There were storylines everywhere when Geelong hosted the GWS Giants at GMHBA Stadium in Round 11 of the 2016 season. 

Both teams were sitting in the top four after starting the season strongly, while champion Cat Steve Johnson returned to Geelong for the first time wearing different colours. 

The Cats were also out for revenge after falling to the Giants earlier in the same season, the first time GWS had defeated Geelong since joining the competition in 2012. 

With plenty of hype and anticipation in the build up, the game certainly did not disappoint. 

06:52

Time Cat-Sule | Time Cat-Sule | Menzel Ices GIANT Clash

Daniel Menzel kicked 3 clutch goals in this classic clash against the GIANTS in Geelong, with a former Cat cameoing early in the piece.

Steve Johnson opened proceedings in the most iconic way imaginable, crumbing a contest and curling home a goal inside the first five minutes of the match. 

Geelong responded with the next two goals, but the Giants arrested momentum and finished with a flurry, kicking three more majors to leave the Cats trailing by 11-points at quarter time. 

The two teams continued to trade blows through the second quarter, the lead changing hands numerous times with a late Zac Smith goal giving Geelong a narrow five-point lead heading into the main break. 

The Cats buffer did not last long however, with GWS flying out of the blocks after half time with two goals in two minutes to retake the lead. 

Following a similar trend to the opening half, Geelong hit back with three quick goals of their own, before the Giants closed out the third term with two more goals, the Cats holding a two-point buffer at three quarter time. 

Looking to land a decisive blow in the final term, Tom Hawkins and Joel Selwood stood tall to kick the first two goals which extended the Cats lead out to 14-points. 

But there was still another twist in the tale, GWS responding with two majors or their own to cut the deficit to just two-points once more halfway through the last quarter. 

The game then fell onto the boot of Dan Menzel, who seized his big moment and slammed through two goals, along with another from Tom Hawkins to help the Cats finally breakaway and build a match-winning lead. 

Joel Selwood was immense finishing with 29 disposals and eight clearances, Patrick Dangerfield (32 disposals) found plenty of the footy as he so often does, while Dan Menzel (three goals) lead the charge up forward. 

In his first season with the Cats, Lachie Henderson was instrumental in defence and was awarded one Brownlow vote for his performance against the Giants. 

2016 Round 11 – Geelong Cats v GWS Giants @ GMHBA Stadium

GEELONG CATS     2.3      6.7      9.10     14.14     (98)
GWS GIANTS          4.2      6.2      10.2      14.4      (88)

GOALS: Menzel 3, C.Guthrie, Hawkins, Kersten 2, Henderson, McCarthy, Murdoch, Selwood, Smith 1

DISPOSALS: Dangerfield 32, Selwood 29, C.Guthrie, Caddy 27, Bartel, Enright 25

BROWNLOW VOTES: Lachie Whitfield (3), Joel Selwood (2), Lachie Henderson (1)

CROWD: 22,007 @ GMHBA Stadium

GEELONG STARTING 22
3. Jimmy Bartel
4. Andrew Mackie
6. Lincoln McCarthy
7. Harry Taylor
8. Jake Kolodjashnij
9. Zac Smith
10. Daniel Menzel
11. Darcy Lang
13. Tom Lonergan
14. Joel Selwood
21. Jordan Murdoch
22. Mitch Duncan
23. Josh Caddy
25. Lachie Henderson
26. Tom Hawkins
29. Cameron Guthrie
32. Steven Motlop
35. Patrick Dangerfield
36. Tom Ruggles
39. Shane Kersten
44. Corey Enright
46. Mark Blicavs