GEELONG forward Tom Hawkins has played down the impact of the club’s poor recent record in the opening weeks of the finals on Saturday’s meeting with Collingwood.
Since winning their most recent premiership in 2011, the Cats have lost their first final eight times, of which six were double-chance qualifying finals.
The Magpies were Geelong’s conqueror in 2019 – the last time it played a qualifying final at the MCG.
“I know that there will be talk about that,” Hawkins, who was named captain of the All-Australian team last week,” said.
“For us, it’s a different looking side, different proposition again, we’re back home (in Melbourne).
“Things have changed. We’re playing slightly different.
“From our point of view, we’re controlling what we can control, and that’s this Saturday night.
“No talk internally about our past … we’ll let other people talk about that as opposed to mentioning much about it internally.”
Collingwood has become a master at overrunning teams in a stretch of games that has seen it win 12 of its past 13.
On seven occasions, the Magpies have trailed at three-quarter time before going on to claim the four points.
However, Hawkins says starting well is not the only area the Cats will focus on to ensure they take the direct route to the qualifying final.
“There are other things that we can control, in terms of the way that we play, to set the scene,” he said.
“If we can nullify what their strengths are and continue to bring within our framework what we’re really good at, that’ll put us in a pretty good position naturally.
“I know that they’re a great finishing side. We consider ourselves, internally, a really good finishing side.
“It should be a great contest.”
Hawkins, who will become just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to feature in 30 finals, is just looking forward to being back on the MCG after finals in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth during the height of the pandemic.
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about the first final, and the fact we finished on top, and where we’d host it,” he said.
“But, purely from a players’ point of view – if you strip everything right back – as an individual, I can’t wait.
“We’re going to get 80,000 – it was a sellout within 24 hours, it seems; it’s huge.
“Watching Carlton-Collingwood in the last game of the season whet my appetite for finals-like football and finals-like feel from what the crowd gives.
“There’s certainly a lot of excitement amongst the group – particularly me – about getting back on the MCG.”
Twitter: @krockfootball
