EASTER MONDAY MATCH-UPS

Geelong Advertiser footy writer RYAN REYNOLDS looks at the five matchups that could decide today’s Easter Monday blockbuster between Geelong and Hawthorn.

RHYS STANLEY v BEN McEVOY

This one won’t shock. Winning the midfield battle goes a long way to winning a game of footy, especially with the 6-6-6. And what’s the best way to get on top in the engine room? Have your ruckman get his hands to the footy first. Both Ben McEvoy and Rhys Stanley head into this game in very good form. McEvoy averages slightly more possessions, marks and hit-outs; however, Stanley’s explosiveness from the contest can expose the Hawks’ big man. This will be a fascinating battle.

JAKE KOLODJASHNIJ v CHAD WINGARD

An interesting match-up for the Cats’ coaching staff. Chad Wingard is a matchwinner. He is good in the air, great at ground level and has pace as well. So they need to send a player to him that can match him in all of those areas. The obvious candidate is Jake Kolodjashnij. The Cat will be able to match him in the air and at ground level and looked comfortable on Eddie Betts in Geelong’s win over Adelaide in Round 3.

TIM KELLY v DANIEL HOWE

No doubt Alastair Clarkson will have watched Geelong’s loss to GWS Giants very closely. And one thing that would have stood out was the job Matt de Boer did on Tim Kelly. While de Boer didn’t tag Kelly for the whole game, the electric Geelong midfielder only had nine touches for the game. If Clarkson rate’s Kelly’s impact as highly as GWS coach Leon Cameron then expect shutdown player Daniel Howe to head straight to him.

ESAVA RATUGOLEA v JAMES SICILY

With James Frawley out and Kaiden Brand going to Tom Hawkins, it’s likely James Sicily will have the tough job on Esava Ratugolea. Sicily will give 8cm and a stack of weight to the bigger and stronger Ratugolea, making it crucial he gets some help from the other Hawk defenders. Ratugolea has started the season slowly as he gets back up to speed after a serious leg break, but is close to having a breakout game. It won’t be long before it all clicks and if it does against the Hawks then he could turn the match on its head.

PATRICK DANGERFIELD v JAEGER O’MEARA

Geelong hasn’t been afraid of its midfield going head-to-head with the opposition. Prime movers for GWS, Adelaide, Melbourne and Collingwood have all racked up big numbers against the Cats this season. It’s likely Geelong will again back its midfield in against Hawthorn. So while Patrick Dangerfield and Jaeger O’Meara may be a match-up on paper only, they both have the ability to win the game for their team. Expect both to rack up a stack of the footy, but it is the damage they will do on the scoreboard which could decide the match.