No middle ground in battle of stars

GEELONG and Hawthorn are adamant they won’t be fixated on each other’s star midfielders in today’s Easter Monday blockbuster at the MCG.

The Cats will run out with their midfield holy trinity of captain Joel Selwood and Brownlow medallists Gary Ablett and Patrick Dangerfield for the first time, while Hawks ball magnet Tom Mitchell is in hot form following his record 54 touches in Round 1.

Cats coach Chris Scott said Mitchell would not be the centre of his attention during Geelong’s battle at the MCG. “It’s a lot more complicated than it can appear from the outside,” Scott said.

“There are some plans that might make it a lot harder for him but make it easier for Hawthorn on the whole. They’re some of the challenges we’re weighing up.

“If he has 50 touches against us, it won’t be because we just let him go.”

Scott said the romance of starting Dangerfield, Ablett and Selwood in the midfield today won’t be lost on him.