Paul Roos: Inside story to Geelong's edge against Hawthorn

FORGET the Kennett Curse - it will not have a big impact on tonight's preliminary final between Geelong and Hawthorn, says Paul Roos.

Lance Franklin

FORGET the Kennett Curse - it will not have a big impact on the game.

The curse largely reflects how the Hawks have not been able to combat Geelong's game style.

The Cats' ability to win the inside ball has always been hard for the Hawks to combat.

As hard as the Hawks are, the Cats are consistently the toughest team in the competition. If the Cats do win the inside ball they have the pace to exploit Hawthorn on the outside.

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Geelong's skill level and decision-making means they rarely give the ball back. The problem at the moment for the Cats is their two talls aren't working that well - individually or collectively. Tom Hawkins and J-Pod are so important to ball movement - leading at the ball carrier and providing a moving target with runners coming past.

The Hawks are the best in the business at slowing the game down. One area they need to improve is the final kick inside 50m.

If they bomb the ball in from 80m they may be done for the year. Lower the eyes and spread it around and they play in the 2013 Grand Final.

Hill and Smith

If Brad Hill and Isaac Smith can punish Geelong on the outside it will compensate for Hawthorn's perceived lack of pace.

This pair will be crucial in containing the run of Geelong's outside players and to creating run for the Hawks.

Rivals have seen the importance of Smith and have tagged him in recent weeks. If this occurs again a heavy burden will fall on the shoulders of Hill.

Lance Franklin

Franklin and Roughead

The reintroduction of Lance Franklin from suspension is a headache for Geelong coach Chris Scott. But it can also throw off the dynamics of the Hawthorn forward line, which worked so well against the Swans.

If the Hawks go away from using their All Australian forward in Jarryd Roughead it will work against them.

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Centre bounces

The centre bounces will be crucial; if Geelong - a fantastic stoppage team - gets on top, it will mean easy goals.

David Hale and Max Bailey will have to step up against the inexperience of Mark Blicavs and Nathan Vardy, to prevent the likes of Joel Selwood, James Kelly and Steve Johnson getting first usage to the Cats.