Telstra Dome - 5:10PM, Sunday, 9 May

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Geelong

GARY ABLETT STARRED AGAINST THE HAWKS LAST SEASON

Hawthorn

NATHAN THOMPSON TRADITIONALLY PLAYS WELL AGAINST THE CATS; WILL HE BE THERE ON SUNDAY NIGHT?

Geelong Squad

IN: NONE AS YET
OUT: Riccardi, Bartel, Rooke

B: Wojcinksi, Scarlett, Sanderson
HB: Rahilly, Harley, Milburn
C: Kelly, Ling, Tenace
HF: Gardiner, Graham, Chapman
F: Riccardi, Playfair, Kingsley
FOLL: Mooney, Corey, Ablett
I/C (from): Moloney, Hunt, Haynes, Mackie,
EMER :D.Johnson, Bartel, Rooke

Hawthorn Squad

IN:Bateman, Campbell, Greene, Kane, Sewell
OUT: Cox (ankle), Picioane (club suspension)

B: Brown, Graham, Smith
HB: Lonie, Croad, Beaumont
C: Crawford, Tallis, Ries
HF: Lekkas, Thompson, Williams
F: Bateman, Holland, Vandenberg
FOLL: Everitt, Ball, Mitchell
I/C (from): McCabe, Dixon, Campbell, Osborne
EMER : Greene, Kane, Sewell

LAST TIME

Round 10, 2003

Geelong 16.13.109 defeated
Hawthorn 11.9.75

ROUND 9, 2004 PHOTOS

GOALS: Geelong: Ablett, Chapman, Graham, McCarthy, Mooney, Riccardi 2; King, Corey, Rooke, Slade.
Hawthorn: Dixon 4, Crawford, Barlow, Bateman, Lekkas, Thompson, Brown, Osborne.

Relive last year's match: Match Report

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

GEELONG need to win to make their remaining fourteen matches more meaningful. The Hawks want to win to save face. Two differences there; the Cats have been playing a 'good brand' of football for the past month while Hawthorn have been a disgrace off and on the field.

Of course that will count for naught once the siren sounds to begin the Mother's Day clash at Telstra Dome this Sunday evening at 5PM. Those few who'll attend will surely witness a shocking opening quarter. Hopefully followed, as the esteemed Cat fan Geoff Ford assures me, by Geelong blowing Hawthorn 'To the shisenhousen'.

Hawthorn have been Geelong's bogey side for the better part of sixteen years. Although we've had a few wins in recent years, more than a few key victories to the Hawks stand out; Round 22 1988 to deny the Cats a finals berth; the 1989 Grand Final; 2000 Final (week 1 - Geelong eliminated); 2002 Round 22 - Geelong lose, miss out on finals berth by percentage.

With senior players like Danny Jacobs and Lance Picioane missing due to the small matter of driving while under the influence of copious amounts of alcohol; allegations of worse misdemeanors while in Hawaii, and five losses in a row, Hawthorn have it all to play for. Geelong has a habit of losing to sides in disarray; ironic given the form down at Kardinia Park over the past few seasons.

Be that as it may, I am tipping the mighty Cats to snuff out Hawthorn inside the first half. Geelong has played some good footy since April, having regained key players such as Riccardi, Ablett, Wojcinksi, Milburn and Sanderson. The emergence of Kane Tenace, Josh Hunt, Brent Moloney and Andrew Mackie has inspired the rest of the team. Just think how good we'll be once the King of the team, Steven, returns.

Tip? Cats by 41 points