But one thing seemed probable with every week of the season – that Geelong and Hawthorn would play off in the grand final. It was confirmed with the sides’ respective victories over the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda last weekend.
The Cats have dominated 2008 and we can expect another solid performance from their galaxy of stars. Everywhere you look in the Geelong line-up, you find proven players. Quality ones.
Ablett, Bartel, Scarlett, Corey, Johnson, Selwood, Ling and Mooney have all become household names and are expected to match their 2007 premiership medallions with another one this Saturday.
We can say there are no challengers to a Geelong side that has lost just two games in the last 18 months, but maybe this is a game where things won't go to plan.
Dismiss Hawthorn at your peril. Geelong's midfield is star-studded, but it's difficult to win a hard ball when skipper Sam Mitchell and Brad Sewell are burrowing to the bottom of the pack. Similar difficulties present when tough nut Luke Hodge is cutting off supply to his opposition's forward line.
And it is close to impossible to quell a rampaging Lance Franklin when he is on song.
Geelong is no certainty here and we can expect another cracking contest that, dare we say, could even rival the epic meeting of 1989.
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