ROUND 17
Opponent: Greater Western Sydney
Venue: StarTrack Oval Canberra - Saturday, July 25, 1.45pm
This shapes as a crucial match, given both teams are in the race for positions in the lower half of the top eight. The Cats have never lost to the Giants, although the margins have been narrowing in recent years. In 2012, Geelong won its first game against Greater Western Sydney by 65 points. A year later, the Cats defeated the Giants by 59 points. Last season, however, the game was a genuine contest. The Cats were 36 points up early in the last quarter but had to withstand a fast and furious finish from the men in orange. The final margin was just seven points.
ROUND 18
Opponent: Brisbane Lions
Venue: Simonds Stadium - Saturday, August 1, 1.45pm
The Cats have won 13 of their past 15 games against the Lions. In fact, the boys from Brisbane haven't beaten Geelong at Simonds Stadium since 2003. Last year Geelong rounded out its home and away campaign with a 62-point win over the Lions. Tom Hawkins was the star of the show, kicking seven goals.
Buy your tickets for the big game against the Lions here
ROUND 19
Opponent: Sydney Swans
Venue: Simonds Stadium - Saturday, August 8, 7.20pm
Chris Scott's team hasn't beaten the Swans since 2013, and the last two games against them have been disappointing. Geelong was humbled to the tune of 110 points by the Swans at the last SCG last season. The Cats stuck with the Swans for three quarters when they met at ANZ Stadium in round eight, but the home side ran away in the last term to win by 43 points. That was the night that Mitch Duncan broke his foot. It will be intriguing to see what sort of form the Swans are in by the time this game is played.
Buy your tickets for the big game against the Swans here
ROUND 20
Opponent: Hawthorn
Venue: MCG (Cats home game) - Saturday, August 15, 7.20pm
The Kennett Curse is now well and truly in the past, as the Cats have lost four of their past five games against the Hawks, who, barring some major mishaps, will still be the premiership favourites when this game rolls around. Geelong certainly came off second-best when the teams met four months ago, in round one. Hawthorn led from start to finish that day, with the final margin blowing out to 62 points.
ROUND 21
Opponent: St Kilda
Venue: Etihad Stadium (away game) - Saturday, August 22, 7.20pm
The Cats have won their past five games against the Saints, and the two most recent meetings between the teams have been very one-sided affairs. Geelong defeated St Kilda by 101 points in round 18, 2013. The Cats then repeated the dose with a 96-point win over the Saints in round 13, 2014.
ROUND 22
Opponent: Collingwood
Venue: MCG (home game) - Friday, August 28, 7.50pm
This shapes as another crucial clash between teams that have spent much of the season in similar positions on the ladder. Geelong has won its past two games against Collingwood, and the Cats will be buoyed by their brilliant performance against the Magpies earlier this year. That night at the MCG the Cats stamped their authority on the contest from the outset, booting seven goals to one in the opening quarter. The Pies fought back in the second half, but Geelong then cantered away again to win by 41 points.
ROUND 23
Opponent: Adelaide
Venue: Simonds Stadium - TBA
If the Cats and Crows can both find some good form in the coming weeks, this could be a vitally important game. The Cats have a mixed recent record against Adelaide, having won two of their past four games against the men from the City of Churches. However, Geelong hasn't lost to the Crows at Simonds Stadium since round 10, 2003. The time and date for this match is yet to be decided. It will be announced in the coming weeks.
