There is a sense of inevitability about Hawthorn and in particular its superstar forward Lance Franklin.
If ever a team looks on course for a premiership it is Hawthorn and if ever a player looks on course for individual glory it is the man known as 'Buddy'.
While there is no doubt Geelong remains a firm favourite for this year's premiership - having won 24 of its past 25 matches - the Hawks are getting closer to the Cats by the week.
Both remain unbeaten after five rounds of the season with the Hawks having made their best start to a season since 2001.
However for those anxious to see the two giants go head-to-head, don't hold your breath.
Unfortunately it is bordering on farcical the two best teams in the AFL won't meet this season until Round 17, having also only met once last year and that was way back in Round 4.
So that means that some 15 months will have passed between meetings involving the Cats and the Hawks - surely the ultimate argument that the AFL should go back to its old fixture where every team played each other once in the first 15 rounds.
The Hawks have been patiently re-building since the start of 2005 under the shrewd coaching of Alastair Clarkson, the stellar recruiting of the highly-respected Chris Pelchen and the fine off-field leadership of president Jeff Kennett and chief executive Ian Robson.
And the ultimate reward for a club that dominated the competition like few others in the 1980's but has not been to a grand final since its last premiership win in 1991 draws closer by the week.
That is not to say the Hawks can knock the Cats off for the premiership this year but even after just five rounds of this season they look the only team that can even get close to Mark Thompson's all-conquering reigning premiers.
And even if the Hawks don't win the flag this year - surely it is a matter of time before they do given that Franklin is still only 21 and has another decade of dominance ahead of him while other key players in Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Grant Birchall, Campbell Brown, Jordan Lewis, Jarryd Roughead, Brad Sewell, Mark Williams and Clinton Young are all aged 25 or younger.
And even with Shane Crawford, Trent Croad and Stuart Dew getting near the end of their careers - the much-talked about 'window of opportunity' for the Hawks to win a premiership is only just beginning and could last for as long as five years.
If ever a game showed just how much a young, talented but ultimately unproven team such as Hawthorn has matured it was Saturday night's clash against Brisbane at the Gabba.
The Lions, themselves legitimate top four contenders this season, threw everything at the Hawks and were being roared on by their home crowd.
Yet not even seven goals from the in-form Daniel Bradshaw could get the Lions' home as Franklin kicked an astonishing 8.6 at the other end.
Some of his goals - such as the one on the run from 60 metres, another set shot on the boundary from 55 metres not to mention his juggling one-handed mark against two opponents - were simply breathtaking on Saturday night.
And with Mark Williams providing magnificent support - his screamer with his back to the ball in