The Cats are back on the winner's list and looking to solidfy their position in the top four as they take on Port Adelaide at Simonds Stadium in round 10. Cats Media have indentified four points of interest to follow:

Rest up or keep on rolling

Last week was one to remember for the Cats: welcoming the new $91 million Charles Brownlow Stand into the world with a comprehensive 23-point win; a win which snapped a three-game losing streak that threatened to derail their season altogether.

Geelong has been granted just six days to recover and reload for their next match on Thursday night, which is nothing unusual in the modern-day AFL.

What is unusual is the fact their opponents, Port Adelaide, have not only travelled to China for their last fixture, but will have had an 11-day break by the time they run out onto Simonds Stadium and face the Cats.

“We won’t be a club to use the draw or six-day breaks as an excuse for poor performance. We’ll be ready to perform on Thursday night,” Chris Scott told the media this week, signalling how little credence his side will place on the issue.

But regardless, we are not yet a year removed from the first instance of the pre-finals bye concept, which in 2016 saw both Geelong and Greater Western Sydney knocked out of their preliminary finals despite earning the week off.

Whether the advantage rests with the Cats who keep on rolling like any other week, whether it sits with Port Adelaide who come into the game fresh or whether it’s a non-factor remains to be seen.

Charlie Dixon celebrates a goal against the Suns in Shanghai. (Photo: AFL Photos) 

Throw your arms around me

After copping it all week for their dismal tackling display against the Bombers in round eight, the Cats wrapped up anything with a red, blue and white jumper on last Friday night. Not only that, once they had them within arm’s length, Geelong drove their opponents into the ground with intent.

The tone was set within the first minute when Patrick Dangerfield registered his first of 12 tackles for the night by nabbing young gun Marcus Bontempelli holding the ball.

The 2016 Brownlow medallist went back and nailed the set shot from outside 50 and the Cats had set the standard.

Mitch Duncan had 18 tackles, Scott Selwood 17 while Zac Smith and Joel Selwood had 10 and 8 respectively.

It all culminated in a new club-record of 134 tackles and a 23-point win over the reigning premier.

That’s all well and good, but how do you back it up? The Cats have proven they can bring ferocious and manic pressure at the contest for a full four quarters. Can they do it for eight in two weeks?

Joel Selwood wraps up Matt Suckling in a tackle last week. (Photos: AFL Photos)

Milestone Men

Daniel Menzel will pay his 50^th game on Thursday night at Simonds Stadium. For any other player, the fanfare would be minimal and the milestone only minor in the grand scheme of things.

That’s if it hadn’t taken eight seasons and four knee constructions to get there.

The 25-year-old’s story has been well documented. We all think we know what Menzel may have been had luck been on his side, but that he has finally made it 50 games is a testament to his character – or, as he would say, his “mental toughness” and “mental fortitude”.

Conversely, Mark Blicavs has raced to 100 games since arriving at Geelong via pick 54 in the 2012 rookie draft.

His story too is now widely-known in football, a steeplechaser who arrived on the scene and quite literally changed the game as we know it through a little tactic some like to call “third-man up”.

Congratulations to both ahead of Thursday night and go well.

Daniel Menzel will play his 50th game this week. (Photo: AFL Photos) 

Fair dinkum unbelievable

Simmering away in the background of what is a pivotal clash for four points is the chance to celebrate and recognise the team that broke the 44-year drought – the heroes of 2007.

Current captain Joel Selwood and defender Andrew Mackie will run out to face Port Adelaide, while club greats Matthew Scarlett and Corey Enright will take their places in the coach’s box.

But former senior coach Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson and almost all of the 22 players who were apart of the 119-point win over the Power will be present on Thursday night, to remember the season they brought Geelong the flag it so thoroughly deserved and needed. 

The 2007 premiership side will be celebrated on Thursday night at Simonds Stadium. (Photo: AFL Photos)