The final round of the 2017 home and away season is upon us and the Cats control their destiny.

Cats Media has identified three points of interest to follow in the Cats’ round 23 fixture against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night.

Winner takes all

While the opponent and venue aren’t so clear, one equation is simple this week: winner earns a home final.

For the Cats, it could not be more significant. Avoiding any interstate trip in week one of finals is vital to a successful campaign. But when when that trip could be to a hostile Adelaide Oval against 2017’s best home and away side or to Spotless Stadium to face the Giants twice in three weeks, it’s paramount.

Geelong’s destiny right now is in its own hands and a win on Saturday night earns the club a top-two finish and that deserved trump card of a home final.

Another chance to say goodbye

Steve Johnson will farewell the ground he knows better than any other on Saturday night, in the final home and away game of his career. 

Having announced his retirement two weeks ago, the three-time Geelong premiership player returns to Simonds Stadium to face his old side on the eve of the finals in game of high stakes. 

Simonds Stadium has seen Steve Johnson more than any other venue across his 290-game career – 85 times to be exact, with 66 of those resulting in wins for he and the Cats.

If he’s to notch up win no.67 at the ground, it will be in the orange of Greater Western Sydney… but he’ll still walk from the Simonds Stadium with every Geelong fan on their feet, applauding their beloved Stevie J.

Steve Johnson will be fittingly farewelled on Saturday night against his former club. (Photos: AFL Photos)

Hawk and healing

Having served his two-match suspension, Tom Hawkins is back and with just as many points to prove as games missed.

His misdemeanour in round 20’s loss to Sydney opened the Cats up at time they could ill afford, with Mitch Duncan also suspended and Joel Selwood missing through injury. It left Geelong without three of its most important players to face a rampaging Richmond in round 21 in a game certain to shape the top-four.

Undermanned, the Cats won and then accounted for Collingwood last week to mitigate any damage done. But Hawkins now has the chance to atone and find the necessary form required if Geelong and the hulking forward are to be major players in September.

Then there’s the last time these two sides met, when the 29-year-old had the game on his boot with a shot after the siren. He missed but the Cats, again undermanned, etched out a draw. If they are to go one better this time around, you just know Hawkins will need to have big say in it.

Tom Hawkins returns to the side with the chance to make-good. (Photos: AFL Photos)