How it Stands
After losing their opening two games of the year, the Cats have reeled off eight consecutive victories to put themselves into second place on the VFL ladder.
Geelong sits a game clear in the top four, while only one win shy of the ladder leading Bulldogs with eight games to go.
The Cats also rank as one of the best defensive teams in the league, conceding an average of 66 points per game.
The VFL Cats have also benefited from a healthy AFL list, with 22 AFL-listed players rolling through the team at various stages, helping in the continual development of the young core group of players.
The Run Home
The remaining fixture provides a mixed bag for the VFL Cats, with four clashes against other top eight sides remaining in the run home towards finals.
The round 17 clash with top of the table Footscray will be the feature in the run home, with the match also played as a curtain raiser to the AFL game at GMHBA Stadium later that night.
Geelong will play three more games at home, with remaining road trips all played up the highway including Port Melbourne, Box Hill, Collingwood and Sandringham.
Key Players
Daniel Capiron
VFL captain Daniel Capiron has again proved to be a brick wall down back, taking the most marks of any player in the VFL while continuing to pick off intercept possessions, and winning one on one contests.
Caprion is averaging 16 disposals and nine marks per game, helping the Geelong defence to sit sixth position of points conceded so far.
Ted Clohesy
Clohesy continues to develop after getting a taste of AFL football in Round 24 last year, averaging 22 disposals and seven tackles per game.
The utility has also proven to be more than dangerous up forward and has hit the scoreboard, kicking 10 goals in 10 games including three majors in the round ten win over Richmond.
Lawson Humphries
Drafted at the end of 2023, Humphries has slotted in the Cats defensive unit with his foot skills and speed off the half back line catching the eye.
The mature aged selected in the 2023 national draft has averaged 22 disposals and five marks.
Mitch Hardie
2023 midseason draftee has taken his game to new heights, averaging over 28 disposals and four tackles per game as an inside midfielder in 2024.
Hardie has also been damaging in the forward half, kicking five goals from his nine appearances.
As of Round 10, Hardie was leading the rebel Coaches MVP award, two votes ahead of second place.
Other Notables
Shaun Mannagh: 15 Goals from six games
Mitch Knevitt: 20 disposals & five marks per game
Emerson Jeka: 20 disposals & seven marks per game
George Stevens: 22 disposals & four tackles per game
Fixture
The Cats will host three matches at GMHBA Stadium in the back half of the season, with plenty of exciting games to come in the run home.
They’ll host Sandringham (Round 14), Footscray (Round 17) and Carlton (Round 20) at the Cattery, with the Footscray game a VFL/AFL double-header.
The Cats have four matches against other teams currently in the top 10, including two matches against the Sandringham Zebras, with the Round 21 clash a Channel 7 broadcast game.
All matches in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.
Round 14
Geelong Cats v Sandringham
Sunday 30 June
12.05pm at GMHBA Stadium – Wadawurrung
Round 15
Box Hill Hawks v Geelong Cats
Sunday 7 July
2.05pm at Box Hill City Oval – Wurundjeri
Round 16
Collingwood v Geelong Cats
Saturday 13 July
1.05pm at Victoria Park – Wurundjeri
Round 17*
Geelong Cats v Footscray
Saturday 20 July
3.40pm at GMHBA Stadium – Wadawurrung
Round 18
North Melbourne v Geelong Cats
Saturday 27 July
1.05pm, Arden St Oval – Wurundjeri
Round 19
Bye
Round 20
Geelong Cats v Carlton
Saturday 10 August
12.05pm, GMHBA Stadium – Wadawurrung
Round 21
Sandringham v Geelong Cats
Sunday 18 August
12.00pm, Trevor Barker Beach Oval – Bunurong
