Jeff Kennett's curse strikes yet again as Hawthorn falls to Geelong Geelong has extended their AFL winning streak over Hawthorn with a seven-point win in Easter Monday clash. A fired up Buddy Franklin clashes with Geelong captain Joel Selwood in an early contest during yesterday's blockbuster at the MCG. FOR a half Buddy Franklin huffed and puffed and belted around Geelong skipper Joel Selwood at the MCG yesterday. Yet, as it has been whenever these two combatants have met in recent years, in the end it is always Hawthorn's house that blows down. Once again, Hawthorn seemed in an impregnable position when it led the Cats by 30 points late in the second term at the MCG yesterday. But by midway through the third term it was behind and a term later defeated, 13.15 (93) - 12.14 (86), for the 10th time in succession since its 2008 premiership triumph. The curse of former president Jeff Kennett, who famously said his Hawks held a mental edge on their Geelong rivals, lives on. Kennett said last night Clarkson should be sacked at the end of the season. And while the Hawks did not slump to the ground at the siren in the devastated manner that followed last year's grand final loss to Sydney, there was undeniably an air of disbelief among all. Former captain Sam Mitchell, who was superb with a game-high 37 touches, gave a rueful shake of his head as Paul Chapman shook his hand. Chapman, who sparked the Cats' run in the second term and finished with 25 touches and a goal, had vowed after Kennett's slur the Cats would never again lose to Hawthorn in his career. In the coaching box, Alastair Clarkson bore a bemused look. Asked later if his team had suffered any injuries, he replied "only a bruised ego." But there were no prolonged musings, for the Hawks do not have time given they now face West Coast in Perth in just six days in an arduous run that sees them play every finalist from last year in the first seven rounds. That Geelong would prevail seemed doubtful when the Hawks and Franklin were running atop the ground in the second term. Aside from two goals - one the type of customary bomb from long range that has thrilled fans the breadth of his career - Franklin was intimidating, stalking Selwood in the first term before emotions finally spilled over into a wrestling match after he dumped the Cats captain behind play. That untidiness aside, it was Hawthorn who was cleaner in disposal and more efficient in attack while the Cats, who opened with five straight behinds, were sloppier in their ball use. Young Hawk Bradley Hill showed smarts when setting up teammates for three early goal opportunities while Mitchell, Brad Sewell and co through the centre seemed to have an advantage. Yet his fate pointed to fatigue as another factor in the result - Clarkson described him as "cooked by half-time." Certainly, Geelong coach Brad Scott cited that rather than any psychological hold for the result. He said the Hawks would have been somewhat underdone given their presence in last year's grand final dictated a later start to the 2013 pre-season. "I think what you see in reality is two good teams ... and it is clear when you look at the margins, that there is not a big gap," he said. When the heat is on, I trust our guys but that is not being disparaging of Hawthorn. We are aware of their limited preparation. I hope our fans enjoy this for everything it's worth, because it's not going to last forever. The Cats, despite missing All Australians Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Joel Corey, proved themselves irrepressible once again. Two late goals to Tom Hawkins, who had been fumbling for much of the first half, and Travis Varcoe gave them an impetus by reducing the margin to 20 points by the main break. Then Selwood came to life, kicking one goal himself and setting up another two as his antagonist in the first half faded from the contest. His performance led Scott to compare him to his former teammate Gary Ablett. There is no greater praise in football. Geelong surged to the front by the 15-minute mark of the third term and effectively had the match won by that stage a quarter later, when Mitch Duncan took the lead out to 21 points. The match did not end there. The Hawks, despite being dominated by the Cats in the latter half, kept plugging away - and plugging it was as players fatigued in the first match of the season. Luke Breust kicked one, Shane Savage another and when Breust had a set shot that, if successful, would have reduced the margin to just two points with two minutes remaining, the game remained alive. But it was not to be.