Gryan Miers heard the noise, that Geelong had as easy run into the AFL finals and they might be vulnerable.

So the impressive qualifying-final win over reigning premiers Brisbane was important validation for Miers and his Cats teammates, setting them up superbly for Friday night's blockbuster preliminary final against arch-rivals Hawthorn.

While Geelong took a six-game winning streak into the Brisbane game, they were all against teams outside the finals.

Their previous match against another top-eight side was also their most recent loss, to GWS in round 19.

"It was huge for us - I heard all that noise and there were doubts within your own head, of how the preparation is and what we're doing," Miers said of their finals build-up.

"We delivered those six weeks really well ... each game,

See Full Page