Five things we loved about the Cats' AFL and VFL performances on the weekend …

1. WE'RE BACK ON TRACK FOR THE FINALS
Those horrible mid-season losses to Melbourne and North Melbourne suddenly seem a long time ago. The Cats' 56-point win over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday was their third victory on the trot and lifted the team above Adelaide and into the top eight. This weekend's blockbuster clash with the fourth-placed Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium will go a long way to determining whether Geelong will be part of the finals action for a ninth consecutive season.

2. JOSH WALKER'S STRAIGHT KICKING
Big Joshy has had to work extremely hard to win a regular place in the AFL line-up, and now he is starting to reap the rewards. The 22-year-old kicked a career-high five straight goals at Simonds Stadium on Saturday, spearheading Geelong's dominant performance. Walker, Tom Hawkins and Steve Johnson have begun working very impressively together inside the forward 50, and their efforts have helped propel the Cats back into finals calculations.

3. JOEL SELWOOD'S RED-HOT PERFORMANCE
The Cats' inspirational skipper was a brilliant contributor in the demolition of the Lions. As Champion Data pointed out at the end of the game, Selwood led all players for metres gained (575), tackles (11) score assists (6) and score involvements (12). He also had 27 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency.

4. GEORGE HORLIN-SMITH'S VFL FORM
The man known as 'Horlo' was everywhere in the Cats' 71-point VFL win over Frankston on Sunday. Horlin-Smith racked up 43 disposals, including 23 contested possessions. He also laid eight tackles, won eight clearances, was credited with eight inside-50s and kicked a goal. He can't do much more than that to put his hand up for a recall to the AFL side.

5. DANIEL MENZEL DOES IT AGAIN
There is a constant fascination with Menzel's performances in the VFL, and the 23-year-old, who has come back after four knee reconstructions, has been defying the odds. He was among the Cats' best players in the win over the Dolphins, finishing with 21 disposals, three goals and nine marks, including a speccie. An AFL comeback later this season is looking more likely by the week.