Last time:
The Scott led sides last clashed in round 10 at Simonds Stadium. The Cats jumped out of the blocks with a 10 goal to five first half. The home side was never challenged from there winning 16.15 to 13.13.
Current form:
The Roos are perhaps the hardest side in the competition to get a read on and evidence for that is in their last two performances. After defeating Hawthorn convincingly on Friday night in round 17, the Roos proceeded to lose to Carlton the following Friday night. Which Roos side which shows up is anyone’s guess.
Venue:
Whilst the Cats have won 10 of their last 11 matches at Etihad Stadium, including all those this season, that one defeat was against the Kangaroos last season. Much like their season, the Kangaroos have been up and down at their home ground winning five of their eight games there this season.
Risk:
Interestingly, the Cats and Kangaroos are the only two sides not to lose back to back matches this season. Unfortunately for the Cats, the Roos are coming off a round 18 loss.
Opportunity:
If the Cats come out firing and defeat the Roos at Etihad it will not only be a good scalp in the lead up to the finals but it will also push the Roos another win away from the Cats in the battle for the top five spots on the ladder.
Rd 20 - Cats v Dockers - Saturday August 9 - Simonds Stadium
Last time:
The Dockers came out firing for Pav’s 250th and caught the Cats on the back foot. A scoreless first quarter for the Cats whilst the Dockers piled on five goals meant it would be a mammoth task to come back. However the Cats went on to kick more goals than the Dockers for the rest of the match after quarter time before going down 9.10 to 13.18.
Current form:
The Dockers have won four of their last five but the biggest story from those five was the thrashing they suffered at the hands of St Kilda. What this means for the context of their season will be known in the next few weeks.
Venue:
The Cats have won an incredible 54 of 57 at home dating back to early 2007. One of those three losses however was the qualifying final last season which goes to show Fremantle holds no trepidation when it comes to the Cats home ground.
Risk:
The psychological effect of a loss to Fremantle at home again could be great. Last season the Cats easily accounted for the Dockers at home in round 14 last season by 41 points before the Dockers spoiled the party in the qualifying final grabbing a 15 point win.
Opportunity:
If the Cats knock off the Dockers it will go a long way to ensuring the Cats don’t travel to Perth week one of the 2014 finals.
Rd 21 - Cats v Blues - Friday August 15 - Etihad Stadium
Last time:
If not for some Joel Selwood brilliance the Cats may have suffered a shock loss to the Blues only six weeks ago. But Selwood’s goal gave the Cats a 16.11 to 15.12 win. The Blues outscored the Cats five goals to two in the third quarter of the match, something the Cats have struggled with since.
Current form:
The Blues have won two of their last five matches beating St Kilda and North in that time. Their other four wins for the season were St Kilda again, the Bulldogs, Eagles and Crows. However this season has shown any side on their day can cause an upset.
Venue:
The Blues are still yet to beat the Cats at Etihad Stadium. However five of the Blues six wins in 2014 have been at the enclosed arena.
Risk:
The Blues are another team that is hard to get an accurate read on. They challenged the Cats in round 12 and dealt with the Blues with aplomb. By no means an easy game.
Opportunity:
The Cats will get the opportunity to come up against a formidable midfield just prior to the finals. Murphy, Gibbs and Judd are three players who would be welcomed into any side. How the Cats deal with them may be a good indication come finals.
Rd 22 - Cats v Hawks - Saturday August 23 - MCG
Last time:
Round five was perhaps the Cats best win of 2014. Geelong served it up to the Hawks on Easter Monday and on the back of Tom Hawkins and a six goal final term accounted for them 15.16 to 12.15.
Current form:
The brown and gold have won six of their last seven games with the loss to North Melbourne the only slip up. However none of the sides they have defeated in that time except for Collingwood are in the top eight. In fact Fremantle is the only top five side the Hawks have defeated this season.
Venue:
The Hawks love the MCG and it shows with the loss to the Cats the only one they’ve dropped this season at the home of football from seven matches.
Risk:
The Cats and Hawks are scrapping for second place on the ladder. This game is one of those eight pointers where a loss could mean an interstate final week one.
Opportunity: Beating a legitimate grand final contender in the penultimate round would be a boost of belief invaluable to the Cats.
Rd 23 - Cats v Lions - TBC - Simonds Stadium
Last time:
In the steady rain the Cats did enough to see off the Lions at the Gabba. In an entirely forgettable game the Cats won 13.15 to 10.8.
Current form:
The Lions have lost four of their last five but that win was against finals contender North Melbourne. They’ve won one game in Victoria for the season against the Bulldogs.
Venue:
The Lions have to go back to 2003 for the last time they trumped the Cats at their home ground.
Risk:
The Cats very nearly came unstuck in the final round of 2013 against a young Lions side. A missed snap from Ryan Lester was all the came between the Cats and a disastrous defeat.
Opportunity:
No travel, familiar ground and a team not challenging for finals could be exactly the tune up the Cats need before finals.
