HAWTHORN legend John Platten has backed Geelong to overcome the team that knocked his beloved Hawks out of the AFL finals running - Collingwood.

The Magpies downed Hawthorn in last week's preliminary final by a mere three points to win their way through to today's blockbuster grand final at the MCG.

Geelong downed West Coast on the Saturday night to set up the mouthwatering clash with Collingwood, which will be played at 2.30 this afternoon.

Platten yesterday admitted while he doesn't support either team more than the other, he believes the Cats have what it takes to win the premiership.

"I don't barrack for any of the sides but I just think that Geelong have probably shown over the last two or three weeks that they have become the better side," Platten said yesterday while in Wagga to be a guest speaker at the Sportsmans Lunch at Kooringal Hotel.

"Even though Collingwood would have been the best side all year, I'm tipping Geelong because they've been pretty good over the last couple of weeks.

"It will be a pretty dirty day in the sense that they reckon it will be a bit wet tomorrow (today), and I think that will play a fairly big part of the game.

"The ball will be on the ground and the Geelong smaller men are going to be in and under more than the Collingwood boys."

Platten knows a thing or two about playing in-and-under football, having established himself as one of the game's best small men during his 11 years playing with the Hawks.

Platten, now 48, was head-hunted by Hawthorn and Carlton after winning the Magarey Medal for best and fairest player in the SANFL, and made his AFL debut in 1986.

He went on to play 258 games and kicked 228 goals as a rugged onballer, and shared the 1987 Brownlow Medal with Tony Lockett.

Platten won four premierships with the Hawks and played in one losing grand final.

He yesterday conceded some of those feelings returned when he watched Hawthorn lose to Collingwood last week to end the club’s season.

“It was really disappointing,” he said.

“(Hawthorn) probably should have stitched up the side even at three-quarter time.

“They were two or three goals up but it wasn’t enough for a side like Collingwood, who play well and keep coming back at you.

“If we kicked straighter early in the piece we might’ve been six or seven up by three quarter time.

Platten was a guest speaker at yesterday’s Sportsmans Lunch alongside NRL great Tommy Raudonikis, and talked to the attendees about today’s grand final in length.