The last premiership season match the Cats played was the narrow semi-final loss to North Melbourne at the MCG last September.

Here is the side that took to the field in that match:

Backs: Harry Taylor, Tom Lonergan, Jared Rivers
Half-backs: Andrew Mackie, Corey Enright, Cameron Guthrie
Centres: James Kelly, Joel Selwood, Mathew Stokes
Half-forwards: Steven Motlop, Mitch Brown, Jordan Murdoch
Forwards: Jackson Thurlow, Tom Hawkins, Jimmy Bartel
Foll: Mark Blicavs, Josh Caddy, Mitch Duncan
Int: Travis Varcoe, George Horlin-Smith, Josh Walker
Sub: Lincoln McCarthy

Two members of that team, Mitch Brown (delisted, now a top-up player at Essendon) and Travis Varcoe (traded to Collingwood) are no longer at Geelong, while Jackson Thurlow (lacerated kidney) and Lincoln McCarthy (foot) are on the comeback trail from injuries.

So which players are in the mix to come into the team for the Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn at the MCG?

Mitch Clark: The Cats’ star recruit will make his first premiership season appearance in the navy blue and white hoops against the Hawks. Clark’s NAB Challenge form was excellent. He played in all three of Geelong’s matches and booted 11 goals, in the process forming a threatening duo with Tom Hawkins.

Steve Johnson: The veteran midfielder/forward missed the six-point semi-final loss to the Kangaroos due to a foot injury. He was again troubled by a foot problem during the pre-season but has reached full fitness in recent weeks. He returned to action with an impressive performance in the VFL on March 14, then played in the Cats’ last NAB Challenge game against Carlton, finishing the match with 19 disposals.

Hamish McIntosh: The mobile ruckman was ruled out of the final against the Roos after needing knee surgery. He had a slow start to the pre-season but returned via the VFL, producing impressive performances in the Cats’ VFL practice match wins over Collingwood and Richmond.

Dawson Simpson: The towering ruckman missed the closing stages of last year’s home and away campaign after needing another back operation. But he has performed strongly during the pre-season. He missed the first NAB Challenge match against Gold Coast, but lined up in the wins over Adelaide (five disposals and 18 hit-outs) and Carlton (six disposals and 21 hit-outs).

Rhys Stanley: The former St Kilda big man didn't play a game during the pre-season after being slowed down by a number of injury concerns. But the Cats' coaches have been very impressed by his performances on the training track - his efforts as a ruckman in particular - and he is an outside chance to win a call-up to take on the Hawks. 

Nakia Cockatoo: The No.10 pick in last year’s national draft, who been handed the famous No.5 guernsey, Cockatoo has been a revelation since arriving at the Cattery. A smooth-moving midfielder, he showed all his dazzling skills during the NAB Challenge. His two goals against Adelaide on March 12, which included a 55m supergoal, gave Cats fans a taste of what is to come.

Cory Gregson: The 18-year-old South Australian, who was the No.47 pick in last year’s national draft, has been an impressive performer during the pre-season, both on the training track and during the NAB Challenge matches. A speedy half-forward, he has the ability to bring some pace and verve to the Cats’ forward half.

Darcy Lang: The tough and skilful midfielder made his AFL debut in round 11 last year but didn’t play another game at the highest level. After a big pre-season, however, he is very much in the mix to line up against the Hawks. He featured in all of Geelong’s NAB Challenge matches, impressing against Gold Coast by tallying 14 disposals and two goals.

Billie Smedts: After an injury-interrupted 2014 campaign, Smedts is raring to go this season. He had a big summer on the training track, where he was groomed to play as a small defender. He played in the Cats’ first two NAB Challenge matches against Gold Coast (nine disposals) and Adelaide (14 disposals and a goal), then missed the third game against Carlton due to back soreness. But he is expected to train strongly this week and will be considered for the meeting with Hawthorn.

Jed Bews: It seems that Bews and Smedts are probably competing for the same small defender position. Like Smedts, Bews has had an impressive pre-season, featuring in each of the Cats’ NAB Challenge matches and putting himself squarely in the frame for the clash with the Hawks.

Dean Gore: The well-built South Australian midfielder has hit the ground running since being selected by the Cats with pick 55 in last year’s national draft. Gore lined up in the NAB Challenge game against Gold Coast and finished with six disposals and five tackles. His most eye-catching performance of the pre-season came in the VFL Cats’ practice match win over Richmond on March 21, in which he tallied 24 disposals, 15 clearances, six tackles and a goal.