SUMMARY
Geelong has lost the hold it once had over the defending premiers but this much anticipated clash hasn't lost any lustre with the Cats expected to bounce back up the ladder in 2015.
The blue and white debut of Patrick Dangerfield will be most keenly watched but Zac Smith and Lachie Henderson are also under pressure to perform.
The Hawks have injuries to vital players, which will force them to regenerate quickly but their personnel and system makes them too good to discount.
The midfield battle will once again determine each team's fortunes as both sides have forward lines that can kick quick goals. Hawthorn's better backline and experience playing together should give them the slight edge.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Monday, March 28, 3.20pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R20, 2015, Hawthorn 19.7 (121) d Geelong 12.13 (85) at the MCG
R1, 2015, Hawthorn 17.21 (123) d Geelong 8.13 (61) at the MCG
2QF, 2014, Hawthorn 15.14 (104) d Geelong 10.8 (68) at the MCG
R22, 2014, Hawthorn 14.10 (94) d Geelong 11.5 (71) at the MCG
R5, 2014, Geelong 15.16 (106) d Hawthorn 12.15 (87) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Hawks small forwards were the difference in the club's two wins over the Cats in 2015. In round one, Luke Breust booted five goals while Cyril Rioli kicked a career-high six in round 20.
2. Hawthorn was the highest scoring team in 2015 kicking an average score of 109 points per game. Geelong’s scoring dropped off last season with 88 points per game, the club's lowest average score since 2003.
3. Hawthorn has now won five of the past six clashes between the sides, ending Geelong’s dominance of 11 consecutive wins that stretched from 2009 to the 2013 preliminary final.
4. Geelong was the worst clearance team in 2015 averaging only 33 per game. By contrast, Hawthorn was the number one ranked clearance team averaging 40 per game.
5. Hawthorn won eight of 11 games at the MCG in 2015 and since 2013 have won 30 and lost seven. Geelong lost three of five games at the MCG last season.
6. The Cats were ranked 17th in 2015 for re-bounding the ball from defence, averaging 32 per game. Hawthorn was middle of the table in this area, ranked eighth.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR…
Patrick Dangerfield. Few players of the quality of the 25-year-old change clubs and even fewer do it with the class of Dangerfield who won the Crows' best and fairest in his final season at the club. He has starred in the NAB Challenge series and looks set to fulfill the hype in front of a huge Easter Monday crowd. He won't be the difference alone at Geelong but he will be worth watching for a long time. This match will be just his 19th game at the MCG.
PREDICTION: Hawthorn by eight points.
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