HEAD TO HEAD: Hawthorn 67 wins, Geelong 77 wins, one draw
LAST TIME: Geelong 12.13 (85) d Hawthorn 11.17 (83), round 15, 2010 at the MCG
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FORM - Hawthorn: LWWW Geelong: WWWW
SUMMARY
The first thing many Cats and Hawks fans do when the AFL fixture comes out each year is check when these two sides play.
The 2008 Grand Final opponents don't like each other, and they've developed a habit of putting on classic contests.
Hawthorn hasn't beaten Geelong since pulling off that famous Grand Final upset, but the Cats' winning margins in those four games haven't once been in double digits (one and eight points in 2009, nine and two points in 2010).
With both teams in hot form - Geelong is undefeated, Hawthorn has won its last three - we look set for another thriller.
Star Cat Paul Chapman revealed on the weekend that he and several teammates vowed never to lose to Hawthorn again after the pain of 2008.
They'll start a narrow favourite on Tuesday, but whether Chappy's vow remains in tact is almost a line ball call.
QUESTION MARKS
Can Harry Taylor stop Buddy? The pair has had some good duels. This time around, Franklin is in rampaging touch, but Taylor will have confidence after performing well on Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes last week.
Will Hawthorn's defence hold up? Cats forwards Cam Mooney and James Podsiadly have had so-so starts to the year, but the Hawks badly missed injured youngster Ben Stratton down back against West Coast.
Does Geelong now have a mental edge? Hawthorn used to believe it had the wood on the Cats, but over the last two seasons they've pushed their rivals to the edge each time without getting over the line.
PREDICTION:
Geelong by three points.
TOYOTA AFL DREAM TEAM WATCH:
Former Hawthorn skipper Sam Mitchell doesn't get as much attention as he once did in Dream Team circles, but he can still rack up the stats. The clearance master had 37 touches for 129 points against the Eagles, taking his season average so far to 120. The 12,000 coaches who selected him will be delighted with that output, and hoping it can continue against the Cats.
Follow the game live in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au and join the conversation on Twitter using #aflhawkscats.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
