Monday only AFL Round 5 match is between Geelong Cats and Hawthorn Hawks with the game to be played at MCG. The opening bounce is set to commence at 3.20pm with away team Hawthorn Hawks currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Geelong Cats and Hawthorn Hawks.

Round: Round 5, Monday, April 21, 3.20pm
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 21° Shower or two.

Odds Comparison:

Geelong Cats	2.50	2.45	2.60	2.45	2.50	2.50
Hawthorn Hawks	1.53	1.56	1.52	1.56	1.53	1.53

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:
The last match of Round 5 is the best, with the Cats taking on the Hawks on Easter Monday, 3.20PM at the MCG.  This is a 1st plays 2nd encounter, with one of these teams set to lose their perfect 4-0 record.  While the Hawks are favourites to win this game, this one really could go either way.  Geelong’s Steve Johnson will play a big role, with the star player averaging 31.25 possessions per game.

While Geelong have won 11 of their past 13 clashes with Hawthorn, the Cats will be desperate to avenge their five-point loss in last year’s preliminary final, not to mention the 2008 Grand Final.  No matter who your barracking for, however, fans of either team can get ready to enjoy what is one of the biggest rivalries in the AFL.

Teams:

Geelong Cats:

B: A.Mackie, T.Lonergan, C.Guthrie

HB: J.Rivers, H.Taylor, T.Hunt

C: J.Kelly, S.Johnson, M.Stokes

HF: M.Duncan, M.Blicavs, J.Murdoch

F: T.Varcoe, T.Hawkins, G.Burbury

Foll: H.McIntosh, J.Bartel, J.Selwood

I/C (from): J.Sheringham, J.Schroder, C.Enright, G.Horlin-Smith, D.Simpson, J.Walker, J.Thurlow

IN: J.Sheringham, J.Schroder, J.Walker, J.Thurlow

OUT: J.Caddy

Hawthorn Hawks:

B: K.Cheney, J.Gibson, B.Stratton

HB: M.Suckling, L.Hodge, G.Birchall

C: B.Hill, S.Mitchell, I.Smith

HF: J.Simpkin, J.Gunston, C.Rioli

F: L.Breust, J.Roughead, P.Puopolo

Foll: D.Hale, J.Lewis, S.Burgoyne

I/C (from): W.Langford, B.McEvoy, M.Hallahan, T.Duryea, J.Ceglar, J.Anderson, B.Lake

IN: B.Lake, B.McEvoy, B.Stratton, M.Hallahan, J.Anderson

OUT: M.Spangher, L.Shiels

News:

Hawthorn backline general Josh Gibson would love to see Ben Stratton return against Geelong to bolster a defensive unit that has punched well above its weight in the opening month of the AFL season.

With Brian Lake coming back through the VFL after serving a three-match suspension and Stratton (hamstring) and Ryan Schoenmakers (knee) both yet to play at the top level this year, the Hawks have had their key defensive depth well and truly tested.

Matt Spangher and the undersized Kyle Cheney have stepped up to support Gibson, although Spangher will miss several weeks after injuring his ankle last weekend against Gold Coast.

So with the latest instalment of the epic rivalry between the league’s only other undefeated team Geelong looming large on Easter Monday, Stratton is right in the selection frame after playing the past two rounds in the VFL.

“He got through fine so he’ll be in the mix,” Gibson said on Wednesday.

“If we can get him back it will be a nice little addition.”

The Cats finally snapped an 11-game losing streak against Geelong in last year’s preliminary final

“They’ve always been tough games, but in the same instance we haven’t performed that well, apart from the final last year,” said Gibson.

“We really look forward to playing them and we realise that we have to start performing better than we have in the last 10 or so if we want to get the ledger back in our favour.

“(The feeling) is different just from the fact that we won but I don’t think we can be comfortable just thinking we’ve beaten them once.

“They’re such a good side that if we go out there and think it’s just going to happen again like that we’ll get beaten and beaten well.

“We’re going in hungry and realise we really need to lift our game and play our top footy to beat them once again.”

Gibson, Stratton and Hawks forward Luke Breust are all keen recreational surfers and were at Bells Beach on Wednesday for the opening day of the Rip Curl Pro.