Rivalries are what makes footy – any footy, any code, anywhere – so wonderfully good.
It’s Queensland versus New South Wales in State of Origin, Carlton against Collingwood (no matter where they sit on the ladder), Manchesters City and United in the English Premier League, or Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain.
Legitimate, not manufactured rivalries, are the ones which incite passion and generally provide us all with enthralling spectacles.
This afternoon at the MCG, we don’t have one of those rivalries which began before colour television. We don’t have one born in the ‘70s out of an ugly incident.
But we have one of the best rivalries in the modern game, one which more often than not produces a finish you need to watch from the edge of your seat.
Some may believe the rivalry came about after the comments of former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, the ex-Hawthorn president who dared to question the mental strength of the Cats when the Hawks beat them in the 2008 grand final.
The reality is that the two clubs have been among the best in the game for the past seven seasons. As the results have demonstrated, there is barely a struck match between them.
Since that amazing 2008 season, it seems almost every time the two clubs meet, they are battling for the upper rungs on the AFL ladder. Today is no different.
The winner remains undefeated and goes solo on top. The loser will have to get ready for next time.
We all know the stats. There was less than two goals between the teams in their last five games. In the most recent, just five points separated them.
That game was the 2013 preliminary final, where the Hawks snapped their 11-game losing sequence against the Cats dating back to the 2009 season.
So what can we expect today?
It’s easy to say more of the same, but with the Kennett Curse done and dusted (albeit by just a kick) and what I’ve seen from the Hawks so far this season, I’m tipping a blowout – at least three goals to Hawthorn.
They breezed past Brisbane, grafted out a tough win against a hot Essendon outfit, played perhaps one of the best halves of football in many a year against Fremantle, and then last week produced their best four-quarter performance of the season in a 99-point demolition of the Suns.
That would have probably pleased the coach more than the stunning win over Freo a week earlier.
Another thing to please Alastair Clarkson will be the spread of goal kickers. While his guns – Jarryd Roughhead, Jack Gunston, and Luke Breust – have all been big contributors, twice the Hawks have had 12 individual goal kickers, and 10 in their other two games.
Multiple goal scoring threats is something which will be hugely advantageous against Geelong.
In 2014, the Cats too have beaten what has been put in front of them. My punting pals tell me they are at huge odds ($2.50 or with 10.5 start).
While their midfield, made up of some outstanding young talent and led inspirationally by Joel Selwood, cannot be questioned, it is exactly where the Hawks will get on top.
I can list so many stats from what’s gone on this season already to try and predict the outcome. Facts are, with these two teams, that victory can come down to a single play, a solitary tackle, kick or the bounce of a ball.
While I think the Hawks can win this one and do it a lot easier than the winner has in the recent past, only one thing is for sure – when they AFL decided a few years back to make this clash the annual Easter Monday match, they were the ones who backed a winner.
me, I like football
Guest
You obviously didn't watch Mondays game
Penster
Guest
Depends how old you are. We've been neck and neck with the Cats almost as long as we were with the Dons in the glorious 80's, so there's another rivalry coming up, helped along by the "Kennett Curse". More importantly is a good game of football, which we got at The G yesterday. Last year's preliminary final does go down as the best game I've seen since the glorious 80's.
geoff
Guest
What hawks supporters omit is that geelong beat hawthorn in 2011 final series. Also in 09-11 the hawks paled in comparison to the cats. There was no opportunity for the cats to knock the hawks over in a prelim or gf. this doesnt discount the strength of the current hawks who will clearly take some beating.
shiftyxr
Guest
that's what makes the Essendon supplement scandal even more funny, after sheeds got the cops involved for smelling salts and liniment, seems like karma to me
Cat
Roar Guru
Minor correction, crowd was 80,222
40degreesSouth
Guest
Cheers NYH. I was there in '84, sitting up in the old Ponsford Stand, watching the Dons redeem themselves in that sterling last quarter. The crowd made the loudest human noise I have ever heard, and I contributed my fair share. I was behind the goals for the '65 GF too. I think that was where, as a raw 16 year old, I became a true believer. I guess we all have a story as to how we came to support one club over all the others. As a footnote, I tipped Hawthorn over the Geelong (a proxy vote for my partner's work comp) but barracked for the Cats the whole game. Why? she asked. Because I hate Hawthorn, I replied. Why? I just do! In a civilised manner, of course... despite Dipper, Barney, etc etc :)
40degreesSouth
Guest
And the pleasantries are returned - in spades. '84 GF was the sweetest payback.
Martyn50
Guest
Great game today. The true spirit of the way our great game is played by men on both sides. A few light heated pushes and punches that would not hurt any good physically hardened player in front of 86,000. Our game is a reflection of what we as Australians are. Hard at the ball but fair. Having respect for opponents and umpires.
alicesprings
Guest
Funny how when you play the ball and not the man you get the rub of green.. Havnt you notice how Hawthorn always revert to cheap shots when the pressure is on..al a hodge, mitchell, lewis. Btw that midfield is starting to look a little old..any young midfielders coming through??
Steve Tobias
Guest
Well being a born and bred Cat supporter and reading the above, all I have to say is that for the past decade Geelong have had the least Top 10 draft pics of all teams. Yet they show their are never a team to be underestimated. Their teamwork in the centre and both ends are not to be denied. All teams make mistakes but Geelong and Hawthorn have always been up there delivering the best games in the season. Never underestimate us Hawkers, you'll find your feathers in our mouth every time you do !!! We're not rivals, just two teams that deliver a bloody great game when matched up ... You might have gotten us in a couple of finals games of late but what about the three we won, what happened then ... Also what will happen this year ... only time will tell. Good game today, you gave us the test we needed to show our true colours.
Michael huston
Guest
I believe Hawks are the better team, but i have nothing but praise for Geelong. Their pressure would take down any Ross Lyon unit but their rebound going forward was great to watch. Skillful as always. Hawks shouldn't be too concerned, Geelong were always going to be out for blood after the prelim. What i will say is, these two teams are brilliant in their own rights, but waste a lot of their talent on their opponents, pulling jumpers, throwing (weak) punches, and other off-field antics. It's all banter obviously, but at times it cost both teams opportunities to get the ball and win it.
Joe
Guest
Well... "While their midfield, made up of some outstanding young talent and led inspirationally by Joel Selwood, cannot be questioned, it is exactly where the Hawks will get on top." Really? As a Hawks fan, our midfield isn't a dominant one. What we are good at doing is turning the ball over in the back half and then distributing by foot through the likes of Mitchell and co. Apart from Lewis, we don't have pure inside players. Also what we didn't have today were KEY defenders - we were burned inside 50 by Hawkins and HMac. Early stages, but hopefully we can beat the Cats when it counts.
Jones
Guest
Boy do the cats get the crème of the umpiring decisions.
Shouts Chen
Guest
Geelong and Hawthorn are the two rival teams that have both played on an Easter Monday AFL Game at the MCG. I remembered back in 2006 where the Hawthorn Hawks played against Geelong Cats at the Skilled Stadium. This was due to the clean up from the commonwealth games at the MCG.
New York Hawk
Guest
Ok, I am tempted to say that Geelong are not rivals of ours, just to annoy all those arrogant Cats supporters who believe Cam Mooney when he says that his one kick list them a flag. But how could I ever post again on any website with a modicum of self-respect if I said that? I believe that Essendon are our mortal enemy (my first season was as a 5 year old watching 1984) but the Cats are in the same category for mine. They (fans and players) keep complaining about 2008 and saying we pinched the 2013 prelim, among a whole host of BS. Just because they hate us more than we hate them (ie less pain inflicted on us) doesn't mean it is not a genuine hard core rivalry. Just that we have been in the right side of the ledger for 40 years or so...
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
For me- ( Dons ), and everyone else an after thought. If, they had of nailed us in the Prelim, which would have held us up to ridicule as ‘chokers’, then they would have registered with me
Shifty Xr
Guest
You hit the nail on the head "besides essendon". Essendon is our true rival oh how I hate those arrogant bombers.
brian
Guest
They've been relatively close games for 25 years. I remember in the late 90s when geelong were better then us we won about 5 games in a row at kardinia by under a goal thanks to nick holland. In 2000 we beat them in a final. Even in 2006 and 2007 there were early season games they were expected to waltz through and the hawks won. Then more recently there's so many games we should have won a d didn't. Two back to back minor premierships and yet they beat us all 4 times
brad
Guest
Only a Hawthorn supporter knows the true greatness of the Geelong side over the last 6 years, having such a great side ourselves they always found a way to win. This rivalry is not built on spite but on respect. To win these games you must play brilliant, contested, 4qtr football, anything less won't do. Heres to another great game. Carn the Hawks!!
Axle an the guru
Guest
Should be a great game, i think hawks narrowly but hope im wrong.