One of the great days on the AFL calendar has arrived with Geelong preparing to return to the MCG, set to take on Hawthorn in the traditional Easter Monday clash. 

Both teams sit level on the ladder with two wins from their opening three matches of the season, Geelong looking to build momentum after battling through a tough contest against Adelaide in Round 3. 

The Cats made two changes at the selection table on Sunday night which included the return of experienced duo, Jack Bowes and Brad Close after the pair showed strong form in the VFL. 

As the two old foes prepare to do battle on Monday afternoon, take a look ahead to the key things to watch as the Cats take on Hawthorn. 

KEY DETAILS 

2026 AFL Season | Round 4
Hawthorn v Geelong Cats
MCG, Melbourne
Monday April 6, 3.15pm AEST

TEAM SELECTION

LAST TIME WE MET

Geelong and Hawthorn squared off in a blockbuster Preliminary Final last year, with the Cats prevailing in a tense contest to secure their spot in the 2025 Grand Final. 

After a slow start to the contest, the Cats pegged their way back into the match after quarter time and took control in the second half behind a sensational performance from Patrick Dangerfield, who finished with 31 disposals and three goals. 

Bailey Smith was also terrific and found plenty of the footy, Mark Blicavs played a pivotal role as Geelong's main ruckman, while the likes of Max Holmes and Tom Atkins were able to gain the ascendancy through the middle of the ground. 

The win was Geelong's second over Hawthorn in 2025 and their fifth consecutive victory over the Hawks, dating back to the Easter Monday clash in 2023. 

LEE KUM KEE - PIVOTAL MATCH-UP

Ollie Dempsey v Massimo D'Ambrosio

On the wide expanses of the MCG, there is space to be found for the elite runners and it certainly brings into play both wings as the teams transition out of their defensive 50. 

What it will create on Monday is a battle between two of the best wingers in the competition, with Geelong's Ollie Dempsey and Hawthorn's Massimo D'Ambrosio set to go toe-to-toe. 

Dempsey's record at the MCG has been incredible, averaging over 17 disposals per game and kicking 22 goals across 16 career appearances at the venue, which includes 16 goals from his eight games at the MCG in 2025. 

The star Cat has continued his phenomenal form with a strong start to 2026, averaging 19 disposals and two goals per game across the opening three weeks. 

D'Ambrosio is also a consistent threat for the Hawks, coming off a brilliant season where he averaged over 18 disposals and four marks per game, with this battle set to shape the outcome on Monday afternoon. 

KEY PLAYER TO WATCH

Jack Bowes

It is not often that a player's form is simply so good that he can not be left out any longer, but Jack Bowes was doing more than just knocking down the door and earned his recall to Geelong's AFL side for Easter Monday. 

After an interrupted finish to his pre-season, Bowes started the year in the VFL and was brilliant against Essendon in Round 1, collecting 29 disposals and kicking a goal to help the Cats secure a big win. 

If that was not enough, he followed that up with a 39-disposal and three goal performance against Box Hill in Round 2, playing both through the midfield and across half back to great effect. 

After proving that he was simply a class above, Bowes earned his spot on Easter Monday and is set to feature in his first AFL game for 2026, looking to solidify his spot with a big performance against the Hawks. 

HOW TO GET TICKETS

Tickets are selling quickly for Geelong's clash against Hawthorn at the MCG. Click Here to secure your seat through Ticketek today. 

General Admission Access

Arriving early is recommended as General Admission areas will be limited due to high demand. Available GA bays will be located in the Shane Warne Stand Level 4 (Q1–Q6) and Olympic Stand Level 4 (Q49–Q55, Rows AA–MM). 

Geelong fans can also purchase a Digital Plus Membership for the year ahead, which provides a 12-month subscription to Kayo so you can watch all the action from home. 

WHERE TO WATCH 

Geelong's Round 4 clash with Hawthorn will be broadcast live and free on Channel 7, with coverage set to kick off at 3.00pm AEST ahead of the opening bounce at 3.15pm.

The game will also be broadcast on Fox Footy and streamed through Kayo, with coverage set to commence at 3.00pm AEST.

K rock will also be covering all the action from 2.00pm at the MCG, tune in via 95.5FM, krockfootball.live or the AFL app.

Make sure to follow @GeelongCats social media channels for updates pre, during and post game.

Geelong has fallen short in dramatic circumstances on Easter Monday, falling to Hawthorn by one point in another classic contest between the two teams. 

The opening half was a see-sawing affair with both teams producing moments of brilliance and the lead changing hands several times, a pattern that continued right up until the final moments of the match. 

Bailey Smith (33 disposals, six clearances) worked hard through the midfield all game, as did Max Holmes (27 disposals, three goal assists) with the star duo providing plenty of dash throughout the afternoon. 

Shannon Neale (four goals) provided a strong target inside 50 and pulled down a game-high three contested marks, while Mitch Edwards (six clearances, 18 hit-outs) put together his best performance and added a new dimension around stoppages. 

Bathed in glorious sunshine, a scene that seemed unlikely for large parts in the build up to the match, the opening quarter at the MCG was predominantly played on Hawthorn's terms but Geelong were able to limit the damage, heading into the first break eight points adrift. 

A handful of turnovers combined with the Hawks' pressure had the Cats on the back foot early, but Tom Stewart's four intercept possessions in the first term and Oisin Mullin's strong start helped to keep them within striking distance at quarter time. 

As is always the case with Easter Monday clashes, there are plenty of ebbs and flows within the contest and the second quarter provided that in spades. Geelong opened the term with three unanswered goals inspired by some great play from Oli Wiltshire and Ollie Henry, before Hawthorn hit right back with three goals of their own to re-establish their lead. 

But just when it looked like momentum had swung against them, the Cats found another gear and kicked four of the last five goals in the quarter to open up a nine point lead heading into half time. 

There was nobody more prolific in the opening half than Bailey Smith, who headed into the main break with 20 disposals, four score involvements and 434 metres gained to his name and continually challenged Hawthorn's defence with his elite running capacity. 

Stewart was sturdy in defence collecting 12 disposals at 100% efficiency and six intercepts in the first half, Jack Bowes was heavily influential in the forward half with two goals and two goal assists, while Mitch Edwards provided a spark in the middle with a game-high four clearances. 

The stage was set for another classic Easter Monday finish in the second half and while the scoring dried up, the intensity did not as a late goal from Jack Ginnivan put Hawthorn back in front after the three quarter time siren. 

Lawson Humphries and Gryan Miers worked their way into the contest and found plenty of the footy, collecting 17 disposals between them in the third term.

After relinquishing the lead heading into the final break, the Cats steeled themselves for one final surge and they wasted no time, kicking the opening two goals of the fourth quarter to edge their way back in front. 

With his 300th game looming large next week, Mark Blicavs then capitalised on his big opportunity with a brilliant left foot snap, sending Geelong 13 points clear midway through the quarter. 

But in any given match between Geelong and Hawthorn, it is never that simple and the Hawks quickly closed within a kick once again, before a minor score from Mabior Chol levelled scores.

With time fading and over 80,000 spectators holding their breath, the Cats launched a final foray forward and the ball landed in the lap of Shannon Neale, with the emerging forward making no mistake with the set shot and putting Geelong in front with 90 seconds remaining. 

But it was not meant to be as Hawthorn found another goal to level scores, before a final quick finish gave them the lead and the four points in a thriller at the MCG. 

Mitch Edwards was recognised as Geelong's most courageous player by the assistant coaching panel and received the Dare to Hope Medal, in recognition of the Dare to Hope Foundation which raises awareness about pancreatic cancer. 

2026 AFL Season - Round 4

HAWTHORN     3.3    7.5   10.9   13.14   (92)  
GEELONG          2.1    9.2   10.5    14.7   (91) 

GOALS
Hawthorn: Watson, Gunston 3, Ginnivan, Chol, Lewis 2, Weddle 1
Geelong: Neale 4, O.Henry 3, Bowes 2, Wiltshire, Martin, Dempsey, Cameron, Blicavs 1

BEST
Hawthorn: Ward, Impey, Sicily, Barrass, Gunston, Watson
Geelong: Smith, Holmes, Neale, Stewart, Blicavs, O.Henry

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Geelong: Nil

CROWD: 84,712 @ the MCG