We’re set for another chapter in the modern era’s greatest rivalry this week, as the Cats face the Hawks on Saturday afternoon at the MCG.

Cats Media has identified three points of interest to follow:

Minding Mitchell

That no.3 running around in the brown and gold is some kind of player. And despite what others may say, you must respect him.

Tom Mitchell has easily been Hawthorn’s best in 2017; likewise one of the best midfielders in the competition. Recruited from Sydney in last year’s trade period, Mitchell averages 35.7 disposals and has reached 30 disposals or more in all but one of his 15 games this season – including the last 12 in succession.

He ranks first in the AFL for disposals, effective disposals at 71.8% and even tallied 50 of them in a round nine loss to Collingwood.

Following that match, Magpie coach Nathan Buckley questioned Mitchell’s impact on the game despite his high-possession count. Yet there was no doubting the 24-year-old’s influence when the two sides next met in round 15, as Mitchell sealed the game with two last quarter goals alongside his 35 touches.

So do the Cats run the hard tag on Tom Mitchell this week?

“It has to be an option. We certainly won’t go into the game saying let’s just let him do whatever he wants,” senior coach Chris Scott told reporters on Thursday morning.

Conveniently, the match-up with Mitchell and Hawthorn also sees the return of Geelong’s Scott Selwood from injury. Cast your mind back to round 11 at Simonds Stadium when Selwood blanketed the competition’s most in form midfielder Rory Sloane, all the while having 25 disposals of his own. 

Come the bounce Saturday afternoon at the MCG, take one look at Tom Mitchell and check who is standing right beside him. We’re tipping it’s Scott Selwood.

Tom Mitchell is rare touch for the Hawks through 2017. (Photo: AFL Photos)

These Hawks and Those Hawks

Easter Monday was an aberration. At least in terms of the game’s biggest modern-day rivalry.

The Cats dismantled the Hawks to the tune of 86 points back in round four at the MCG – their biggest win over Hawthorn since 1949.

But the Hawks have rallied since their worst start to a season in nearly 20 years to now sit at 6-8-1 and just two games out of the eight. They’ve won two of their past three games – including season-saving wins against the Crows away and Collingwood at the MCG. They also drew with Greater Western Sydney in Tasmania last week.

Historically speaking, any Geelong versus Hawthorn fixture is flagged on the calendar as a would-be classic. This one shapes as exactly that – if these Hawks are indeed better than those Hawks of Easter Monday.

How far have the Hawks come since Easter Monday? We'll find out on Saturday. (Photo: AFL Photos)

Love him or hate him...

Geelong fans may dislike Luke Hodge. Some may even hate him. And maybe at this point in time, the most devout would struggle to admit they respect him.

But give it time.

This is a four-time premiership player; a three-time premiership captain, two-time Norm Smith Medallist, four-time All-Australian and two-time club best and fairest winner.

The list really does go on for Luke Hodge, who announced this week he will retire at season’s end and, fittingly, will also play his 300^th game on Saturday against a side he has so fiercely duelled with throughout his career.

This may the last time Geelong fans face off against Hodge, so enjoy it. And when time is called on his career later this year, and he can no longer torment your beloved Cats, you will see Luke Hodge in the cold light of day for what he is: a champion.

A Hawthorn great and a great foe of the Cats. Luke Hodge plays game 300 this week. (Photo: AFL Photos)