Here’s what geelongcats.com.au will be keeping our eyes on this Friday night when we return to the MCG to take on the Tigers

All Eyes On… The Big Sticks

We don’t need to talk about what happened during the final seconds of last weekend’s game. What we can talk about is what happened before it, and on balance, Cats fans have every right to go into Friday night’s game feeling good about things. 

It’s a very, very rare occasion that a team loses a game with numbers like these, which Geelong did on Saturday night:

+33 Contested possessions

+68 Uncontested possessions

+26 Inside 50s

+13 shots on goal

In short, the Cats did a lot right at the SCG last weekend. A lot. If we repeat these numbers on Friday night and snag an extra goal or two, there’s a good chance we’re singing the song into the weekend.   

All Eyes On… Taming the Tigers

There’s no way around it. The Cats have had a tough time against the Tigers over the last few years having won just one out of the last seven contests. 

For what it’s worth, previous to that we’d only lost once to Richmond in 15 years. But the challenge is set. To be the best you have to beat the best, and until someone else holds up the Cup on the last Saturday in September, that team is still the one working out of Punt Road. 

While some key Tigers will be missing on Friday night, notably Trent Cotchin, Dylan Grimes, and Dion Prestia to name a few, they will welcome back Dustin Martin and potentially Nick Vlaustin as well. For the Cats, Shaun Higgins is expected to be back in the hoops and should slot nicely into the spot vacated by an injured Gryan Miers. 

Incidentally, Higgins has averaged 33 possessions in his last two games against Richmond. He is also good for just over a goal a game at the MCG in his 30 appearances. 

Handy. 

All Eyes On… Mixed Netballer to Milestone Man

The MCG is a long way from the mixed netball courts of Cobden where he plied his trade as a 14-year-old, but Gary Rohan will line up for his 150th game on Friday night, a considerable achievement considering his early battles with injury.

In a 2009 pre-draft interview he was asked which current AFL player he most resembled. This was his answer: 

“Steve Johnson. He makes things out of nothing, puts on good forward pressure, and is a good team player.”

How much pressure Stevie J put on is a debate for another day, but there’s no debating how dangerous Rohan can be in front of goal, especially recently, where he’s struck some good form. 

He’s kicked five of his eight goals this season over the last fortnight, and like the great Stevie J, when he plays well, so does Geelong 

Congrats on 150. Go well, Chucky 

All Eyes On… VFL Under Lights

Our VFL boys are in the spotlight this week with a live Thursday night fixture at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. 

As always, there’ll be a handful of AFL-listed players lining up so you’ll get a first-hand look at how the younger boys are traveling and who’s banging on the door of senior selection.

So if you want to kick off the weekend early and see some live footy action you can grab your tickets here, or you can tune in live on Kayo and Fox Footy.

The Cats are currently in third place on the VFL ladder and will be very keen to keep the ball rolling against the Northern Bullants on Thursday. 

IT WAS like last year's Grand Final in reverse.

Geelong, trailing at half-time, coming with a rush. Richmond, seemingly in control of the contest through to the main break, left unable to produce any response to the rapid turn of events.

For the Cats, this wasn't revenge for what happened in the 2020 premiership decider. But a resounding 63-point victory, built on the back of a stunning string of seven straight goals in the third quarter, was as good as they could have hoped for.

The main difference between last year's Gabba showpiece and Friday night's 19.12 (126) to 9.9 (63) boilover at the MCG? Jeremy Cameron.

The club's high-profile trade acquisition was lured to Kardinia Park to help capitalise on moments of ascendency in big games. He did that against Richmond, making himself an instant Cats hero with a remarkable third-quarter performance.

Cameron kicked three of his six goals in the third term, complementing a display that also saw him claim 22 disposals, eight marks and 15 scoring involvements, as he helped turn a nine-point half-time deficit into a 35-point three-quarter time lead.

He wasn't alone in reaping the benefits of the second-half demolition. Gary Rohan had played a pivotal role in Geelong edging its way back into the contest before half-time, then deservedly got his rewards later to celebrate game No.150 with a five-goal haul.

Tom Hawkins chipped in as well to finish with four goals from 20 disposals and seven marks, while Cam Guthrie (36 disposals, six clearances) and Mitch Duncan (30 disposals, seven tackles) did the bulk of the damage through the midfield.

Shai Bolton had provided Richmond with the game's first highlight, pulling down one of the Marks of the Year with a stunning high-flying grab in the early stages. It set the tone for his night, as the impressive onballer finished with 21 disposals and three goals.

But although Bolton had helped the Tigers storm into an 18-point lead at quarter-time, and had helped the reigning premiers retain that control through to the main break, his influence and that of his teammates waned afterwards.

A dirty night couldn't be corrected throughout a trying last quarter, and even worsened when important midfielder Shane Edwards added to the side's woes when he was substituted out of the game with an ankle injury.

For the Tigers, it was a bitter pill to swallow with an indifferent start to the campaign now reflected in a 4-4 record. For the Cats, it was an indication that maybe Cameron and co. can help turn decisive moments in significant contests later in the year.

A lesson in Geelong efficiency

Geelong couldn't have executed it better. A remarkable eight-goal third quarter was as efficient as any side has been this season, as the Cats profited from quick and direct ball movement going forward. Geelong mustered 12 scoring shots from just 15 inside-50s in the third quarter to completely turn the momentum of the match, kicking seven successive goals to build the foundations for its incredible win. The Cats were +23 in contested ball and +4 in clearances, but the damage was done forward of centre. Jeremy Cameron kicked three goals for the quarter, while Gary Rohan added two, with Tom Hawkins, Brad Close and Isaac Smith also getting in on the fun throughout arguably the side's best term of the season so far.

Shai takes flight to light up the MCG

Shai Bolton can sell his old car, because there's a new one coming his way. Richmond's spring-heeled speedster pulled down a genuine Mark of the Year contender just minutes into Friday night's clash, wowing supporters with a spectacular leaping grab. Having set himself as teammate Jack Graham dropped a long kick to the top of the goal square, Bolton got great initial elevation before receiving some extra height on the shoulders of the 198cm Mark Blicavs to pull down a beauty. Replays on the MCG big screens were met by wild excitement from Tigers fans – and probably Cats supporters as well – with even Bolton himself watching with a smile before going back to nail the resulting set-shot.

Cats up to old pre-match tricks

Geelong has brought the 'late change' back into vogue under Chris Scott and, on Friday night, the club was up to its old tricks once again. Despite reports surfacing on AFL.com.au as early as Wednesday that Esava Ratugolea would play on Friday night, he wasn't named in the Cats' selected side when the teams dropped on Thursday evening. But, lo and behold, an hour before the bounce on Friday the athletic ruckman was brought into the team as a 'late inclusion' for Rhys Stanley. So, what was Stanley's issue? Speaking before the match, Geelong assistant coach Nigel Lappin confirmed there was no medical problems and that he had been dropped on form.

RICHMOND    4.3     7.7      8.9         9.9 (63)
GEELONG       1.3     6.4     14.8     19.12 (126)

GOALS
Richmond: Aarts 3, Bolton 3, Lynch, Rioli, Riewoldt
Geelong: Cameron 6, Rohan 5, Hawkins 4, Smith 2, Higgins, Close

BEST
Richmond: Bolton, Edwards, Martin, Graham
Geelong: Cameron, Rohan, Hawkins, C.Guthrie, Higgins, Duncan, Tuohy

INJURIES
Richmond: Edwards (ankle)
Geelong: Stanley (omitted) replaced in selected side by Ratugolea, Simpson (lower body), Dahlhaus (ribs)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Naish (replaced Edwards)
Geelong: Narkle (replaced Simpson)

Crowd: 54,857 at the MCG