Geelong’s VFL side will enter its most difficult stretch of the season this week as the third-placed side begins its assault on the top reaches of the table.

The Cats will take on the second-placed Casey on Saturday before a date with the table-topping Richmond arrives after a round 17 bye.

Geelong currently sit third on the ladder after winning their last seven games, a game and percentage behind Richmond and Casey with a 10-3 record.

The task becomes all the more difficult this week with the Cats beginning to lose some top-end AFL talent, as high-profile Cats returning from injury make their way back to AFL level.

The loss of Lachie Henderson leaves a hole in the Geelong defence, meaning the midfield play of Jordan Keras, Luke Kiel, James Tsitas and skipper Tom Atkins becomes all the more important.

Sam Simpson and Wylie Buzza come back into the mix after facing Adelaide last week, while the Cats will lose Nakia Cockatoo to injury and Jordan Cunico to an AFL recall.

Match Details
Geelong Cats vs Casey Demons
Saturday 21 July, 3:45pm
GMHBA Stadium

Team
B: J Tsitas, T House, Z Guthrie
HB: J Thurlow, M O’Connor, M Hayball
C: L Kiel, G Horlin-Smith, J Murdoch 
HF: G Miers, W Buzza, S Simpson
F: J Parsons, R Gardner, R Abbott
R: Z Smith, T Atkins, C Constable
INT: S McLachlan, C Mitchell, S Siggins, S Dobson, J Keras,  A Grace, J McLachlan, N Horbury
23P: P Dowling