GEELONG Coach Chris Scott says the blockbuster Easter Monday clash with Hawthorn at the MCG is the biggest test his team has faced this season.
Both Hawthorn and Geelong enter the stand alone Monday game undefeated but only one will be left standing on top of the AFL ladder at 6pm.
The Hawks are in good form, having beaten Gold Coast in a physical contest by 99 points last Saturday night, Fremantle in an impressive 58-point victory, Essendon in a thriller by two points and Brisbane by 48 in Round 1.
Alastair Clarkson’s team have already faced two test against potential top four sides in Essendon and Fremantle and passed but of the sides likely to challenge for the top eight, the Cats have played Collingwood and a depleted West Coast last Saturday night.
Hawthorn is undoubtedly their biggest test so far in 2014.
“Certainly they're playing great footy," Scott said at Simonds Stadium.
"I think they probably looked at their fixture and saw they played Essendon and Fremantle and Geelong in the first five rounds and knew they needed to be up and going, which clearly they are.
"Hawthorn's going to be the biggest test for us so far, given their form, and we acknowledge what a good team they are and how well they're playing.”
Scott admits facing Hawthorn’s potent forward line, which has scored more points than any other team so far this season as a challenge.
"No one uses the ball better or attacks better than Hawthorn, but we give ourselves some chance of winning the game,” he said.
Triple premiership player Corey Enright echoed his coach’s sentiments, given the Hawks have had 10 or more individual goal kickers in each of their opening four games.
Jarryd Roughead and Luke Breust have each kicked 12 goals, while Jack Gunston has kicked 10 and Cyril Rioli six.
But it has been the contribution of Hawthorn’s midfielders and half backs that has elevated the Hawks above the rest of the competition.
Midfielders Isaac Smith (six goals), Liam Shiels (four), Sam Mitchell (three) and Bradley Hill (three) have all kicked goals in the opening four games, as has Matt Suckling off half back with six goals in his comeback season.
“They’ve probably got a few different options now that we’ve got to close down on and a few more multiple goal kickers, so they’re a different mold for sure,” Enright said.