It is crunch time for the Cats in Week 6 as they set themselves for two more games in a six day period, starting with a Tuesday night clash against Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium.

Geelong are coming off an enthralling match against Hawthorn last Thursday, a high scoring encounter that did not fall the Cats way as they went down by 18 points.

Tuesday’s challenge will be no easier against a Fremantle outfit that has started the season strongly, winning four of their opening five games.

The Dockers boast one of the league’s stingiest defences, conceding the fourth lowest total points at an average of 29-points per game to opposition teams.

2024 Ladder

Geelong: 15^th (1-3-1) 
 
Fremantle: 6^th (4-1)

Points For 

Geelong – 238

Fremantle - 179

Points Against 

Geelong – 213

Fremantle - 144

Finding a way through the Dockers Defence

Fremantle were impressive defensively in their most recent matchup, conceding just two goals and four scoring shots while securing an 11-point win over St Kilda last Friday.

The Dockers simply do not allow opposition teams to get the ball forward, conceding an average of 24 inside 50’s per game across their last three matches, by comparison Geelong average over 34 inside 50’s per game in 2024.

The Cats gained plenty of momentum offensively against the Hawks recording 16 scoring shots, but will need to take that same aggression in once again on Tuesday night.

Nullifying Mim Strom’s Ruck Advantage

Fremantle’s dominant ruck, Mim Strom has been in strong form to start 2024, ranking third in the competition for hit-outs and fourth in the AFLW for hit-outs to advantage to this point of the season.

Strom also gets involved around the ground, ranking inside the AFLW’s top 30 players for marks and stoppage clearances this year.

Hit-outs have been an area of concern for the Cats in 2024 but they have found ways to compete in the clearance battle, this will need to rise to another level against the Dockers in Week 6.

Getting Busy in the Contest

The Cats have been slightly vulnerable inside the contest across the opening five weeks, only winning the contested possession battle in one game (Gold Coast) so far this season.

Melbourne (-5), North Melbourne (-20), Carlton (-26) and Hawthorn (-31) all got the better of Geelong in this area, the issue compounded by a hamstring injury to Amy McDonald.

While Fremantle are not necessarily a dominant team in this area, the Cats will be looking to improve in their contested numbers to set themselves up for the back half of the season.