GEELONG VS GOLD COAST
The Round 10 clash between the Cats and Suns marks an historic occasion in the 153 year history of the Geelong Football Club. Once dawn turns to dark Simonds Stadium will be bathed in light for the Cat’s first ever night game in Geelong. It is fitting that after retired Geelong champions do a lap of honour before the game, Gary Ablett will play his first match at Kardinia Park in Gold Coast colours. The Suns have taken a big step forward this year, their third in the AFL, with a current win-loss record of 4-5. They really challenged ladder leaders Hawthorn last week at the MCG, extending their 11 point half time lead to 17 before being overrun by the more experienced Hawks. Geelong are sitting second on the ladder, behind Hawthorn only by percentage. After a performing strongly interstate to defeat Port Adelaide by 48 points last week, the Cats will be confident they can beat the 12th placed Suns at home on Saturday night.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 15, 2012 at Metricon Stadium
Geelong Cats defeated Gold Coast Suns
15 - 20 - 110                   13 - 18 - 96

KEY MATCH UPS
Joel Selwood vs Gary Ablett
Gary Ablett became the first captain of the Gold Coast Suns after moving there from Geelong at the end of 2010. Ablett, averaging 31.8 possessions this season, has continued to produce football of the highest quality since his move to Queensland. He has also embraced the challenge of leading young, inexperienced footballers and helping an expansion club establish itself in a rugby dominated market. Joel Selwood is a young captain leading a group filled with experienced and successful players. The new role has not affected his football, ranking in Geelong’s top 5 for disposals, contested possessions, clearances and tackles. Both Selwood and Ablett have the ability to impose themselves on a match and, through their on field example, inspire better performance from their teams. This quality cannot be quantified with statistics but will no doubt be on display at Kardinia Park.

James Kelly vs Jaeger O’Meara
James Kelly will be a welcome return to the Geelong side after missing the past 2 matches through suspension. Kelly leads the Cats in tackles, averaging 7.7 a game, and in contested possessions, averaging 12 a game, bringing important physicality to Geelong’s relatively inexperienced midfield. Gold Coast’s Jaeger O’Meara, playing his first season of AFL football, is also inexperienced but is fast becoming an elite on-baller. Drafted to the Suns as a 17 year old in 2011, he is coming off a 21 disposal match against Hawthorn, a touch above his 2012 average of 20.6. O’Meara brings strength and physical pressure that belies his youth, second only to Ablett in tackles for the Suns this season with an average of 4.9 a game. Both Kelly and O’Meara are unflinching in their attack on the football so the two are sure to clash at the stoppages on Saturday night.

Tom Hawkins vs Rory Thompson
Rory Thompson grew up on the Gold Coast, playing with the Southport Sharks, and joined the Suns in 2009 as a local talent access selection. Starting as a forward, Thompson moved to the back line midway through the 2011 and has proved a valuable defender in the absence of Nathan Bock. Thompson performed well last week, frustrating Buddy Franklin for much of the first half. The Suns’ best tall defender will have his hands full again this week playing on Tom Hawkins, who returned to form with 6 goals against Port Adelaide. The Tomahawk has kicked 25.5 this season and, despite a back complaint that has troubled him for much of the season, is looking increasingly mobile and increasingly dangerous in the forward line for the Cats.

DID YOU KNOW?
In 2012 Geelong had more debutantes than the Gold Coast. Last year 6 players made their debut for the Suns in their second season in the AFL. The Cats had 10 players debut last year, second only to Greater Western Sydney who debuted 36 players in their inaugural season.  
The last time the Cats played Gold Coast at Simonds Stadium was in Round 20, 2011. Geelong kicked 29-14-188 to defeat the Suns by 150 points; the 10th highest score and 5th highest winning margin in the club’s history.