The curse was laid in round one 2009, shortly after then Hawks president Jeff Kennett questioned the Cats' mental strength.
Hawthorn had surprised favourites Geelong in the 2008 Grand Final, winning by 26 points.
In the lead-up to the Grand Final rematch to open the 2009 season, Kennett noted of the Cats, "What they don't have, I think, is the quality of some of our players; they don't have the psychological drive we have. We've beaten Geelong when it matters."
His comments incensed many Cats players, and led by forward Paul Chapman, they made a private pact never again to be beaten by the Hawks.
What followed was a remarkable domination by Geelong, who won 11 matches in a row against the Hawks, a streak that was only broken in last season's preliminary final, which Hawthorn won by five points.
Some of the clashes were classics – nine of the Cats' 11 wins were by 10 points or less.
And Easter Monday's clash shapes as another epic, with both teams undefeated and sitting at the top of the ladder.
