Cameron Ling has provided insight into what he believes the Cats need to do this week, to control proceedings in Saturday night’s clash with Essendon.  
 
Geelong improved around centre clearances against Carlton (+2), but still have work to do at stoppages around the ground to help improve their attacking movement. 
 
Discussing the upcoming Country Game on this week’s episode of ‘To the Final Bell,’ Ling explained how important it is to control the middle of the ground, with the Cats young on-ball division needing to take control of the game.    

 
"The game has to be won in the middle of the ground, to open up our attacking options,” Ling said.  
 
“Essendon have different phases and different modes they can go into, they are really well coached by Brad Scott which signals to me their maturity and growth.  
 
“If we are constantly being forced to attack from deep in our defence, then we will occasionally turn the ball over and we will get scored against which naturally makes us a little more reactive.  
 
“If we can breakeven in the middle of the ground and we launch more of our attack from the middle, even if it's not a goal immediately then our forward pressure can go to work.  
 
“That creates opportunities for us through quick turnovers, quick scores and right now we are trying to attack from too far back.”  
 
This week’s game will also be the eighth instalment of the traditional Country Game, with Geelong and Essendon paying tribute to the importance of local clubs to the game of Australian Football.  
 
Geelong’s 2024 Regional Guernsey includes the colours of every Cats AFL player’s junior or local club – whether Australian Rules or Gaelic Football – in a stripe around the middle Hoop, with each player’s guernsey also individualised to feature their junior club logo.  
 
Cameron Ling discussed with Meg McDonald the importance of local football on the podcast, describing it as crucial to the continual development of men’s and women’s football.  
 
"It is incredibly important the relationship between local and top level football,” Ling said.  
 
“It is the most crucial thing, we don't have high school programs that roll into multi billion dollar college environments like American sports.  
 
“Our local football and netball clubs are so crucial, they rely on wonderful and incredible volunteers who put their hands up to turn up to training, to manage the games, to make it safe.  
 
“Across all regional clubs right across Australia, they are the ones producing the next generation of champions for both men's and women's programs. 
 
“I love the fact that we are recognising it and celebrating it, because there are some people who put so many hours and years into making clubs work.”