Star onballer Adrian Dohnt - at 36 the oldest player on the ground - was a clear winner of the AFL Victoria Country Medal for best on ground.

Dohnt was busy for four quarters and was afforded far too much space for a player of his quality.

It was a blend of experience and youth who spearheaded the Cats' grand final win. - Luke West

He cut the Hawks apart with his work from the clearances and lethal left foot.

Fellow veteran midfielder Michael Dobson was also solid for the Cats with a hard-working performance.

In defence, the backline led by the experienced combination of Carl Treacy, Simon Keleher, Daniel Lucas and co-captain Nathan O'Brien was rock solid as usual.

While down the other end, it was young guns Jarrod Bacon and Lachlan Collins who lit up the forward 50.

Bacon - who again showed he's a class above the HDFL - was dominant in the first half kicking four goals, including three in the first quarter.

It was then the Collins' show in the second half.

Having been well held in the first half, Collins exploded after half-time. He kicked three goals in the game-breaking third quarter and two in the last to finish with a match-high five goals.

It was Collins' second bag of five goals in a grand final, after also booting five against Heathcote in 2011 in what was the first of the Cats' flag trifecta.

One of the biggest differences between the  teams was the Cats' superior ball use.

They were brilliant by foot, whereas Huntly constantly butchered the ball under the relentless pressure of the Cats.

The Hawks struggled to get clean delivery into their forwards. They constantly kicked to contests inside 50 and the resolute Cats' defence continually cleared the ball from danger.

Early, the Hawks squandered the chance to put scoreboard pressure on the Cats.

The game started superbly for the Hawks when - with the first kick of the match - coach Stacy Fiske goaled on the run from 45m. The Hawks had 1.1 on the board before the Cats touched the ball.

However, the Hawks let the Cats off the hook with their inaccuracy. They kicked 1.7 for the first term, while the Cats scored 4.3 to lead by 14 points at quarter-time.

The second term was all one-way traffic in general play early as the Cats controlled possession, while the Hawks appeared to be crumbling on the big stage.

However, just as the Hawks had been in the first term, the Cats were wasteful in front of goal. They had the first five scoring shots of the quarter for a return of 1.4 to lead by 24 points.

But just as the game looked to be slipping from the Hawks' grasp, they found a spark with three consecutive goals to Braidy Dickens, Ryley Dickens and Cory Lobb to be back within a goal at the 25-minute mark.

Bacon's fourth goal just before half-time restored some momentum for the Cats, who went into half-time ahead by 12 points, 6.7 to 4.7.

The game had been up for grabs at half-time, but the Cats - whose fresher legs were telling the longer the game wore on - motored away in the second half.

They piled on nine goals to two after half-time, with the carnage starting when Collins kicked the first of his five goals two minutes into the third term.

Match statistics:

Centre clearances: LBU 12; Huntly 11.

Inside 50s: LBU 56; Huntly 36.

Stoppages: LBU 31; Huntly 19.

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