1. Cats were wounded
After losing Tom Hawkins prior to the match because of a family illness, the Cats lost Jimmy Bartel early after hurting his left knee when Michael Rischitelli slid in under him to win the ball. Geelong then lost Mathew Stokes at half-time to an ankle injury and then Tom Lonergan went down after he copped Sam Day's knee in the back of his head during a marking contest. Lonergan was on the ground for five minutes while trainers attended to him. He left the ground on the motorised cart in a neck brace. The Cats managed to hold on for a gritty win, but it remains to be seen how the injuries will affect the side in the coming weeks. 

2. Geelong spluttered but got there
Down to one man on the bench in the last quarter after being nowhere near their best in the first half, the Cats dug deep to hang on. Mark Blicavs – who was critical in a desperate last quarter – kicked the sealer with just 30 seconds remaining. The Cats had regained the lead at the 11-minute mark of the third quarter on the back of six straight goals but had to play on heart in the final term. Up until half-time they had looked rattled, were smashed out of the centre and their ball use was ordinary at best. However skipper Joel Selwood lifted after the main break and inspired the Cats with a superb individual performance. It wasn't a pretty win but it was brave.

3. Walker did the job required
All Geelong people were feeling for Tom Hawkins as he missed due to a family illness. Josh Walker took his place and did a great job filling the void. He kicked four goals and created contest after contest to give the Cats a forward target. He also combined well with Mitch Clark, who was playing his 100th game, and the pair were instrumental in getting the Cats over the line. Walker remains the understudy but he is a dominant VFL player who remains a capable AFL player. 

4. Rischitelli steps up to plate
With Gary Ablett ruled out, and Jarrod Harbrow and Mitch Hallahan missing, the Suns needed a lift from somewhere. Veteran Michael Rischitelli, who has lived in the shadows of Ablett at the Suns, stepped up in the first half. He dominated, kicking a brilliant stoppage goal, winning 18 disposals, six clearances and proved to his younger teammates the game was winnable. With Rischitelli and David Swallow doing the bullocking work, Harley Bennell, Jack Martin, Jarrod Garlett and Aaron Hall could use their pace and smarts to create problems for Geelong. The Cats took until the third quarter to regain their composure but at least the Suns know they can perform without Ablett.

5. Is either team a contender?
After a fighting victory, the Cats still have not lost three consecutive games in one season under Chris Scott. They gave the coach a scare in his 100th game but he would have been proud of their effort in a gripping last quarter. Geelong's concerns remain its midfield and its lack of run out of defence but it remains a dangerous proposition when it causes a turnover and has the experience to trouble most middle tier teams. The Suns have had a shocking start to the season after losing to Melbourne and St Kilda but they showed they have stabilised under Rodney Eade. They wasted their chances kicking 18 behinds from 31 scoring shots and having 67 inside 50s. If they can find their mojo they will win more often than not at home.