Despite winning every Victorian game in 2014, Geelong has only once flown home victorious this year, against Brisbane in Round 2.
“It’s interesting because the away record had been so good (at Geelong), but they lost to Fremantle, lost to Port Adelaide, lost to Sydney… The coach looks at that and that’s red lights going, “Hang on, why can’t we travel anymore?” so I think it’ll be a big focus,” Gullan said.
It’s clear the midfield battle will be intense, with the Suns led by former Geelong star Gary Ablett who will undoubtedly encounter a hard tag from the Cats, with AFL journalist Scott Gullan tipping the new No. 29 to take on his predecessor.
“Cam Guthrie, number 29, he’s got a bit of ‘Gaz’ about him, he’s the obvious match up,” Gullan told Cats TV in this week’s Argue the Toss.
“He’s been outstanding this year, gone to another level.
“I mean, good luck trying to stop ‘Gaz’, but as long as you’re with him for his 30 touches, I think that’s the only way you can approach it.
“But (the Cats) know better than anyone about ‘Gaz’,” Gullan said.
Last time Geelong took on the Suns, Ablett had 34 disposals and kicked two goals, one of which was a hot contender for goal of the year if not the decade, obliging Geelong faithful to stand and applaud the phenomenal former Cat.
Former teammate and good friend Steve Johnson stuck by Ablett’s side last time and the pair certainly didn’t hold back on one another.
“It was fun to watch, that’s Stevie sort of, he needs little challenges like that to keep him focused and playing on ‘Gazza’ he would have thought, “Yeah, I’m going to show him what I can do,” so it wouldn’t surprise me (to see Johnson play on him again),” Gullan said.
“It’d be an enthralling match up knowing steven, it’s the sort of thing that he’d set himself and put his hand up to the coach,” Gullan said.
Tom Hawkins ended the match with three goals and a career high 13 goals against St Kilda on Sunday, whilst Shane Kersten kicked 6 in the VFL, opening up the forward line options.
“It’s interesting because on Sunday, the Cats were 80 points up and Hawk hadn’t kicked a goal.
“He’d been leading more up the ground then I’d seen, hence why he had so many marks,” Gullan said.
Ruckman Hamish McIntosh was managed last week and didn’t play against the Saints however, you’d expect to see him back in the side against the Suns, igniting the debate about whether to play the three ruckmen and potentially utilise one as another forward.
“Hamish McIntosh, who was managed last week, you’d think he’d come back, you’ve got Dawson Simpson (in the ruck), so Hamish can play forward more.
“Play Hamish and Kersten (deep) and let ‘Hawk’ run around,” Gullan suggested.
To hear more from Scott Gullan about the upcoming Gold Coast game and some exciting youngsters pushing for selection, click on the video above.
