Geelong Cats vs North Melbourne Kangaroos
Geelong and North Melbourne could not be in better form leading into their round 18 encounter, winning last week by 101 and 122 points respectively. Three wins separate the Kangaroos from the top eight but their ladder position belies their ability. Geelong knows this better than most, seizing a winning four point lead in the dying seconds of their previous meeting this year. Narrow losses have been the theme of North Melbourne’s season, defeated by less than a goal on five occasions. In four of those matches the Kangaroos sacrificed a substantial lead, which has brought into question the on-field leadership at the club. The playing group were ruthless against the Demons last week, but their biggest win of the season came at a cost, losing skipper Andrew Swallow with a ruptured achilles. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that leaders emerge from within the North Melbourne side. For the Kangaroos to cause an upset against the second placed Cats this Friday night, one of more of the selected 22 must step up to fill the void left by their injured captain.

Last Time They Met
Round 2, 2013, Etihad Stadium
Geelong            16 - 16 - 112
Nth Melbourne  17 - 6 - 108

The clash between the Cats and the Kangaroos earlier in the season was a nail-biting affair. North Melbourne started the match strongly to lead at quarter time and kicked on in the second term to take a 41 point lead. Two goals from Allen Christensen late in the quarter lessened the deficit but the Kangaroos had all the momentum and a 35 point buffer at the major break. Geelong started the third quarter like a new team, full of run and confidence. They regained some ascendancy and went into the final change only 10 points behind after Mitch Duncan kicked a goal on the three quarter time siren. The Cats kicked 10 goals to five in the second half but inaccuracy nearly cost them the match. They had scored 2 goals and 8 behinds with 30 seconds left on the clock when Jimmy Bartel was awarded a free kick in the Cat’s forward line. Indiscipline from the North Melbourne defence resulted in a 50m penalty, allowing Bartel to score the goal that would put Geelong 4 points ahead and guarantee victory.

Players to Watch
TOM HAWKINS vs SCOTT THOMPSON
Hawkins showed promising glimpses two weeks ago in Adelaide and was back to his All-Australian best against St Kilda, kicking five goals. He has struggled to stay involved in matches this season and has been unable to consistently reach the high standards he set last year. Hawkins has still managed 43 goals this season, placing him eighth in the Coleman Medal and the top scorer at the Cats. This impressive return is a result of growing maturity and an enhanced understanding of the key forward role. Another big improvement is Hawkins’ accuracy, scoring five straight goals last week and shooting at over 78% for the season. Hawkins is in red hot form and, with James Podsiadly missing through suspension, he will be sure to receive plenty of attention from the North Melbourne defence. The Kangaroo most likely to take on Hawkins is Scott Thompson. Since his debut in round one, 2008, Thompson has played 110 games for North Melbourne and is fast becoming an elite tall defender. He had a reputation as a serial pest and was criticised for tactics he employed early in his career. Scrutiny reached its peak in his eventful on-field battle with Barry Hall in a match in 2010. Thompson has altered public perception over the last three seasons with high quality performances. He finished last year strongly, earning three brownlow votes in round 21 when he kept Travis Cloke scoreless, and again in round 23 for his 39 possession effort against the Giants. Thompson carried that good form into the 2013 season and has asserted himself as the best key defender at North Melbourne.

STEVEN MOTLOP vs LINDSAY THOMAS
It is unlikely that Motlop and Thomas will line up against each other on Friday night, but the two players perform a very similar role for their teams and are among the most mercurial in the AFL. Motlop has only missed one game this season and has got better the further the season has progressed. He averages 18 disposals and just under two goals a game. Motlop has incredible acceleration and agility, able to run rings around the opposition and seize even the slightest opportunities. With his speed and goal sense he broke into the Geelong side as a small forward and has been increasingly rotated through the midfield this year. Motlop’s endurance and work ethic is underrated but easy to overlook when he delivers sensational performances like his four goal effort last week. Lindsay Thomas shares many attributes with young Motlop and is in the best form of his career. Leading the Kangaroos this year, Thomas is currently ranked seventh in the AFL with 45 goals. He had drifted from the Coleman Medal leaders after missing rounds 15 and 16 through suspension, but returned with a vengeance to kick six goals against Carlton. Amazingly he averages a goal with every third kick. North Melbourne and Geelong are both equipped with several talented and versatile talls, so the performance of Thomas and Motlop will have a big impact on the outcome of the match. At the very least, these two on-field magicians will provide exciting additions to the highlights reel.

Did You Know?
Scott Thompson learnt the game of Australian football in Geelong before he was drafted to the Kangaroos. Thompson played with South Barwon and then did a two year apprenticeship with Geelong in the VFL. He played for the Bendigo Bank Cats in 2006 and was part of their premiership winning side in 2007.

The longest winning run in the history of the Geelong Football Club is against North Melbourne. Spanning 15 years, the Kangaroos played 23 matches against Geelong without a victory. This undefeated streak lasted from 1925 to 1939, eclipsing the Cats’ current day record against the Hawks.