The VFL Cats will be bolstered by the return of speedsters Nakia Cockatoo and Sam Blease for their round 9 clash against North Ballarat this Saturday at Simonds Stadium.
After a crushing loss at the hands of Essendon last week, the Cats are looking to get themselves back on the winners list after five consecutive losses.
Cockatoo will return after missing the last two matches with a groin issue and Blease will be back after an ankle injury kept him out last week.
Zac Bates will be back to play his third consecutive VFL match for the Cats and Jarrad Jansen will line up in the hope he continues his recent impressive form.
Michael Luxford and Jake Kolodjashnij have been named in the 27-man squad, both are in Adelaide with the AFL team as travelling emergencies and may play VFL if not required on Friday night.
Unfortunately, George Horlin-Smith will miss due to a hyper-extended knee he suffered last week and young rookie Tom Read will be managed.
Head-to-head, the two sides have met 26 times with the Cats winning 12 and North Ballarat 14.
Their last meet was round 18, 2014 at Eureka Stadium where North Ballarat got the four points - North Ballarat 12.9.81 def. Geelong 9.10.64.
B: Tom Ruggles, Jake Kolodjashnij, Jackson Sheringham
HB: Ben Raidme, Fraser Fort, Jarrad Jansen
C: Nakia Cockatoo, Sam Blease, Tom Maas
HF: Jack Hollmer, Simon Close, James Linton
F: Zac Bates, Cameron Tudor, Daniel Gibbs
R: Padraig Lucey, Kieran Paliouras, Michael Luxford
I/C: Matthew Farrelly, Mitch Herbison, Tom Atkins
Zac Sherman, Daniel Measures, Nick Dixon
Brenton Rees, Paul Burchell (23rd player), Dane McFarlane
VFL Round 9
Geelong Cats vs North Ballarat
12.10pm, Saturday 13th June
Simonds Stadium
The Polly Farmer Gate on Moorabool Street is open from 11am, seating and catering available within the Hickey Stand.
VFL Admission Prices:
Geelong Cats members – FREE
Adult - $10
Concession - $5
Under 12 – FREE
Follow @GeelongVFL on twitter for live updates.
The match will also be broadcast live on Channel 7 from 12pm on Saturday.
