SUMMARY
The role of the tagger will be under strong consideration from both coaches as stars Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood and Tom Mitchell lock horns after a combined 132 disposals in round one. While Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley refused to lock down on Mitchell, Cats coach Chris Scott says he has plans in place to stop the Hawthorn ball magnet after Mitchell's record-breaking 54 possessions in round one. Teammate Cyril Rioli passed the opening-round test after a late start to pre-season and is set to give the Cats' small defenders more headaches alongside Luke Breust (four goals). Harry Taylor's injury sees him join Lachie Henderson (knee), Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan (retirements) as key outs from Geelong's defensive unit since last year. The Hawks will be kept on their toes themselves, as a guy named Ablett is joined by Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood for the first time. Last year Ablett had 37 and 36 disposals and kicked two goals in both games against the Hawks.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Monday, April 2, 3.20pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R17, 2017: Geelong 13.10 (88) d Hawthorn 12.13 (85) at the MCG
R4, 2017: Geelong 20.14 (134) d Hawthorn 6.12 (48) at the MCG
QF, 2016: Geelong 12.13 (85) d Hawthorn 12.11 (83) at the MCG
R1, 2016: Geelong 18.8 (116) d Hawthorn 12.14 (86) at the MCG
R20, 2015: Hawthorn 19.7 (121) d Geelong 12.13 (85) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. Patrick Dangerfield put the Hawks to the sword in both Geelong wins against the Hawks last year. He picked up 27 disposals in round four, before kicking 5.6 in a match-winning three-vote performance in round 17.
2. Geelong was equal-second in round one for contested marks and sixth for marks inside 50 – thanks largely to Daniel Menzel's dominant display. The Hawks ranked 17th in the competition for contested marks, with six against the Pies.
3. The Cats were the competition's most efficient side going inside 50 in the opening round, managing 27 scoring shots from 41 entries – losing the count to Melbourne by 23. Their 66 per cent efficiency rate smashed the competition average of 43 per cent from the first week.
4. In four Easter Monday clashes from 2010-14, the average winning margin was just nine points. In the three encounters since, an average of 59 points has decided the blockbuster.
5. As Jeff Kennett returns to face the Cats for the first time in his second stint as Hawthorn president, his infamous 'Kennett Curse' still lingers. The Hawks lost their next 11 matches against Geelong after his post-2008 Grand Final comments questioned the Cats' mental state, including seven before his tenure ended in 2011.
6. Hawthorn ruckman Ben McEvoy has moved to his highest career ranking of 35th in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. McEvoy sits third for ruckmen in the competition behind Melbourne's Max Gawn and Kangaroo Todd Goldstein. Cat Zac Smith is seventh.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Cat Mark Blicavs, as he takes the next step in his defensive development. Moved down back to counter the loss of Harry Taylor against the Demons, Blicavs will be called upon for another role on Jack Gunston or Jarryd Roughead.
PREDICTION: Geelong by 11 points.
