Scott on Easter Monday

I think over the years, there are rivalries that have really sustained and there are some big occasions.

The real rivalries are the ones where good teams have been able to go at each other over a long period of time.

I think for the bulk of my time here at Geelong it has felt like these games have been big, not because it is Easter Monday, but because they have been two good teams.

We are hopeful that is the case this week, it is too early in the season to work out where the respective teams stand. I love the occasion for our supporters especially, 90,000+ at the MCG is always a privilege to be a part of.

But I place a little more weight on taking on a really good team close to the peak of their powers, they are a very strong opposition. 

Scott on team selection

We are not expecting any other changes besides that one [Tom Stewart].

But as always, we have not even had our last meeting yet. We don't name the team until tonight which is a good progression from where we have been in the past, where you have to name a team on a Thursday before a Monday game.

Tom Stewart in is the obvious change, then the rest we will wait for sure until we officially put them team in. 

Scott on Hawthorn's strengths 

They have got weapons everywhere.

The new players that have come in behind the ball like Battle and Barrass, look to have helped them but they clearly value their offense and they are generally a scoring threat.

Last week might have been a little bit of an outlier there early in the game, but even late you can see how they can be a challenge for the opposition when they get the game on their terms.

Even before they moved their way up the ladder, they had been a good stoppage and contested ball team. Meek is doing a good job in there, Newcombe has been a very good player for a long time.

I haven't even got to the forward half of the ground where they are obviously dangerous as well, I think the wraps on them around the competition are well founded. 

Scott on managing the longer break

I think you have to move with the ebbs and flows of the season to an extent.

It does fall into the category of whatever you prefer is largely irrelevant, you just have to play the cards you are dealt. We had two six-day breaks post the Brisbane game, we have got a good record there.

But every year when we look at the draw and see the longer breaks, we see opportunity there as well.

We did have some players that were a little sore from the last game, they would really relish the longer break. We might have other guys that were feeling the momentum and wanted to play earlier, so it is each to their own a bit.

We feel like we have had a good preparation, we are ready to play well.