AFL 2024 round three LIVE updates: Hawks claw back margin to put Cats under pressure in Easter Monday showdown; Major Tiger injury blow

Geelong have won their two opening matches, against St Kilda (8 points) and Adelaide (19 points), while Hawthorn are yet to record a victory, having bowed to Essendon (24 points) and Melbourne (55 points).

Given this, it makes sense the Cats are the favourites for today’s clash but there’s a spark and some optimism in the Hawks’ camp.

So, what’s your take? Who will leave this Easter Monday with the chocolates?

The severe weather warning has gone up at the MCG with players removed from the ground and all fans told to seek shelter immediately.

While the ground was free, except for scattered security, one pitch invader decided to have a run on the field.

He was chased down by security and escorted out.

Well, the rain is really coming down now.

It’s Geelong, potentially with the experience, that are keeping their composure in it.

Hawthorn aren’t getting as many of their clean uncontested possessions, which gave them the upper hand in the second term. Instead, they are dropping marks and fumbling the ball a lot more.

They’ve also lost a lot of the home crowd, who have headed into the concourse from the lower decks and away from the downpour.

Geelong hold a very handy 36-point lead at 3QT.

It’s a slippery ball game out there as a steady stream of rain comes down at the MCG.

Some fans have moved back under cover, while others have their ponchos out.

Hawthorn have started to drop marks and fumble the ball more and are looking to be the side more affected by the downpour.

The scoreboard is back to where we were at quarter-time, after two Geelong goals from Mitch Duncan and Max Holmes.

Cats lead by 36 points.

This game has seen another massive momentum swing with Geelong taking back the reigns with four unanswered goals (Hawkins, Stengle, Henry, Conway) to get back a lead with some buffer room.

Hawthorn’s James Worpel wiped one of those out on the scoreboard with a long-range bomb – which the score review determined wasn’t touched – but there’s a lot of work in front of the Hawks to stay in this.

Geelong lead by 23.

Hawthorn were threatening to take the lead but Geelong shut down that idea with the last three goals of the game.

First, ruckman Toby Conway, then Tyson Stengle with his second of the day, then Ollie Henry with a classy grab and set shot for his third major of the afternoon.

Geelong now enjoy a 22-point lead after Hawthorn got within striking distance, 4-points, earlier in the term.

And there’s that Cats steadier.

Toby Conway, in his second game in the AFL, took a contested mark after fighting his way to the front of the pack right at the top of the goal square.

It draws Geelong’s margin back out to 10.

Mabior Chol out-bodied his opponent, took a clean grab right in front of goal and kicked an important goal to bring the margin back to less than a goal.

Geelong need a steadier soon, Hawthorn need to keep their composure and confidence as they continue their comeback.

Cats lead by 4.

The Cats hold a slim 11-point lead as we get under way in the second half.

Will Hawthorn keep chipping away on the scoreboard with control through uncontested possessions and clean ball movement or will Geelong put their foot down, as they did in the opening term?

Who wants some stats for the half-time break? (Hopefully you).