All Eyes On… Bellerive Oval

When the Cats touch down in Hobart on Saturday, it’ll be the first time Geelong has played on the apple isle for premiership points since taking on Hawthorn back in Round 4, 2007. Even then, that game was played at York Park in Launceston, about 200km journey north up National Highway 1. 

On the weekend, North Melbourne will be waiting for us at Blundstone Arena, or as most people probably know it as, Bellerive Oval. Sitting on the eastern shore of the Derwent River, it’s been the home of international cricket in Tasmania since 1989, and arguably the most picturesque of the country’s ovals. 

As a football ground, it’s slightly longer and a bit narrower than the MCG, and the Kangaroos have been playing here since 2012 for 17 wins, 8 losses and a draw. The good news is, it’s won’t be a completing foreign experience for the Cats: the forecast is 15 degrees with a 60% chance of rain, so the boys should feel right at home.

All Eyes On… Boxing Kangaroos

If you haven’t been paying attention, this isn’t the North Melbourne side you think you know from earlier in the season, where it took them until Round 9 to get their first win. 

Since then, they’ve gone for 4 wins, 5 losses and a draw. That records includes the a win over the Eagles in Perth, a convincing win over the Blues last weekend and strong showing against the top of the table Western Bulldogs. And as Chris Scott said here, they’ve also started to work their way up to the top half of the ladder in some key statistical areas. 

If you want a comparison, Melbourne have gone 5 wins, 4 losses and a draw over the same period. 

While the Kangaroos are well out of finals contention, led by senior players like Jack Ziebell, Jy Simpkin, Robbie Tarrant, Kayne Turner and Luke McDonald, they’ll be eyeing the Cats as prized scalp as they build into 2022. Grab your popcorn, this one should be a real scrap.

All Eyes On… Higgo 250

You can’t get more Geelong than Shaun Higgins.

He and his three siblings grew up in Geelong, Hamlyn Heights to be precise, his Dad Mick played some U19s and Reserves football for the Cats, and his earliest football memories are in the stands of Kardinia Park, complete with blue and white face paint.

From there he graduated to Newtown & Chilwell Football Club and then over to the Geelong Falcons.

If that’s not enough blue and white blood for you, sister Danielle has played 23 games to date for our AFLW team.

Unfortunately, the Western Bulldogs would swoop on the talented junior back in 2005, but after 129 games and 128 goals at the Kennel, and a 108 game stopover at Arden Street with the Kangaroos where he picked up two Best & Fairest medals and an All-Australian jumper, he finally got return to where it all began this season.

This weekend he’ll play his 250th AFL game, and it’s fitting that it’s in hoops.

Go well, Higgo.  

GEELONG had to work until deep into the final term to see off a plucky North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon to win by 20 points and maintain its spot in the top two.

After the Kangaroos led narrowly at quarter-time, the Cats slowly edged their way in front and held the 'home' team at arm's length to win 8.14 (62) to 6.6 (42) at Hobart's Blundstone Arena.

North was within two goals late in the last quarter, but after being beaten by Ben McKay for most of the day, Geelong champion Tom Hawkins threaded the needle from the left boundary line to seal victory.

The Cats had the better of possession and seemed to control the tempo, generating 60 inside 50s to 34, but the Kangaroos were relentless with their pressure and willingness to attack when they got the ball.

The weight of numbers just proved too much as Geelong collected a valuable four premiership points.

Cam Guthrie continued his magnificent season, gathering 28 disposals and kicking two goals, while his younger brother Zach had the best game of his career after being a late inclusion.

The lanky defender took six intercept marks in the first half and finished with a career-high 28 disposals as an integral part of Geelong's frugal defence.

Isaac Smith (26) and Zach Tuohy (26) were also instrumental in victory, as was Tom Stewart (24).

As it has for the entire second half of the season, North made things difficult though, particularly during the first quarter.

They looked to attack the corridor at every opportunity, and although turning the ball over on a couple of occasions to put their defence under pressure, took a four-point lead to the first change.

Geelong ground their way back to the lead by half-time as Zach Guthrie and Stewart set up a defensive wall at half-back and Mark Blicavs and Gary Rohan converted difficult set shots.

The late inclusion that worked out perfectly for Geelong

When Tom Atkins was a late scratching with a back injury, Geelong rushed Zach Guthrie into the 22 – and what an impact the young defender had. From the opening quarter Guthrie played assertively in the back half, getting in front of his opponent to break up North Melbourne's forward forays. He had six intercept marks in the first half alone and ended up with 28 disposals for the day -a career high. He also had a match high 11 intercepts all up.

The young midfielders that continue to impress

Without contested bull Ben Cunnington to lead its midfield charge, the question was always going to be which North Melbourne players could step up to carry the load. It was little surprise that Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jy Simpkin would be those men, continuing seasons of huge development for both. Davies-Uniacke started his day with a blistering 55m goal and finished with 23 disposals while Simpkin was terrific around the contest with his 29. They had 13 clearances between them to help mitigate the absence of Cunnington.

NORTH MELBOURNE          3.2       4.4       5.6       6.6 (42)
GEELONG       2.4       5.6       6.11     8.14 (62)

GOALS  
North Melbourne: Larkey 2, Bosenavulagi, Davies-Uniacke, Ford, Taylor
Geelong: C.Guthrie 2, Rohan 2, Blicavs, Hawkins, Higgins, Narkle

BEST  
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin, McKay, Hall, Ziebell, Goldstein
Geelong: C.Guthrie, Z.Guthrie, Tuohy, Bews, Close, Stewart, Smith

INJURIES  
North Melbourne: Nil
Geelong: Tom Atkins (back) replaced in selected side by Zach Guthrie; 

SUBSTITUTES  
North Melbourne: Shaun Atley (unused)
Geelong: Jordan Clark (unused)

Crowd: TBC at Blundstone Arena