Geelong will be chasing a six consecutive win when they host Essendon in their annual Powercor Country Festival clash at the GABBA on Sunday.

The Round 16 encounter shapes as an important game for both sides. A win for the Cats would move them a step closer to securing a spot inside the top four, whilst a win for the Bombers would keep them in the hunt for a top eight berth.

“They are going to want to play well, so we are going to need to be at our best to win and keep those top four chances or hopes alive,”  star forward Tom Hawkins said.

Geelong coach Chris Scott agreed.

"There first half against Hawthorn was a challenge for them but they showed great resilience and capacity to come back, so I think that they can take some positives out of that," Scott said.

"Like a lot of teams there threats are obvious when they get the game going the way they want it, they’re going to be hard to stop so we go in really respectful of what they can do.

"(Dyson) Heppell coming back helps them a bit, (Joe) Daniher coming back clearly helped them on the field as well as that intangible spirit type situation, so their best is pretty good."

For and Against: Played 218 games | Won: 98 | Drawn: 5 | Lost: 115

Last time they met: R7, 2019 – Geelong 13.8 (86) def Essendon 7.12 (54)

Broadcast & Match Details

Sunday 6 September from 3.35pm AEST.
Watch: Seven, Fox Footy, Kayo
Listen: K Rock Football

Warrior set to celebrate milestone

Zach Tuohy will play his 200th AFL game if he is named in Geelong’s final team on Saturday.

“He has been huge for us,” Scott said.

“I think our football club in general has done a really good job of integrating players from non-traditional football backgrounds and Mark O’Connor came over, Mark Blicavs, there are a range of players that hadn’t played much footy that we have been able to develop.

“Now Zach wasn’t one of those being he was already an established player in the AFL, but the influence he has had over our team, but specifically those guys has been huge for us and we now have a track record of developing players from non-traditional backgrounds off the back of the work that people like Zach Tuohy have done.”

“Zach has been a warrior. I can’t speak to how much I value what he has done and he is so committed to team success now – he’s at that stage of his career where he has ticked off a few things as an individual but he is just driven my team success and that can be really infectious within a group.”

READ - Mark O'Connor's special Zach Tuohy tribute

Powercor Country Festival and Virtual Farmers Market

Now in its fifth year, the Powercor Country Festival supports our regional communities and producers, and celebrates their contribution to our country. 

A big part of each year’s festivities is the Farmers’ Market and this year it has gone virtual.

Visit thefoodpurveyor.com.au to check out the amazing variety of Victoria’s finest sourced local produce that can be delivered straight to your door. 

GEELONG has flexed its premiership muscles while extinguishing the finals chances of an insipid Essendon with a 66-point romp at the Gabba on Sunday afternoon.

The Cats blew the game apart with five goals in the opening 13 minutes of the match and did not relent, winning 17.6 (108) to 5.12 (42).

The victory moves them to second spot and sets up a tantalising Friday night blockbuster against premier Richmond, which will shape the top-four chances of both teams.

Essendon can mathematically still make the eight, needing to win its final two games and rely on a heap of losses elsewhere, but could be put out of its misery on Tuesday night if Greater Western Sydney defeats Adelaide.

However, after Sunday's performance, they deserve to be nowhere near the finals.

Geelong did as it pleased, leading by 30 points at quarter-time and 59 at the half, moving the ball swiftly and under little pressure to give its potent forward line ample chances.

Essendon were horrid, beaten badly around the contest and unable to match the Cats when the ball got to the outside.

Sam Menegola had a picnic, racking up 30 disposals and kicking two goals, one following a lovely build-up that included slick hands from Tom Hawkins and an exquisite squared pass from Patrick Dangerfield early in the second term. 

READ - Our organisation is participating in the SBS Inclusion Program

Hawkins now leads the Coleman Medal by a whopping 10 after kicking four goals, while Gryan Miers kicked three and Tom Stewart (24), Mitch Duncan (19) and Dangerfield (17 and two goals) all had an influence.

The Bombers were best served by Zach Merrett (24 disposals), while Sam Draper showed some promise in the ruck.

Should this unheralded Cat be All Australian?

Part of Geelong's big improvement in 2020 has been the emergence of its unheralded midfielders. With Joel Selwood missing some footy and Patrick Dangerfield spending more time forward, Cam Guthrie and Sam Menegola have taken huge strides, and the latter was again sensational against the Bombers. Playing on his first Father's Day, Menegola set the tone for his team early, gathering 11 first-quarter disposals to pilot the Cats to a match-winning lead. His 30 touches included two goals and 11 score involvements, continuing a fantastic season that should put him right in the frame for All-Australian selection.

Bombers' first-quarter woes continue

Essendon turned up to the Gabba less than an hour before the opening bounce and during the first quarter it appeared as if half the team was still on the bus. It's a theme that has followed them all season. From the moment Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti inexplicably missed a handpass to Irving Mosquito rather than take the routine 15m set shot in the opening minute, it was all downhill. Essendon trailed by 30 at quarter-time, the eighth straight game they've failed to kick more than one goal early. Incredibly, the Bombers haven't won an opening term since round two against Sydney.

Who comes out when Gaz returns?

Chris Scott is going to have a serious selection headache when Gary Ablett returns following another outstanding showing from his small forward brigade. Gryan Miers (15 disposals and three goals) and Luke Dahlhaus (16 and one goal) were exceptional and appear virtual locks for the finals, with Brad Close and Tom Atkins set to battle out the final spot. Friday's match against Richmond is their last audition before Ablett is available to return in round 18 against Sydney.

GEELONG       6.2       12.3     14.4     17.6 (108)
ESSENDON     1.2       2.4       3.8       5.12 (42)

GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 4, Miers 3, Bews 2, Blicavs 2, Dangerfield 2, Menegola 2, Dahlhaus, Rohan
Essendon: Redman, Shiel, Stewart, Stringer, Townsend

BEST
Geelong: Menegola, Hawkins, Stewart, Duncan, Miers, Dangerfield
Essendon: Merrett, Parish, Draper, Smith

INJURIES
Geelong: Tuohy (ribs, replaced in selected side by Z.Guthrie); Stanley (replaced in selected side by Jenkins).
Essendon: Mosquito (knee).