The cavalry is coming for Geelong with a number of key senior Cats successfully completing match simulation drills at GMHBA Stadium last Friday.

Midfielder Brandan Parfitt was the pick of the performers as players completed a number of intense match play periods.

VFL Head Coach Shane O’Bree cast his eyes over the session.

“We had a lot of AFL players that we wanted to get a bit of game time into or match simulation,” O’Bree said.

“It was 18-a-side and no rotations so we tried to replicate a game where you go flat out for 10 minutes and then have a two-to-three-minute break.

“They were all on individual caps and all got through unscathed, they’re in a good spot now just for the next week and a half to get some training load in and be ready to go for the Essendon game.”

Joel Selwood

"He probably played half the match time of some of the others, he looked fine and did what he needed to do to get through the game of football," O'Bree said.

"It was good for our younger players just to play with Joel who wouldn’t have had those opportunities before.

"His intensity and his voice and ability to set up others around the contest was unbelievable so I think our young boys really grew legs and learnt a lot and hopefully they take that on board."

Jack Steven

"Jack was lively, his ability and intensity and his running power was really impressive.

"He was another that got through the match minutes that he needed to get through and hopefully he’s headed in the right direction now and we’ll see him play in the Essendon game."

Brandan Parfitt

"Brandan played the whole match minutes so he’s not far away from playing a whole game at AFL level.

"He was probably the one that stood out the most just with his ability around the contest, his footwork and his composure in the contest was really good.

"He’s in a good spot and he’s definitely one of those guys at the Essendon game we’ll probably see a whole game from him there," O'Bree said. 

Sam Menegola

"Sam was more in the midfield, he was racking them up, getting contest to contest as he does.

"He was heading definitely in the right direction and is probably more advanced than a few of the others."

Luke Dahlhaus

"He played that high forward role and it was good for our young defenders to play on Lukey Dal because he works so hard and his change of direction is so dynamic.

"It was good to see Dal doing it and it was good for our young guys to play on him and learn a lot as a defender."

Mark O’Connor and Jack Henry

"Mark and Jack played a fair bit of match play the other night. Mark played a fair bit of half back and wing as well and like all our guys coming back from injury, they were a bit rusty and got better as the game went on.

"They were just warming up into the match simulation because they haven’t done a hell of a lot of it and they looked good as the game went on and we got what we needed to from a match simulation point of view."