1 MITCH BROWN was very quiet in comparison to his excellent three goal effort in round one. The Brisbane weather did not suit big forwards, the hot and humid conditions making it very difficult to take contested marks. Brown had seven possession and managed just the one grab.
SC: 22
DT: 20

3 JIMMY BARTEL enjoys the contested game style that wet weather demands. He could not reach the dizzying heights of his man of the match milestone performance but made an impact with his 11 disposals and six tackles. Bartel played most of the game forward and had limited opportunities in a tight fought first half. He had a much bigger influence after the major break, kicking a goal in each of the last two quarters.
SC: 83
DT: 71

4 ANDREW MACKIE played an outstanding match, one of the best on the ground in his 200th game. He handled the ball cleanly despite the slippery conditions, taking a game high nine marks and rebounding defensive 50 five times. Mackie turned defence into attack rapidly and regularly, kicking the ball with 19 of his 23 possessions.
SC: 92
DT: 97

5 TRAVIS VARCOE competed at the first centre bounce of the match and was rarely out of the play from then on. He spent most of the first half in the midfield or at half back and led the way with his defensive efforts, making an equal game high 10 tackles. On the verge of half time Varcoe scored the Cats third goal in the space of 90 seconds, turning a 10 point deficit into a 9 point lead. He added a second goal just three minutes into the third term and finished the match with 16 disposals.
SC: 120
DT: 102

6 LINCOLN McCARTHY was wasteful with early disposals, unable to acclimatise to the slippery conditions in the first quarter. He soon made the necessary adjustments and totalled 12 disposals as a small forward. McCarthy sent the ball inside 50 on five occasions and worked hard to keep it there, applying good forward pressure with four tackles.   
SC: 45
DT: 43

7 HARRY TAYLOR battled head to head with champion Brisbane forward Jonathan Brown. The Lions captain may be past his prime but he was still a strong marking target in unfavourable weather and a tough challenge for the All Australian centre half back. Taylor made 13 spoils, the most of any player, and was excellent when transitioning out of defence, effective with 10 of his 11 disposals.
SC: 86
DT: 64

9 JAMES KELLY was one of Geelong’s most important contributors, his physical strength an enormous asset in a damp and congested match. He collected 24 disposals and showed he has just as much skill in the air as in heavy traffic with seven marks. Kelly has this year spent more time at half back and was composed in this new position, rebounding defensive 50 seven times.
SC: 107
DT: 103

13 TOM LONERGAN had 10 disposals as the deepest of Geelong’s back six. His possession tally often low but the big defender is rarely beaten by his direct opponent. Lonergan played much of the match on former team mate Trent West, who kicked three goals last week but didn’t troubled the scoreboard at the Gabba. West is playing as the back up ruck man to Matthew Leuenberger and spending more time in attack than when he was with the Cats.
SC: 39
DT: 43

14 JOEL SELWOOD had a quiet start to the match by his lofty standards but the Geelong skipper can never be kept out of the game for long, scoring a hard-fought goal in the third term and tallying 25 disposals by the final siren. He was sensational at stoppages and won 13 clearances, accounting for a third of his team’s total and more than 15% of the clearances won be either side for the match.
SC: 140
DT: 104

16 DAWSON SIMPSON was substituted for Mark Blicavs against the Crows but was utilised for four quarters on Sunday. In Geelong’s last visit to the Gabba Simpson was playing his first game for the season and struggled to have an impact in the latter stages of the match. Now experienced and match hardened, Simpson ran the game out strongly, making two tackles, three spoils and winning 26 hit-outs
SC: 45
DT: 34

17 HAMISH McINTOSH was the most influential ruckman on the ground with a game high 27 hit-outs. He was influential both in the air and on the ground, collecting 15 disposals and winning four clearances. McIntosh was also dangerous when resting forward but was unable to capitalise on his good work, kicking two behinds.
SC: 88
DT: 73

19 TAYLOR HUNT had 10 disposals playing in a variety of positions at different stages of the match. After a scrappy, low scoring start from both sides, Hunt broke the game open, kicking a sensational goal from inside the centre square and kickstarting a run of three Geelong goals in the space of two minutes.
SC: 58
DT: 54

20 STEVE JOHNSON was the best player on the field, leading the Cats’ possession table at every change. In testing conditions he was physically dominant, winning six clearances and making 10 tackles. His 37 possessions included the usual amount of unorthodox and at times unbelievable disposals. Johnson’s eighth inside 50 in the final quarter was a particular highlight, kicking a look-away drop punt with the outside of the boot to find Joel Selwood 40m from goal.
SC: 145
DT: 153

21 JORDAN MURDOCH was named in the back pocket and played the first 45 minutes of the match in defence, out of his comfort zone but not out of his depth. When moved in the second quarter Murdoch became the most dangerous small forward on the ground, applying relentless pressure in Geelong’s attacking half and making seven tackles. He was clean with possession in slippery conditions, snapping a classy goal in the third quarter and adding a second late in the final term to end a run of three Brisbane goals and any hope of another late comeback by the Lions.
SC: 101
DT: 88

22 MITCH DUNCAN collected 13 disposals as one of a large number of Cats who played short bursts through the midfield on the hot, energy sapping Brisbane afternoon. It took Geelong 15 minutes to score their only first quarter goal and the second term followed a similar narrative before Duncan took a mark deep in the pocket midway through the quarter and was able to goal from a tight angle.
SC: 71
DT: 55

23 JOSH CADDY was intent on imposing himself physically early in the match and his crash and bash approach was effective in a scrappy, congested first half. He made three tackles and broke through many more, winning two centre clearances and another in general play. Caddy was less effective when the game opened up after half time but still tallied a total of 17 disposals.
SC: 71
DT: 55

26 TOM HAWKINS was the best of Geelong’s big men in the forward line, influencing the outcome of the game despite sporadic involvement in the play. He broke the deadlock in the opening term, scoring the first goal of the game with a dead straight kick from the 50m arc. Hawkins crumbed a loose ball for his second goal, one of three Geelong goals within 90 seconds of each other that dramatically swung momentum in the Cats’ favour on the cusp of half time.
SC: 59
DT: 57

27 MATHEW STOKES accumulated 26 possessions, running hard to spread from congestion and provide a free option when Geelong won the ball. His awareness in heavy traffic and skill by foot was shown off with one brilliant piece of play midway through the second quarter when he first spotted and then passed to a teammate with a deft and deliberate snap.
SC: 105
DT: 91

29 CAMERON GUTHRIE returned to his familiar position as part of the Geelong back six after he was given a role tagging Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield in the season opener. He collected 11 disposals and, having clearly developed a taste for the midfield, won two clearances. Guthrie’s defensive effort was excellent, one of five Cats to make five tackles in the first half. Kicking in from full back during the final term Guthrie reached Tom Hawkins on the edge of the centre circle with a long torpedo, setting up an end to end goal that gave Geelong their biggest lead for the match.
SC: 47
DT: 66

33 GEORGE HORLIN-SMITH was replaced by Dawson Simpson in round one in a last minute change and was the starting substitute against the Lions. Forced to sit through six quarters before he got his first opportunity of the season, Horlin-Smith was intent on making an impact when we came on for the injured Corey Enright. Scoring a goal with his first kick just two minutes after activation, that is exactly what he did. Horlin-Smith added a second goal early in the final quarter and finished with nine disposals from 23% of game time.  
SC: 38
DT: 41

44 COREY ENRIGHT was composed and efficient in trying conditions, taking five marks and finding a teammate with all but one of his nine possessions. The reliable defender was forced from the ground in the third term after his ankle was twisted in a tackle. Substituted for George Horlin-Smith soon after, Enright will require scans of his leg when the team returns to Geelong before the full extent of his injury is known.
SC: 67
DT: 43

46 MARK BLICAVS was the substitute in round one and came on for Dawson Simpson to provide support in the ruck. He started on the ground on Sunday and collected 11 disposals as a running utility. Positioned predominantly on the wing, Blicavs did very little ruck work as both Simpson and Hamish McIntosh played the entire match. Blicavs was very good at ground level and applied strong tackling pressure. The versatile young Cat was also utilised as a key defender in the last quarter following the injury to Corey Enright.
SC: 65
DT: 47