AFL finals 2020 live updates: Rampaging Geelong Cats charge into preliminary final after smashing Collingwood Magpies

Tom Hawkins spoke to Channel Seven after kicking four goals against Collingwood...

Q: That must feel great.A: It does. Pleasing coming off a pretty disappointing performance the week before over in Adelaide. We knew we didn't play the footy we wanted. We didn't convert our opportunities. I thought it was a good turnaround tonight against a side that's - that's had an unbelievable run the last few weeks and few months.

Q: You have been around a while now. You have seen the game evolve and change. I think defences have got so much better in the last 10 years. You have seen that unfold. Is it more difficult now to play key forward than ever?A: Oh, look, I'm not sure to be honest. I suppose with more confidence in the way that I - I can perform each week, more confidence in my body and being a senior player having played for a long time now, I probably - I probably find it a little bit easier to be honest. The shorter quarters are certainly helping me this year, a bit more fatigue in the game. It sort of helps me in the game. It sort of helps me in the way I'm playing. There's been certain challenges right the way through my career, the way I have had to change my body shape and evolve with the game. There's certainly been periods of time that have been harder but I feel like I'm really confident in my body and the way I play and what I bring to the team.

Q: Congratulations on a ripping year. Coleman Medal winner and a big four-goal final. I think it might have been career goal 600 where you normally fade left to right. You got one going right to left. Was that an intentional kick or how did you get it sliding the other way?A: It wasn't really - I - obviously it was well documented I had a poor week in front of goals last week. I thought I was in the game and provided and got some opportunities but I just didn't convert. So that was disappointing. For me tonight late I said to Gary Rohan after the game, we both practiced this week our goal kicking because it wasn't where it needed to be last week and when the game was, sort of, finished late in the fourth quarter, and I got the opportunity to go back I thought it was really important for my confidence moving forward to go back and concentrate on the fundamentals of what makes me kick well. This one happened to go straight. I don't often know what it is that makes the ball go left to right, but it's what I have become accustomed to with my kicking.

Q: You join Gary Ablett Senior and Doug Wade as the only Cats to kick 600 goals. They're amazing names.A: It's amazing. Two people that I have gone up - certainly I didn't get to watch Doug Wade but I know a lot about - I know a lot about the Geelong history and to be able to be right up there with those two people is pretty special. So the job is not done. We have more important things to worry about but they're just nice little achievements on the way.

Q: What about one of your best mates, obviously you played your whole careers together, Joel Selwood. We take for granted how tough he is. Again this week having surgery eight days ago and coming out and doing what he did tonight you must shake your head at this guy's leadership and courage he has every week for the club.A: You are right. There was no doubt he was going to play. Gives himself every opportunity each week with the body as a 32-year-old has been bashed around for a 14-year career. Still got a lot of football left in him. Obviously I get to - and I have seen it first hand for a long time. But it was a marvellous effort. He leads in the front. He's a real warrior and champion our football club.

Patrick Dangerfield was the best player on the ground tonight and he spoke to Channel Seven after qualifying for his fifth career preliminary final...

Q: You spent a lot of time forward tonight. You kicked the four goals. What was the percentage breakdown tonight? It felt like you were inside forward 50 for most of the match tonight.A: It was, I suppose, a bit of a deep role with 'Ro' [Gary Rohan] working against the good intercept markers that Collingwood have down there. We felt going into the week that was probably going to be the best position, I suppose. To try to stretch them down there. And our mids were sensational around the ball. Rhys Stanley terrific in the ruck. We won clearance and I think importantly we maintained possession. We were still able to methodically move the ball up the ground and create damaging sets of play. When we controlled the play last week we just weren't able to convert that to scores. Whereas tonight it was pleasing that we found a few avenues to goal.

Q: Paddy you were splitting packs open everywhere tonight. You were playing a bit like Dermott Brereton. What was that all about? A: Just the role, I think. If you can jump at one make sure [Darcy] Moore is not going to mark it. We know what incredible season he's had and how pivotal he is to Collingwood. That was going to be important for us. That's no secret. Every team has known it. It's hard to try to stop you know a player of that quality. We said to all our forwards, barring Luke Dahlhaus, if you have room to run and jump, then run and jump.

Q: You had four goals, which is equal to your career best in a final. You had the opportunity late in the game to get a little handball receive from [Tom] Hawkins and make it five. He just walked straight past you.A: Bit selfish from the big fella. We talk about a team-first ethos. He's just behind the camera now. Actually yeah we have a bit of a goal assist off. Could have had him in the lead. But it's good to see the big fella up and rolling.

Q: The two banana goals from the identical spot in the pocket. You couldn't have struck them any better. Tell us about the second because I thought it was a behind. The score review decided it was a goal. Was it through?A: I'm live at the ground, I think I'm a better judge at goal than you are sitting in the living room chair. I thought it went through. I'm happy to take that one.

Q: Casting your mind forward. I know you want to sit back and relax and enjoy this for a moment. Prelims don't get much bigger the Brisbane Lions on their home deck next Saturday night. It will be massive. The crowd will be behind them. You will be looking forward to that. They're a tough team.A: No doubt. It's a wonderful challenge. We will set ourselves from you know the beginning of the season to put ourselves in this position and embrace the challenges ahead. You know, I commend all teams with what everyone is - the travel schedule this year. And performing is another thing entirely. We've been pleased with what we've been able to do. The challenges as you said don't get any bigger than Brissy on the home ground. We feel like we play good footy up here. We can't wait. As you said these opportunities in footy and in life don't come up very often. We will enjoy tonight. And then we will look forward and really embrace the week and you know take it head-on.

The Geelong boys sing the song loud and proud!

Star Geelong utility Mark Blicavs spoke to Channel Seven after the game...

Q: You guys were outstanding.A: Felt stable behind the ball. Thought we moved better. Port Adelaide were awesome last week. We wanted to come out and respond. We enjoy playing at the Gabba. Started well. Great first half to set up the win.

Q: You start on the wing, work in defence, all of a sudden [Rhys] Stanley needs a break so you jump into the ruck.A: It was a bit like that. Thought Rhys was great in the ruck. Chopped him out a bit when he went to the bench. 'Scotty' [coach Chris Scott] said, 'play more of a free-flowing game, try to get back to help the defenders.

Q: Gary [Ablett] said 'Scotty' throughout the week was positive. What messages was he giving you?A: We were confident, we know our way, can stand up against a lot of teams. We wanted to make sure we try to play that way. Make sure we had a positive week, trained really well and came out and give it a red-hot crack and not die wondering. The first quarter set it up for us.

Geelong captain Joel Selwood spoke to Channel Seven after the game as well...

Q: You dominated every facet of the game. It was a strong response by your guys. What did you make of that performance?A: Super proud of the guys. Brave effort. Disappointed coming off last week. We thought we played OK. When you lose finals like that you seem to get bashed quite a bit. We came out, performed really well early. Gave our group a lot of confidence and yeah I mean we've just got to keep building here.

Q: It was a nice little goal to cap off an all-round team performance for you. Surgery just eight days ago, how did the finger hold up for you tonight?A: It's good. I won't say it's been a short week at all. It's been a hell of a long week. Yeah, it was - you know just couldn't keep it in last week in the second half. We had to do something about it. Make it a little more stable. It's come good.

Q: Paddy Dangerfield - how good was he tonight? Different role for him this year. It's no longer about him getting 30 plus [touches] every week. Yes, he still had 19 and kicked four [goals] tonight. His ability to crash packs and just really step up in games like this, isn't it?A: Yeah, and to be honest don't even want to speak about him because the rest of the group were fantastic tonight. He's a star. He gets everything he deserves but as a group we're building, we've been building all year. We're looking forward to what happens next.

Geelong legend Gary Ablett spoke to Channel Seven after the game...

Q: Another great win for the Geelong Football Club. Great way to bounce back.A: Absolutely. Super proud of the boys. It was disappointing last week. You know we had a really good week on the track. 'Scotty' [coach Chris Scott] was pumping us up all week. Talking about how good a year we've had. If we can play our game style for four quarters, you know then we believed we would win. We did that tonight.

Q: You dominated stoppages in the first half. Defensively the team was sound.A: Absolutely. The biggest change from the game earlier in the season we probably went down the line too much. We wanted to switch the ball, control the ball and obviously go forward at the right times. We did that really well.

Q: The skipper [Joel Selwood] - 13 final series out of his 14 years. Was there any doubt he wasn't going to play?A: No, no, I asked him after the game how his finger was? I knew that he was going to have to have surgery. We always knew that he was going to play. He's a hard nut. You know I mean he's been a skipper for so long. There's a reason why. He was great tonight and we will get ready for next week.

It's a pretty devastated Collingwood room, as you'd expect

Here's some of the social media reaction to Geelong's massive win...

That was an absolute obliteration!

Geelong ended up dominating the disposals 354-200, marks 134-46, contested possessions 105-85, scoring shots 25-7, inside 50s 46-30 and clearances 33-21. They also won the free kicks 13-10.

Geelong 4.4, 9.6, 9.8, 15.10 (100)Collingwood 1.0, 1.0, 1.1, 5.2 (32)

GOALSGeelong: Dangerfield 4, Hawkins 4, Tuohy, Stanley, Miers, Dahlhaus, C.Guthrie, Menegola, SelwoodCollingwood: Mihocek 2, Elliott, Grundy, Stephenson

DISPOSALSGeelong: Duncan 30, C.Guthrie 27, Stewart 26, Menegola 23, Dangerfield 19, Henderson 19, Selwood 18Collingwood: Treloar 18