The VFL Cats will officially begin their 2016 campaign on Friday night when they take on the Northern Blues at Simonds Stadium.
The Cats have named a squad of 27 (including 12 AFL listed players) after a five-week practice match series in which they finished with three wins (Richmond, North Ballarat and AFL Academy) and two losses (Essendon and Collingwood).
Nathan Vardy returns to football after suffering a minor foot sprain in a VFL practice match two weeks ago.
The 24-year-old ruckman suffered the injury in the VFL’s practice match against North Ballarat. His opponent’s knee landed on his foot following a marking contest.
It will be the first home and away game in Cats colours for AFL recruits Wylie Buzza, James Parsons and Jock Cornell.
VFL listed players Alex Hickey, Tom Stewart, James Tsitas, Billy Barnes, Ryan Abbott and Sam McLachlan will also play their first game in the blue and white.
The 27-man squad will be cut down to 23 tomorrow night.
The Northern Blues are coming off a difficult season opener last weekend against Footscray Bulldogs at Whitten Oval. The Blues went down to the full strength Dogs outfit by 49 points.
The last time the two sides met was round 20, 2015 at Simonds Stadium. Geelong 19.13.127 defeated the Northern Blues 6.10.46, George Horlin-Smith led the Cats that day with four goals.
Head to head, the two teams have played 21 times – Geelong 10 wins, Northern Blues 11.
Bendigo Bank Cats selected side:
B: (52) Hickey, (67) Stewart, (24) Bews
HB: (20) Gardner, (8) Kolodjashnij, (51) Tsitas
C: (37) Luxford, (70) Rees, (34) Parsons
HF: (17) Cornell, (30) Vardy, McCarthy (6)
F: (43) Bates, (12) Buzza, (71) Haintz
R: (42) Lucey, (33) Horlin-Smith, (50) Williams
I/C: (60) Robinson, (56) Paliouras, (57) Barnes, (54) Tudor, (53) Farrelly, (72) Burchell, (64) Atkins, (58) Abbott, (65) McLachlan – 23rd player
VFL – ROUND 2
Bendigo Bank Cats v Northern Blues
7.00pm, Friday 15th April
Simonds Stadium
Entry is FREE for Geelong Cats members, adults $10, concession $5 and children under 15 FREE.
Seating will be available in the Reg Hickey Stand, food & beverage available on the lower concourse. Entry via the Polly Farmer Gate, Moorabool Street from 6pm.
