Next shot at the title, anyone?

Geelong won the battle but Hawthorn took confidence in the war after the Cats won Friday night's AFL blockbuster by 11 points at a heaving MCG.

The Cats remained on track for a successful premiership defence by raising their game in the crunch moments and withstanding a spirited Hawk comeback in the second half before a massive crowd of 86,179.

Their 12.16 (88) to 11.11 (77) victory means they have now beaten their two main rivals inside a week, following last Saturday's demolition of the Western Bulldogs, and are 10 points clear atop the ladder after 16 wins from 17 starts this campaign.

Even with Gary Ablett, Cameron Ling, David Wojcinski out injured and half-back Darren Milburn (virus) a late withdrawal, the Cats raced to a handy lead early through a 10-minute burst in the first quarter.

They then held their nerve even though the Hawks threw everything they could muster to set up a great finish to a captivating game, although Hawthorn will rue some costly moments at the death.

Mark Williams put Hawthorn in front 38 seconds into the last quarter only for the Cats to regain the lead and kick clear through the next two goals.

But the game remained up for grabs with seven minutes left when Geelong's Max Rooke inexplicably took an eternity to get rid of the ball, was tackled by Cyril Rioli and conceded a Hawthorn goal to Lance Franklin.

That goal brought Hawthorn within six points with plenty of time, but two major blunders were costly.

Campbell Brown had the chance to level the scores two minutes later, but missed from 25 metres.

Geelong then kicked the last goal of the game, through Steve Johnson, after Hawk star Luke Hodge, who played as his heavily pregnant partner waited, turned the ball over in the centre of the ground.

The Cats also halted a Hawthorn charge at the start of the third quarter, when Corey Enright swooped on a shocking kick across goal by Hawk Chance Bateman and booted a steadying goal.

The Cats were well below their best, but strung together the most effective passage of play, when they kicked four goals in 10 minutes in the first term.

Johnson finished with three goals, Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel and Enright were outstanding, and their fellow midfielders again lifted to cover the absence of Ablett and Ling.

Hawthorn were impressive in bursts and will fancy another shot at the Cats come the finals series provided they can make the most of their chances.

Captain Sam Mitchell impressed again, Trent Croad marshalled a strong defence and Brown and Franklin were livewires in attack, although the latter finished with a haul of 4.5.

In perfect conditions for football, a huge crowd attended the game, which has been for months billed as a grand final preview.

The crowd was the largest to attend a home and away game featuring teams other than Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton, and would have been even greater save for a large bank of empty seats in the Melbourne Cricket Club stand.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson was impressed with his side's desperation in the final quarter, given they wrestled the momentum off the Hawks even with Paul Chapman (hamstring) sidelined in the second half.

"It was pretty tough. We didn't have everything go right for us and played a pretty good team and we lost momentum a few times and gained it," he said.

"In the end I thought our will to win was better than the opposition's especially by some of our midfielders.

"... What they said to us in the end and the footy world was that they didn't want to lose this game of footy and they went over and above the call of duty, some of them, to help us get over the line."

Milburn spent Thursday night in hospital with a virus, and Thompson admitted his absence altered Geelong's defensive plans.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said his players would benefit from the experience of such a big game, and looked forward to having another shot at Geelong.

But he said his players failed to match the Cats in seizing the big moments.

"Geelong demonstrated at the crunch of the game that they're just a little bit more polished than what we are at the present time and we've got some work to do," he said.

"We're proud of our effort but we just need to be a bit more composed.

"We got some important opportunities through the middle of the ground but we just didn't capitalise on them, right throughout the game but particularly in the last quarter when the game was there for the taking."

The Hawthorn section of the crowd was infuriated at times by some umpiring decisions, particularly in the first quarter when Bateman was penalised for deliberate out of bounds after he was slung around the head.

That decision resulted in a goal, while the Hawks were denied a shot when the ball was not deemed to have travelled 15 metres when it clearly did.

Clarkson said: "Yeah, he's a good player that No.17 isn't he?" in reference to umpire Justin Schmitt.

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