OPPONENT: Sydney Swans
VENUE: ANZ Stadium
DATE AND TIME: Saturday, May 16, 7.20pm AEST
WEATHER FORECAST: shower or two, 20 degrees
Check out the Cats’ selected side here
FIVE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
1. SAM BLEASE'S FIRST AFL OUTING IN THE HOOPS
The speedy midfielder was a somewhat surprising addition to Geelong's list late last year when the Cats were able to sign him as a free agent because he had been delisted by Melbourne. But after taking his time to adapt to Geelong's system, Blease has strung together a number of impressive performances in the VFL, and now he gets his second chance at the highest level. Plenty of Cats fans have been wishing him luck.
@BCongratulations @Sam_Blease ! Can't wait to see ya in the @GeelongCats hoops!!
— Brendan Vella (@BJVELLA) May 14, 2015
@GeelongCats @Sam_Blease Make your luck, well deserved. Another bit of sting and speed.
— Robert Zimmermann (@robert_zimma) May 14, 2015
2. CAN MATHEW STOKES RECAPTURE HIS BEST FORM?
Throughout the 2013 and 2014 seasons the Cats' No. 27 was a ball-magnet, averaging more than 25 disposals per game. So far this season, however, Stokes has been unable to climb to those heights. His early games were quiet, then he missed rounds four to six due to achilles soreness. Now the 30-year-old veteran of 178 games gets another chance to prove he is still among Geelong's best 22 players. If he can recapture his old form, the Cats' midfield will suddenly be looking even more dangerous.
3. THE POINTS AGAINST SCORING TREND
The Cats have conceded fewer points each week during the home and away season so far. They conceded 123 points to Hawthorn in round one, 104 to Fremantle in round two, 96 to Gold Coast in round three, 83 to North Melbourne in round four, 76 to Richmond in round five and 59 to Collingwood in round five. It will be a rather miraculous result if the Cats can continue the trend and keep the Swans to 58 points or less on Saturday night.
Chris Scott addresses your questions in Tweet The Coach
4. TWO CLUBS WHO KNOW HOW TO WIN
At the end of the 2014 season, Geelong was they only team to have won more than 60 per cent of its past 500 matches. Next best was the Sydney Swans, who had won 55.8 per cent of their previous 500 games.
That random fact was courtesy of Rogers Results
5. AND HERE ARE A FEW FROM OUR FANS …
@Adam_McNicol @GeelongCats The reversal in scores of the last time we played them.
— Trent mcshane (@Ernie13trent) May 14, 2015
@Adam_McNicol @GeelongCats A raining day #blease
— BooF (@LeighRowling) May 14, 2015
@Adam_McNicol hard attack on the footy as per last week & quick high risk high reward run & carry break the lines #gocats
— Philip Kelly (@PossKelly15) May 14, 2015
@Adam_McNicol a fairer draw lol. Our draw is insanely difficult.
— Dylan (@DylanBang1) May 14, 2015
