The 2010 VFL season gets underway this weekend for the Bendigo Bank Cats and there is much to look forward to.

Fixture Highlights

Round 1 - Casey Scorpions Vs Geelong Cats
Opening match of the season involving high profile No.1 draft pick Jack Watts. The match will be played under lights at Casey Fields

Round 2 - Geelong Cats Vs Box Hill Hawks
The first home match at Skilled Stadium for 2010. A big day for all involved the club with the unveiling of the 2009 AFL premiership flag. Cats will be out for revenge against the side that ended their 2009 season.

Round 6 - Gold Coast Vs Geelong Cats
Will Nathan Ablett line up against his former club for the first time? The Cats play Gold Cioast twice in what will be the Gold Coast’s only season in the VFL before they enter the AFL in 2011. The Bendigo Bank Cats travel interstate for the first time since Tasmania exited the competition. A convenient double header for Cats fans with the AFL side playing at the GABBA that night.

Round 8 - North Ballarat Vs Geelong Cats
A road trip to Eureka Stadium to take on the reigning back to back premiers North Ballarat Roosters. The Cats put up a good fight against the Roosters in a practice match two weeks ago, and will need to beat some of the top teams if they want to take part in finals action.

Round 18 - Geelong Cats Vs North Ballarat
The result of the final home and away game of the season against the reigning premiers could mean the difference between a finals berth and an early season exit for the Cats. Skilled Stadium may provide the advantage.

Other 2010 VFL Fixture Facts:

  • 10 Saturday matches, 8 Sunday matches
  • 9 matches at Skilled Stadium.
  • No match time clashes with AFL.
  • Split Round Bye on same weekend as the AFL.
  • VFL Representative Match Vs Western Australia Saturday 22nd May in WA
  • AFL Curtain Raisers in rounds 4, 6, 10:
  • Teams played twice: North Ballarat, Box Hill Hawks, Collingwood, Port Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
  • Bendigo Bank Cats first ever night match at Casey Fields - Round 1 Vs Casey Scorpions
  • Cats first VFL matches at Victoria Park (Round 5 - Collingwood), Southport (Round 6 - Gold Coast) and Craigieburn (Round 14 - Coburg Tigers).
  • The Cats play two stand alone Saturday games at Skilled while the AFL side is interstate - AFL rds 16 & 18 -

Key Players:

 

Forwards:

Ben Johnson
Ben joins ‘Pods’ as a graduate from the clubs VFL list to the AFL rookie list. Johnson shot to prominence last year with a match winning 8 goal performance against the Sandringham Zebras. Had shoulder surgery in the off-season but has taken part in all of the practice matches and not missed a beat. Johnson is vitally important to the side - as he can play key positions at both ends of the ground. If Pods is on regular AFL duty, then he could find himself playing as a more permanent forward.

Midfield

Matthew Firman
The co-captain of the Bendigo Bank Cats always leads from the front with his fearless attack on the ball. The 2007 VFL premiership player appears to be over the hamstring problems which have plagued him in recent seasons. At 24 Firman is one of the ‘veterans’ of the side with 60 VFL games to his name.

Ben Raidme
Raidme was the only VFL player to play all 19 games in 2009 and was nominated for the Fothergill-Round Medal (awarded to the VFL’s most promising young player). The dashing wingman averaged 25 disposals and managed to successfully tag a number of high profile players. Another of the former Geelong Falcons in the squad.

Defence
Jack Hollmer
The ever reliable Hollmer has saddled up for his 4th VFL season and looks set to play his 50th VFL match in 2010. Hollmer is a highly valued member of the team due to his versatility, courage and the fact that he rarely plays a bad game. Has recently undergone elbow surgery and will miss the start of the season.

Daniel O’Keefe
New recruit Daniel O’Keefe adds a great deal of depth and talent to the Geelong VFL list. The former Sydney Swan was taken in the first round of the 2006 national draft and is one of nine former Geelong Falcons on the VFL list. After a modified pre-season, O’Keefe looks to set make a big impact in his first season in the VFL.

X Factor
Adam Varcoe
After his 20 possession, 3 goal performance against Collingwood last week Adam Varcoe has got X all over him. The lightning quick small has improved a great deal since his debut season. His tenacious tackling is sure to put a great deal of fear into opposition defenders. Will we one day see two Varcoe’s on the ground at the same time during an AFL match - if so it will be well worth the $30 admission fee!

Prediction

After an early exit in the 2009 finals, the Cats will be keen to make amends in 2010 and hopefully go deeper into the finals series.

VFL listed players Matthew Firman, Jonathan Simpkin, Jack Hollmer and Ben Raidme are vitally important to the Cats success and will need to have good seasons.

However the success of the season may all come down to one thing - injuries. If the majority of the club’s AFL list and experienced VFL players can stay out of the medical room then the Cats are capable of beating just about anyone on their day.

As was shown during the 2009 season when the young Cats went on a remarkable 6 match winning steak - the key for the group is confidence.

Predicted finish: top 6