It wasn't a great weekend for the Cats in the AFL, but it was a beauty for the VFL side. Here are five things we loved about the club's games on Saturday ...

1. JORDAN MURDOCH'S FORM
The young South Australian, who recently passed the 50-game mark, has been one of the Cats' most consistent performers this season. And he was up and about again in the 41-point loss to North Melbourne on Saturday night, tallying 20 disposals, four marks, five tackles and two goals. Murdoch was inconsistent during his early years at Geelong, but he is developing into a very dependable player.

2. JIMMY BARTEL'S COMEBACK
Saturday night's clash with the Roos was Bartel's first AFL game since round three, yet he was straight back to his best. The 31-year-old three-time premiership player amassed nine disposals in a brilliant first quarter effort while playing on the wing, and he went on with the job from there. Bartel finished the game with 41 disposals at 83 per cent efficiency, six marks and five clearances. He was pleased with his own performance but very disappointed with the outcome of the match.

Watch Jimmy Bartel's post-match interview with CatsTV


3. DANIEL MENZEL'S VFL APPEARANCE
Despite the freezing and wet weather, there were plenty of reporters and photographers on hand at Werribee's Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday afternoon to see Menzel take to the field for the first time since undergoing his fourth knee reconstruction in 2013. And Menzel showed that his career is far from finished. He racked up 17 disposals, two tackles and 10 clearances before being taken out of the game during the third quarter. It was a performance to warm the heart of the Cats' players, coaches and supporters.

Watch Daniel Menzel's post-match press conference and vision of him playing in his comeback game


4. SHANE KERSTEN'S VFL HEROICS
The Cats' AFL clash against North Melbourne was a most disappointing and one-sided affair, but the preceding VFL game against Werribee was a thriller. Geelong was four points down when Shane Kersten took a big pack mark inside 50 with less than a minute left on the clock. Kersten then calmly slotted his set shot from 35m out on a 45 degree angle. The siren sounded a few seconds after Kersten's kick went through, and the Cats were able to celebrate a two-point win.


 5. THE MIDFIELDERS PUSHING FOR AFL SELECTION
A major factor in Geelong's AFL loss to North Melbourne was the team's inability to attack with fluency. The Cats struggled to win clearances and also battled to generate much run away from stoppages. The midfield will receive a major boost in the next couple of weeks when Mitch Duncan returns after recovering from a broken foot, while some of the club's emerging midfielders are also in good touch. Dean Gore, George Horlin-Smith and Billie Smedts were all impressive contributors in the VFL win over Werribee, and it would not be a surprise if a couple of them were elevated to the AFL side for Saturday's clash with the Western Bulldogs at Simonds Stadium.

Read Angus Kramer's VFL match report

Get behind the Mighty Cats when we take on the Western Bulldogs at Simonds Stadium on Saturday. Buy your tickets here.