Hawthorn Hawks v Geelong Cats
Football : Australia : AFL Aussie Rules
Tuesday, 26th April 2011 - Start 14:40 AEST
Venue : MCG, Melbourne

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WOW! What a game we have here. I suggest to anyone with access that they watch this one because this is the real match of the round in a weekend of blockbusters.

Both teams are fighting for recognition as the number 2 side behind Collingwood. Geelong has the edge at the moment but a Hawks win will bring it a lot closer.

Hawthorn Hawks

The Hawks were very sloppy last week against a West Coast side that is pretty average by all accounts. The left it until late to record the win and trailed for much of the day. This kind of effort will not be tolerated by Alistair Clarkson against the Cats, so look for the Hawks to come out serious and physical from the outset.

The Hawthorn defence led by Rick Ladson and Josh Gibson will have a tough time containing the Cats forwards. It looms as an area on the field where the Cats should win due to sheer class and numbers of men they can rotate through the forward line.

The midfield appears like Cats win also however it is an area where the Hawks will be more competitive in. The likes of Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli and Chance Bateman will make sure the Cats don’t have it all their way. The added class of Shaun Burgoyne is something they will rely on and he is a player I would make as the x-factor in the side.

The Hawthorn forward line has one serious threat in it. Buddy Franklin. Jarryd Roughead has never came along as good as he should have and consistency is a massive issue for him. Franklin, on the other hand, is an out an out superstar who single handedly lifts his team to wins, as he did last week.

The Cats will have a task at hand to stop him. Rioli can go forward at times and give his team a lift and if he can do so the Hawks aren't too far away.

Geelong Cats

The Cats are coming off a great 27 point in Sydney. They showed a team who is all about tackling and pressure how to do it in the wet. Their ball use was magnificent and handling under duress showed exactly why they were superior on the night. This week brings a different challenge but they are good enough to remain unbeaten.

In the Geelong defence you would think Harry Taylor or Tom Lonergan would get the job on Franklin. I would lean towards Taylor because he has done such a good job in the past against Riewoldt of the Saints. Matty Scarlett will once again patrol the defence and use his superior decision making and ball use to great effect in leading the Cats from defence into attack.

Corey Enright is another who plays along the half back line but of late has been pushing into the middle bit more. No one rates him in the league and I can tell you for a fact that he has been the best Geelong player so far this year. The Hawks will leave him unmarked at their own peril.

Through the centre Joel Selwood will be hard at it again alongside Jimmy Bartel. Arguably the two most important players at the club however I would include Paul Chapman and make it three. Chappy was best afield last week and showed a myriad of AFL skills. Poise, strength, accuracy and forward thinking.

The Hawks will be under serious pressure by these three and when you throw in James Kelly and Travis Varcoe to the mix it could be a tough day in the centre for the Hawks. Captain Cameron Ling will also be in an under trying to stop a key player like Mitchell or Hodge from dominating.

In the forward line there are some concerns over how the forwards are gelling. James Podsiadly was massive last week with some very strong marks with a wet ball. He will be pivotal this week and if he can get the ball to drop near Steve Johnson and either Stokes or Christensen then it could be a goal fest.

The Betting Verdict

I expect the Cats to have enough in this one to get across the line, however the Hawks will be better than their last outing, as these two sides always put on a show.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take the Geelong Cats –4.5 pts to win at 1.92 on Centrebet.