particular will have reason to be nervous ahead of Monday's match review panel findings.
But despite facing a Hawthorn side missing seven players from last year's premiership side - the retired Shane Crawford plus injured players Robert Campbell (buttock), Xavier Ellis (hip), Trent Croad (foot), Jordan Lewis (shoulder), Rick Ladson (knee) and late withdrawal Stephen Gilham (knee) - the near full-strength Cats made heavy work of disposing of the injury-hit Hawks.
The Cats, who were only missing injured defenders Tom Harley and Josh Hunt from the 22 that suffered a shock loss to the Hawks in last year's grand final on a day when they kicked a wasteful 11.23, again nearly kicked themselves out of the contest in the first half.
Geelong, with Gary Ablett totally dominant as he collected 15 possessions in the first term on his way to 35 for the match, kicked 4.8 in each of the first two terms.
And as was the case last September some of the misses were from point blank range such as Ryan Gamble's from 25 metres out in the first term and from some of the same suspects whose inaccuracy was so costly in last year's grand final such as Cameron Mooney and Brad Ottens.
After Geelong had kicked four of the first five goals to take an early stranglehold on the game, the Hawks then stunned the Cats by kicking six of the next seven as they hit the front at the 22 minute mark of the second term when late inclusion Cameron Stokes goaled.
At that stage the Hawks led 7.4 to 5.13 as the Cats' inaccuracy again look set to cost them victory against a team that had beaten them in four of their past five meetings dating back to 2006.
But this time the Cats steadied, unlike that last Saturday in September last year, and goals to Mooney, who finally kicked straight at the 24 minute mark, the inspirational Ablett and the unlikely source of back-up ruckman Mark Blake saw the Cats lead by two goals at half-time.
And with the Hawks down a running player after Michael Osborne limped off early in the second term with a hamstring injury, the Cats took control in the third term.
A six-goal-to-two term put the game seemingly beyond doubt as Paul Chapman and the impressive Max Rooke each chipped in with two third quarter goals while at the other end the Hawks' twin towers of Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead were struggling to escape the attention of Harry Taylor and Matthew Scarlett.
But as Rooke and Andrew Mackie also got themselves reported for what appeared minor incidents at best, Roughead and Franklin came to life in the final term kicking six goals between them as the Hawks surged home with the last six goals of the match but this time it was not quite enough to reel in the relieved Cats.
HAWTHORN: 3.2 8.4 10.6, 16.7 (103)
GEELONG: 4.8 8.16 14.19, 15.21 (111)
GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Roughead 4, Osborne 2, Dew 2, Bateman, Rioli, Stokes
Geelong: Gamble 2, S Johnson 2, Mooney 2, Rooke 2, Chapman 2
Mackie, Varcoe, Lonergan, Ablett, Enright
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Franklin, Tuck, Roughead, Hodge, Sewell, Young
Geelong: Ablett, Chapman, Ottens, Selwood, S Johnson, Corey, Rooke, Mackie
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Osborne (hamstring)
Geelong: Scarlett (ankle)
UMPIRES: McBurney, Wenn, Ryan
REPORTS: Hawthorn: Taylor reported for kneeing Selwood by umpire Ryan in first quarter. Hodge reported for striking Lonergan by umpire McBurney in third quarter
Geelong: Rooke reported for rough conduct on Mitchell by umpire McBurney in the third quarter. Mackie reported for striking Renouf by umpire McBurney in the final quarter.
CHANGES: Hawthorn: Gilham (knee) replaced in selected side by Stokes
CROWD: 69,593 at MCG