One of the games oldest rivalries is ready to write another chapter, when the Cats and Hawks do battle at the MCG on Friday night. 

It is a stage that has created heroes and etched names into Geelong folklore, nobody understanding the rivalry better than Cats champions like the great Steve Johnson. 

Earlier in the year, Johnson and a number of current Geelong players sat down with Cats Media to talk about their experiences and memories in games against Hawthorn. 

Here is the best of what those players had to say. 

Steve Johnson

I never really liked many of their players to be honest at the time, I would build it up like it was a hatred game, as we did with most of the opposition.

They seemed to be on another level in my view, I found myself in a lot of scuffles over the years against Hawthorn.

I seemed to always have a fight with Luke Hodge and as I said, I would build myself up to dislike him and 'Roughy,' and Lewis, and Mitchell and all those guys. It is not until you finish your career that you understand and realise that Hodgey and Roughy, they are actually not bad blokes. 

This rivalry definitely stood out above all others.

Given we had the Grand Final history, that adds that little bit more to it. There were so many close games over the years, games that were decided by kicks after the siren and things that their President, Jeff Kennett said.

It all built up to a rivalry that made fans want to turn on the TV and watch, they certainly turned up to the games. We had massive crowds and that was the best thing to be a part of. 

Jack Henry

I debuted on Easter Monday, I only played the first half and copped an injury before half time which was annoying.

Even going further back than my first game, growing up as a Geelong fan the rivalry has always been immense. I think it is still there, they are a good side and have bounced back with an exciting list.

It has always produced some really good games throughout the journey, it is one of the good rivalries for football.

Gryan Miers

It is probably one that a lot of the players would have circled in.

The rivalry can get kickstarted again, it is something that stretches all the way back into the 1980's that Geelong and Hawthorn rivalry.

It is starting to come to fruition in our generation, I have few mates playing for the Hawks that I like to beat too so that always make it more fun too. 

Max Holmes

I debuted on Easter Monday, so that is probably my favourite memory from a selfish point of view.

We won that day as well in a close game, that was a great day and I really loved that moment. 

Lawson Humphries

The early 2010s, I remember all the Cats and Hawks Finals.

It probably started in that 2008 Grand Final and then after that, pretty much every game of the Kennett Curse I remember pretty well.

It was a fun rivalry, I am excited to be a part of it.

I think even when one team has been better than the other, the games have still been really close and really tough. 

Tom Atkins

I played in my first year, 2019, it was probably my third or fourth game on Easter Monday.

I was playing in the forward line then, Gary Ablett was playing and I remember him getting the ball in the pocket. I was on the inside for a handball and calling for it, he burnt me but then kicked a dribbling checkside goal that was just vintage Ablett.

That was a really good moment, sort of like a welcome to the AFL moment for me. 

It has been a solid rivalry, even when the teams haven't been super competitive, I feel like we always have a strong contest against them.

They have got some really good inside mids, they are only adding more young talent for the years ahead. It is always a tough challenge playing against them.