The Cats seem to have found their mojo, with wins over Adelaide and fellow top eight side, Essendon in the last two weeks.

Looking ahead

Geelong’s hunger for the contest was questioned following their Round 16 loss to Collingwood and, like any good side, the Cats responded.

The unlucky team was Essendon, when the Cats jumped out of the blocks in the opening term against the Bombers in a stunning return to form. The Cats pressured the Bombers, laying tackle after tackle to force turnovers. That led to nine scoring shots in the opening term for Geelong, whose ball movement was impressive on the fast Etihad surface.

Similar intent will be on show no doubt on Friday night, if past contests between Hawthorn and Geelong are anything to go by. Tackles, contested footy and lots of stoppages will no doubt be on show in a finals type game in front of a crowd with a finals type atmosphere.

Tom Hawkins will again be the focal point for the Cats up forward, with his strength and ability to take contested marks important to the Geelong structure. Hawkins booted five goals against the Bombers and three against the Crows along with 19 disposals.

Ryan Schoenmakers will most likely again be given the role on the big Cat, a chance for the young Hawks to show how much he has improved since their last meeting in Round 2.

Important too though, for Hawthorn’s ability to restrict Geelong’s scoring will be the ability of the defence to help one another. In recent weeks, the Hawthorn back six has been in exceptional form, with Josh Gibson, Ben Stratton and Schoenmakers in particular taking on and taking down the opposition’s tall timber.

Joel Selwood is the obvious player to stop in the Geelong midfield, but a player who, somehow floats under the radar is triple premiership player James Kelly. Kelly combines hardness at the ball, the desire to tackle and the ability to provide run for Geelong through the middle, as well as hitting the scoreboard. A job for come-lately tagger Liam Shiels could beckon on the Geelong star who’s averaging 26 disposals and six clearances per game this season.

Both sides are arguably two of the best in the league in turning defence into attack, with the half backlines providing plenty of dash. For the Cats, it’s Andrew Mackie who does the damage, and his ability to hurt the opposition was there for all to see against the Crows last weekend.

When the game was in the balance thanks to an Adelaide revival in the final term of Geelong’s win in Round 18, it was Mackie who floated forward to kick two vital goals to seal the win for Geelong. He averages 18 disposals per game to be a damaging half back and a player to stop for the Hawks on Friday night.

Given that the Hawks have failed to defeat the Cats since the last Saturday in September 2008 and the form of the two sides heading into the match sets up a blockbuster that is one not to be missed on Friday night. Hold onto your hats, this could be one of the games of the year.


Brad Sewell: “In terms of past results, it means nothing. We can say as much as we want all week, and they’re the same, but the results will tell the tale.

"You go into a Geelong game knowing it's going to be a cracker. It's going to be a hot game, a contested game, and there's going to be lots of pressure applied by both sides.”


RB ‏ on twitter: “The incredible unpredictability when Buddy is out. They won't know who to target!”

K ‏on twitter: “Stop the one on one inside their forward 50. Restrict ball movement from stoppages.”

Tash ‏on twitter: “Maintain the intensity for the whole 4 quarters - pull out that solid pre-season that has set us up for this very match!”






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