We need to get Cats' scalp, says Alistair Clarkson

THE numbers suggest Hawthorn has made up ground on the Cats, but coach Alastair Clarkson is not yet convinced.

Alistair Clarkson

THE numbers suggest Hawthorn has made up ground on the Cats, but coach Alastair Clarkson is not yet convinced.

Ahead of tonight's blockbuster at the MCG, Clarkson admitted his team needed to take Geelong's "scalp" after a string of eight straight losses since its 2008 grand final triumph.

"This year we're wanting to test whether or not we've actually made up some ground," Clarkson said.

"The ladder positions at the current time would suggest we have but our clashes with Geelong haven't suggested that yet.

"So we need to get a scalp in that regard and hopefully that's tomorrow night, but we know it's going to be a great battle."

The Hawks last night made one change to the team which thrashed Essendon last Friday night, bringing back ruckman David Hale at the expense of small forward Shane Savage. Star forward Lance Franklin will miss a fourth consecutive game with a hamstring injury

Geelong brought back James Podsiadly from an ankle injury, Matthew Scarlett from a one-game suspension and ruckman Orren Stephenson to replace injured pair Trent West and Joel Corey and the omitted Cameron Guthrie.

While Clarkson's men are on an eight-game winning streak, the Hawthorn coach admits the Cats have had an edge over his side in terms of on-field leadership and it's an area in which the Hawks need to lift.

When Geelong came from behind to win by two points in round two against the Hawks on Easter Monday, Clarkson paid tribute to the influence of the Cats' senior players such as Norm Smith Medallist Jimmy Bartel and skipper Joel Selwood.

Second-placed Hawthorn (13-4) are four places higher on the ladder than Geelong (11-6) but the Cats flexed their muscles last week as they disposed of top-eight rivals Adelaide by 27 points.

Clarkson remains in awe of the 2007-09-11 premiers.

"Many are saying and probably rightly so that it is probably the best era of a football club that has ever played the game," Clarkson said.

"All those guys you've mentioned, it's no surprise to us that they've been influential players in big games," he said yesterday.

"When you have that type of dominance over that stretch of time, it's usually because they've been led in an outstanding fashion.

"We think we've made some ground in that regard but a big test like tomorrow night will really be how we can measure (it)."

In Franklin's absence, the Hawks have found plenty of goalkickers including Jack Gunston, Jarryd Roughead and small forward Cyril Rioli.

"We've been able to cope really well without Hodge for the bulk of the year and 'Buddy' (Franklin) over the last three or four weeks."

Clarkson says 21-year-old key defender Ryan Schoenmakers is undergoing a tough learning curve and faces another stiff test against the Cats, with in-form power forward Tom Hawkins his likely opponent.