Geelong has survived one of its sternest tests this year, defeating Hawthorn by 11 points in a nerve-jangling blockbuster at the MCG on Friday night.

In front of 86,179 fans - a home and away record between the two sides - the Cats sacrificed a 25-point first-quarter deficit then overcame a late charge by the Hawks to tumble over the line 12.16 (88) to 11.11 (77).

Through their willingness to perform the game's less fashionable skills - tackling and pressuring - the Hawks for much of the second half issued the premier team in the land the supreme challenge.

They even had the audacity to edge their noses in front earlier in the final quarter then found the wherewithal to fight back entering time on after the Cats had drawn two goals in front.

If not for an uncharacteristic howler by Luke Hodge with four minutes remaining the Cats could have been toppled.

Instead of kicking long to the twin towers of Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, Hodge turned the ball over with a short kick off his non-preferred side.

The turnover allowed the Cats to find Steve Johnson, who kicked truly for the sealer.

Hodge's error was not the only costly blunder for the Hawks, who had earlier conceded goals after awful mistakes from Chance Bateman and Xavier Ellis.

If not for those errors it could have been the Cats who were trudging off the MCG wondering what may have been.

Alas that fate befell the Hawks. But they can at least be confident that should the opportunity arise again in September they will be able to dethrone the reigning premier.

Such a prospect seemed improbable in the first term when the Cats outplayed the team many have labelled as their greatest threat to back-to-back flags.

The Cats out-tackled the Hawks and appeared the hungrier side, dismantling Hawthorn in the clinches.

But the complexion of the game changed in the second and third terms.

Campbell Brown, playing in attack, was asking searching questions of Tom Harley, as was Lance Franklin of Matthew Scarlett.

The Hawthorn superstar had the better of Scarlett in several one-on-one marking duels but could not make the Cats pay on the scoreboard.

His return of 4.5, while more than handy, should have been greater as he missed several shots which forwards of his calibre should convert.

Two came in as many minutes in time on in the third term when the Cats were down on the canvas with their defence wide open.

But champion sides make their opponent rue their mistakes. And Geelong proved this adage right.

After losing the lead early in the last quarter, the Cats upped the ante and found goals through Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly and Max Rooke.

Scarlett then coughed one up to Franklin but just when it seemed the Hawks would finish all over the Cats, one of their finest blundered. It proved a fatal mistake.

HAWTHORN: 3.2, 6.5, 9.8, 11.11 (77)
GEELONG: 6.3, 8.10, 9.12, 12.16 (88)

GOALS: Hawthorn: Franklin 4, Brown 2, Roughead 2, Williams 2, Bateman
Geelong: S. Johnson 3, Bartel 2, Chapman 2, Enright, Gamble, Mooney, Rooke, Stokes
BEST: Hawthorn: Mitchell, Ellis, Franklin, Croad, Rioli, Brown
Geelong: Bartel, Selwood, Enright, S.Johnson, Corey, Ottens
INJURIES: Hawthorn: Osborne (corked buttock)
Geelong: Chapman (hamstring)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Milburn (Geelong) replaced in selected side by D.Johnson
UMPIRES: McBurney, Rosebury, Schmitt
CROWD: 86,179 at the MCG

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes
3. Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
2. Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
1. Joel Selwood (Geelong)