Prior to last week’s Round 19 clash against North Melbourne, Mathew Stokes, Steven Motlop and Allen Christensen had only played ten minutes of football together for season 2014.

Cats coach Chris Scott whipped out the stat in the post-game press conference and sung praise for the trio with each battling injury throughout the year.

“They looked fantastic against North Melbourne and (Scott’s statistic was correct), those little fella’s had only played ten minutes together for the season, I tell you what, against North when we saw them all out there for a whole game, it was something to see,” AFL journalist Adam McNicol told CatsTV.

Stokes missed several weeks in the middle of the season due to an ankle injury suffered against Gold Coast in Round 14 but has been one of the key performers for the Cats, averaging 29 disposals (excluding being subbed out early in Round 14) with a career-high 38 disposals against West Coast in Round 4.

Motlop was sidelined until Round 7 this year following knee surgery during the preseason and has since averaged 21 disposals with a best on ground performance against St Kilda in Round 13.

“Stevie Motlop is in red hot form, he’s been fantastic for probably six weeks now,” McNicol said.

Christensen also underwent surgery in the preseason, for a lingering back issue.

Returning in Round 14, the fleet-footed midfielder has shown consistent form along with a stellar best on ground performance against the Kangaroo’s on Saturday night.

“That was nearly the best game (Christensen) has played for Geelong, 29 touches, absolutely sensational.

“The Cats really gave Bundy a lot of time to get over that back surgery he had in February and that’s really paying off now.

“He’s come back fit instead of coming back and having to ease him in as the sub or something like that, they’ve brought him back fit and ready to go and look at him go!” McNicol said.

To hear from Adam McNicol about the upcoming Fremantle game, as well as Joel Selwood’s Brownlow chances, click on the video above.