1 MITCH BROWN has the opportunity to cement the second tall forward position as his own with the season ending injury to Nathan Vardy and mounted a strong case in the first game of the season. Brown kicked the first of his three goals just 90 seconds after the opening bounce, starting the game in the best possible fashion. He presented well and launched himself at every possible marking contest, finishing with 14 disposals and five inside 50s.
AF: 74
DT: 88

3 JIMMY BARTEL put on a magnificent display, delighting the home crowd and celebrating his 250 game milestone in style. Coach Chris Scott had been very public in the lead up to round one about plans to play Bartel in the forward line this season and it proved a master move with Bartel kicking a career high four goals. Now very much a veteran, Bartel played 99% of game time and collected 21 disposals and five marks. The 2007 Brownlow medalist set the game alight with three goals in the second quarter, displaying the versatility that has made him one the most decorated players in football history. By the end of the match Geelong fans were cheering Bartel every time he got near the ball and chanted has name as the match drew to a close.
AF: 99
DT: 115

4 ANDREW MACKIE was defensively accountable and dangerous on the rebound, displaying the form that earned him All-Australian honours for the first time last year. He used his long, accurate kicking with devastating effect, tallying 18 kicks from a total of 23 possessions. Mackie took eight marks, more than any player on the ground, and executed a brilliant spoil running back with the flight to prevent an Adelaide goal on the cusp of half time.
AF: 104
DT: 109

5 TRAVIS VARCOE was utilised all over the ground throughout the match, regularly swapping between attack, defence and the midfield. He had a quiet third quarter but mode the most of his opportunities, effective with 13 of his 15 disposals. Varcoe was most influential with his defensive efforts, chasing opponents relentlessly and making six tackles for the match.
AF: 73
DT: 63

6 LINCOLN McCARTHY was selected for his second AFL game after a strong summer and good form in the preseason competition. The young Cat was lively inside attacking 50m, showing the foot speed and crumbing ability to become a dangerous small forward. Despite being one of the smallest on the ground McCarthy committed himself to each contest, earning every one of his nine possessions.    
AF: 46
DT: 54

7 HARRY TAYLOR has been increasingly used as a swing man over the past few seasons but for the first time was named at centre half forward on the team sheet. His time in attack was fleeting, spending the majority of the game at back half. He took five marks and lead the way with a game high nine spoils. Taylor had the aerial advantage against Eddie Betts, his opponent for much of the night, and was able to match the new Adelaide recruit at ground level, collecting 14 disposals.
AF: 59
DT: 75

9 JAMES KELLY was one of the Cats’ best players on Thursday night, tallying 24 disposals from across half back. The Geelong veteran has forged a successful career as a tough inside midfielder but looked right at home in defence. He made five tackles, always a feature of Kelly’s game, and still had an impact at stoppages with three clearances.
AF: 100
DT: 102

13 TOM LONERGAN went head to head with former teammate James Podisiadly and took the honours from the contest. Lonergan was as reliable as ever on the last line of defence, taking seven marks and making six tackles. He was indomitable inside the back 50m, accumulating 12 disposals and adding Podsiadly to the list of power forwards he has kept goalless.
AF: 74
DT: 68

14 JOEL SELWOOD was simply outstanding, an on-field general who lead from the front in every facet of the game. He tallied a game high 34 disposals and won a massive nine clearances, more than doubling the output of the next best player on the field. Selwood’s ability to add scoreboard contribution to midfield dominance elevated his game to new heights last year and he repeated the effort on Thursday night with six inside 50s and two goals.
AF: 132
DF: 157

16 DAWSON SIMPSON was a last minute inclusion, brought into the team in place of George Horlin-Smith. Simpson started the match in the ruck against Crow Sam Jacobs, moving forward late in the first quarter where he crumbed the ball with the skill of a man one foot shorter and snapped Geelong’s six goal for the term. He won 17 hit-outs and tallied five disposals, all of which were effective, before he was substituted for Mark Blicavs in the third term.
AF: 43
DT: 54

17 HAMISH McINTOSH had to wait more than a year to run out in the blue and white hoops after joining the Cats at the end of the 2012 season. He started his Geelong debut in the best possible way, winning his first ruck contest and kicking a 50m goal on the run only minutes later with his first kick. The former Kangaroo collected 12 touches and won 19 hit-outs for the game. He could have added a second goal in the last term but displayed a sense of occasion and passed to Jimmy Bartel on goal line to score his fourth major in his 250th match.
AF: 61
DT: 80

19 TAYLOR HUNT collected 16 disposals playing the majority of the match on the half back flank. The game was played at a very fast pace with strong tackling intensity from both sides. Hunt struggled to keep his composure in the opening term but soon adjusted, able to use his foot speed effectively and send the Cats inside forward 50 on three occasions with his long kicking.
AF: 52
DT: 53

20 STEVE JOHNSON was allowed to play unopposed for the early part of the match and quickly amassed disposals and forward entries. He continued to find space with hard running, finishing with a total of 31 possessions, eight of which were inside 50s. Johnson took six marks for the game and kicked a fantastic goal from outside 50m in the final term, regaining the lead for Geelong.
AF: 121
DT: 116

21 JORDAN MURDOCH tallied 14 disposals playing as a small forward and consistently applied pressure on the Adelaide defence, an important aspect of his role. He copped a heavy blow in the first quarter, backing bravely into a marking contest inside attacking 50, and kicked a goal to finish off strong team play in the second term. Wave after wave of Geelong tackles in their forward half forced Adelaide to relinquish possession and Murdoch pounced on the loose ball, balking an opponent before snapping a goal.
AF: 68
DT: 60

22 MITCH DUNCAN helped to get Geelong off to a dream start, adding the team’s second goal just four minutes into the game. The young Cat was added to the leadership group over the off season and was not burdened by the responsibility, amassing 19 possession with 89.5% disposal efficiency.
AF: 85
DT: 92

23 JOSH CADDY played an outstanding game, collecting 20 possessions and kicking one goal. When Adelaide hit the front at the start of the final term Caddy imposed himself on the match, forcing his way through congestion and showing composure when he found space. Caddy was forced from the ground under the blood after suffering a gash to the head from the boot of his captain Joel Selwood. He clearly doesn’t hold a grudge as he sacrificed a goal scoring opportunity late in the final term, choosing to pass to Selwood on the goal line.
AF: 85
DT: 81

25 JARED RIVERS delivered a strong performance to start his second season with the Cats, taking five marks and achieving 100% effectiveness with his eight possessions. On multiple occasions Rivers ran with the flight of the ball to compete in marking contests, putting himself in danger to deny Adelaide scoring opportunities. With the retirement of Joel Corey, and Bartel and Guthrie utilised in different positions, Rivers’ experience and positional awareness was very important for the Geelong defence against the Crows.
AF: 48
DT: 52

26 TOM HAWKINS fell awkwardly in a marking contest in the first few minutes of the match and landing heavily on his back, leaving the Geelong medical staff and supporters with their hearts in their mouths. The back injury that plagued Hawkins for the entire 2013 season did not appear to be aggravated by the knock and he took the first of his five marks and kicked a goal soon after.
AF: 33
DT: 35

27 MATHEW STOKES was prolific in 2013, a career best year, and carried his ball winning form into round one with 28 possessions. He won three clearances playing most of the match in the midfield and kicked the Cats’ only goal in the third term. Stokes delivered two crunching tackles in the first half, both times on opponents who were exposed, waiting to receive lofted handballs and subsequently driven hard into the ground.
AF: 104
DT: 107

29 CAMERON GUTHRIE was charged with the difficult task of shutting down gun Adelaide onballer Patrick Dangerfield. A versatile defender, he was exposed to the midfield in the preseason matches after enhancing his endurance over the summer. Guthrie’s fitness was tested in his first tagging role but he proved up to the task, keeping the champion Crow out of the match in the first half and making him earn every possession. Guthrie collected 13 possessions himself and made an incredible 11 tackles, easily the most of any player on the ground.
AF: 79
DT: 76

44 COREY ENRIGHT was defensively accountable and a rebounding threat, the effective combination that has made him such an awarded defender over his career. Playing across the half back line and at times up on the wing, Enright tallied 20 disposals. He took seven marks and made seven tackles for the match and even managed to sneak forward and kick a goal in the second quarter.
AF: 91
DT: 97

46 MARK BLICAVS was the starting substitute and donned the green vest until midway through the third quarter.  He came on for Dawson Simpson and quickly got involved in the play to make an immediate impact. Blicavs provided good support for Hamish McIntosh and great run when players around him began to tire. Starting his second season of AFL Blicavs appeared determined and decisive, collecting six disposals and three hit-outs in just over a quarter of football.
AF: 34
DT: 36