Lance Franklin's AFL season could be over after the star Hawthorn forward suffered a knee injury in his side's loss to Geelong in Friday night's qualifying final.

Geelong won 14.14 (98) to 9.13 (67) in front of 73,400 fans at the MCG and advanced to their fifth consecutive preliminary final.

The shattered Hawks will host a semi-final at the MCG next Friday night against the winners of the St Kilda-Sydney elimination final.

Coleman Medallist Franklin was the leading goalkicker on the ground with four majors while Geelong's tall forwards James Podsiadly (three goals), Tom Hawkins (two goals) and ruck-forward Brad Ottens (two goals) had major influences on the game despite the wet and windy conditions.

Franklin landed awkwardly during a marking contest in the last quarter and limped off the field. The Hawks also face an injury concern over ruckman Max Bailey (bruised calf).

Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis was reported for rough conduct on Geelong's Joel Selwood in the second quarter in another blow to coach Alastair Clarkson's premiership hopes.

"I don't know how bad, we'll just have to wait and see," Clarkson said when asked about Franklin's knee injury.

"We'll get it scanned tomorrow morning.

"It didn't look great, but we've got our fingers crossed and hope for the best, as I'm sure every footy follower in the land would. "He's an outstanding player and I hope he has a good run of luck in this instance, but we'll just have to wait and see."

It was Geelong's seventh consecutive win over Hawthorn since the 2008 grand final, continuing the massive rivalry between the two sides.

Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Allen Christensen were busy for the Cats who are seeking a third premiership in five years but their first under new coach Chris Scott.

Hawthorn had taken an 11-point lead at quarter-time with a three-goal opening term.

However the Cats surged clear by 12 points at halftime after kicking five goals to Hawthorn's one in the second term.

The Cats suffered a cruel blow during the second quarter when Daniel Menzel, who had already kicked two goals, was carried off with a season-ending injury to his right knee after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Two goals from skipper Luke Hodge put the Hawks back in front early in the third term but the Cats responded with Podsiadly's second goal.

Geelong took control of the match with a stunning six-minute burst in which they kicked four goals, including a dazzling effort from the much-maligned Hawkins in the goalsquare and a brilliant soccer tap on the left boot by Johnson.

Franklin's third and fourth goals late in the third term and early in the last quarter gave the Hawks a chance as they drew within 19 points.

But Geelong's back-up ruckman Trent West put his stamp on the game with a huge mark and goal at the 13-minute mark to put the Cats safely ahead by 26 points.

Both sides kicked two goals each in the final term.

Grant Birchall, Hodge and Liam Shiels battled hard for the Hawks.

Scott said he was thrilled with the way his tall forwards functioned in the slippery conditions.

"It was a risk. In the end the decision to go with those big blokes paid off," Scott said.

Scott said the much-maligned Hawkins looked an imposing presence even when he didn't mark the ball.

"We think he's only going to get better," Scott said.

The Cats mentor said Menzel's injury situation didn't look good.

"He's devastated. We're devastated as well," Scott said.

"I won't speculate as to the exact nature of the injury, but our medical staff aren't hopeful.

"'Menz' unfortunately seems without hope at the moment as well. It's a fickle game, footy."

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