Geelong defender Tom Lonergan says the Cats’ AFL season will be ended by Hawthorn on Friday night if they repeat what they served up in the first half against Port Adelaide.

Geelong fought back from a 23-point halftime deficit to down the Power by 16 points in Friday night’s semi-final at the MCG.

But Lonergan said the first half, in which the Cats lacked intensity and wasted the ball entering attack, was as bad as they’ve played in his time and they wouldn’t get away with it against the Hawks in their preliminary final.

“It was pretty ordinary. It was very unlike Geelong,” Lonergan said.

“We were fumbly, we were missing kicks.

“I don’t think I’ve seen us play that bad.”

The Cats lifted enormously after halftime, but Lonergan said they couldn’t rely on one good half against Hawthorn.

“We can’t play that footy in the first half otherwise we’re going to get beaten,” the reliable backman said.

“Good sides don’t let you back in.

“We worked incredibly hard to get back in the game and next week’s a whole different kettle of fish and we’ve got to be on our game from the start.”

Lonergan said poorly-directed long bombs into attack hurt the Cats in the first half against Port and were also a problem in last weekend’s upset loss to Fremantle.

He said the fact Geelong have beaten Hawthorn in their past 11 meetings wouldn’t help this time.

“I don’t reckon it means anything,” Lonergan said.

“It’s a preliminary final, anything can happen.

Lonergan is likely to again line up on Hawks superstar Lance Franklin, who will return from suspension, and said he always enjoyed their duels.