SUMMARY
After breezing past a Gold Coast side that resembled witches hats at times last week, Geelong will get a true test of their standing against North Melbourne on Saturday. The Roos have gone from the 16th-ranked defensive side last year to now sit No.2 behind the Cats. Geelong's ability to shut down opponents at GMHBA Stadium has improved in recent weeks, keeping Carlton and Greater Western Sydney to five and four goals. The Roos will take heart from Sydney's final term at the venue in round six when they piled on seven goals against the Cats. Local boy Shaun Higgins is in career-best form, and his distribution alongside Roos teammates Ben Cunnington and Luke McDonald will be critical in supplying Ben Brown. Leading the Coleman Medal race, Brown's presence will be a worry to Geelong's undersized defence.
WHERE AND WHEN: GMHBA Stadium, Saturday June 9, 1.45pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R2, 2017: Geelong 17.10 (112) d North Melbourne 17.9 (111) at Etihad Stadium
R12, 2016: Geelong 15.15 (105) d North Melbourne 12.2 (74) at Etihad Stadium
R15, 2015: North Melbourne 18.12 (120) d Geelong 11.13 (79) at Etihad Stadium
R4, 2015: North Melbourne 12.11 (83) d Geelong 9.13 (67) at GMHBA Stadium
SF, 2014: North Melbourne 14.14 (98) d Geelong 13.14 (92) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. North Melbourne led Geelong by 25 points at the final break in their only meeting in 2017. From there, Patrick Dangerfield kicked into action to finish with 37 disposals and a goal as the Cats won by a point.
2. The Roos have been one of the strongest contested possession teams this season, ranked third with an average of 153.1 per game. The Cats sit ninth with 146.
3. The trip down the highway won't faze North Melbourne, having won their past encounter at GMHBA Stadium in 2015. Todd Goldstein (42 hit outs, 21 disposals) and Sam Wright (32 disposals) were among the Roos' best on the day.
4. Lincoln McCarthy returned to Geelong's line-up last week for the first time since round three last year. After a series of foot and groin setbacks, the small forward finished with two majors.
5. Cats midfielder Jordan Cunico has been quietly building in his second AFL season. The 22-year-old picked up 24 possessions last week against the Suns – a career-high.
6. Potential All-Australian Shaun Higgins has catapulted 26 places in the Schick AFL Player Ratings off the back of a starring performance against Brisbane. He is now ranked 64th in the competition, his highest place since it started.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
The milestones keeping rolling in for Gary Ablett, playing his 200th Geelong match on Saturday. After a homecoming at GMHBA Stadium in round 10, then a return to Metricon Stadium last week, Ablett could be in for a big week against Roos stopper Ben Jacobs. The last time they met, in round 14, 2015, Ablett collected 31 disposals and three goals.
PREDICTION: Geelong by 8 points.
