One of the biggest games on Geelong's calendar has finally arrived, the Cats set to do battle with Hawthorn in the traditional Easter Monday clash at the MCG. 

The two powerhouse teams are set to go head to head in front of a big crowd in Melbourne, Geelong looking to secure their third consecutive win after defeating Melbourne and Adelaide in the past two rounds. 

In one of the great rivalries of the modern era, the Cats have had the upper-hand in recent times winning five of their last six clashes with the Hawks. 

Check out all the main details and everything you need to know ahead of Monday's blockbuster clash. 

KEY DETAILS  

2025 AFL Season - Round 6
Geelong Cats v Hawthorn
MCG, Melbourne
Monday 21st April, 3.20pm (AEST)

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

Geelong's most recent clash with Hawthorn came in Round 17 last year at GMHBA Stadium, with the Cats cruising to a dominant 51 point victory over the Hawks. 

Gaining the ascendancy early, Geelong piled on four unanswered goals to start the match and raced out to a 34 point lead by half time, continuing to pull away after the break with a seven goal second half. 

Sam De Koning stamped his authority with an impressive display in the ruck, finishing the day with 20 disposals, 15 hit-outs and two goals. 

Jeremy Cameron (19 disposals, four goals) was awarded the three votes on Brownlow night, while Tom Stewart (26 disposals, 10 score involvements) and Brad Close (14 disposals, four goals) were both heavily influential in the victory. 

RECENT HISTORY - Geelong v Hawthorn

Although this rivalry is famous for its tight finishes and hard fought contests, Geelong have had the upper-hand in recent times winning five of the last six matches against Hawthorn. 

The Cats only loss to the Hawks in the past five years came in 2022, with Geelong also coming out on top in three of the last four clashes at the MCG. 

It is often hard to separate the two teams, with 16 of the last 31 matches dating back to 2009 being decided by 12 points or less. 

VENUE HISTORY - MCG 

Geelong will venture to the MCG for the first time in 2025 on Easter Monday, kicking off a triple header at the venue with matches against Carlton (Round 7) and Collingwood (Round 8) to follow. 

2024 provided mixed results for Geelong at the MCG winning four of their seven games at the venue, including the Easter Monday clash with Hawthorn in Round Three. 

Across V/AFL history the Cats have the fourth highest winning percentage of any team at the venue, securing 200 wins from their 365 games at the MCG dating back to 1897. 

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Shannon Neale

Set to feature in the first Easter Monday match of his AFL career, Shannon Neale looks poised to cause headaches for the Hawthorn defence on the wide expanses of the MCG. 

While it has not been a spectacular start to the 2025 season, Neale has been ultra consistent hitting the scoreboard in four of the first five games, while also clunking seven contested marks and continually crashing packs when required. 

Neale impressed against Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium last year, taking five marks inside 50 and kicking two goals, look for him to have a big impact on Easter Monday. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

The blockbuster Easter Monday clash will be broadcast on Channel 7 and Fox Footy, while also being streamed on Kayo from 3.00pm ahead of the opening bounce at 3.20pm AEST. 

For those tuning in on the radio, K rock will be covering all the action from 2.00pm on 95.5FM, krockfootball.live and through the AFL app. 

Cats fans looking to catch all the action at home this year can secure a 2025 Digital Plus Membership, which includes a 12 month subscription to Kayo Premium. Follow the link below for more details. 

Cats Membership: 2025 Digital Plus 

Broadcast Details: 2025 AFL Broadcast Guide

Geelong has prevailed in a classic Easter Monday clash, taking down Hawthorn by seven points in front of a record home crowd in a home and away match (88,746) at the MCG. 

In a dramatic final quarter the two sides traded blows with neither team able to pull away, before Shaun Mannagh rolled through his third goal and the sealer, helping the Cats secure their third consecutive win. 

Mannagh was extraordinary in his Easter Monday debut, finishing the match with 17 disposals, three goals and a game high nine score involvements. 

Bailey Smith (28 disposals) found plenty of the footy, Mark Blicavs (15 disposals, five intercepts) and Lawson Humphries (seven intercepts) dominated down back, while Patrick Dangerfield (three goals) once again impressed up forward. 

The game lived up to the hype in the opening term with both teams playing a free flowing brand of football, but it was the Cats who made the most of their opportunities to open up an 11-point lead at quarter time. 

Tom Atkins picked up where he left off with a dominant start collecting three clearances and four score involvements in the first quarter, while Shaun Mannagh and Patrick Dangerfield were also heavily influential. 

Geelong continued their momentum booting three of the first four goals early in the second term, but Hawthorn arrested momentum late with the Cats taking a 10-point buffer into the main break. 

A telling factor for Geelong in the opening half was their forward pressure, laying eight more tackles inside forward 50 and forcing the Hawks to commit seven more turnovers. 

Shaun Mannagh was immense kicking two goals to go with five score involvements and three intercept possessions, well supported by Bailey Smith (15 disposals) and Max Holmes (12 disposals, five intercepts). 

The two teams continued to trade blows after half time, Geelong kicking three goals in the third term but the margin was trimmed to just six points by the final break. 

Jack Bowes was particularly important in the third quarter collecting eight disposals, while Lawson Humphries picked off another three intercept possessions to thwart a number of Hawthorn attacks. 

In a tense start to the final term, the Hawks broke through with two majors to level scores with just over 11 minutes on the clock. 

The epic battle continued with neither team able to land a decisive blow, before Shaun Mannagh seized his moment and rolled through the sealer to secure a seven point win for the Cats. 

Geelong will return to the MCG next week for the second game of their triple-header at the venue, taking on Carlton on Sunday afternoon. 

2025 AFL Season - Round 6

GEELONG         4.5       7.8     10.12     12.14    (86) 
HAWTHORN     2.6      5.10     9.12      11.13    (79)
 
GOALS 
Geelong: Dangerfield, Mannagh 3, Cameron, Dempsey 2, Stanley, Blicavs 1
Hawthorn: Gunston, Chol 3, Watson 2, Hardwick, Sicily, Macdonald 1

DISPOSALS
Geelong: Smith 28, Atkins 24, Holmes 20, Dempsey 19, Stengle, Mannagh 17
Hawthorn: Amon 29, Newcombe 28, Morrison 23, Scrimshaw, Worpel 22

INJURIES
Geelong: Miers (concussion)
Hawthorn: Moore (head)

LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Oisin Mullin (hip) replaced in the selected side by Ted Clohesy
Hawthorn: Nil
 
SUBSTITUTES 
Geelong: Ted Clohesy (replaced Gryan Miers in the third quarter)
Hawthorn: Changkuoth Jiath (replaced Luke Bruest in the third quarter quarter)

Crowd: 88,746 @ MCG