3 JIMMY BARTEL has been a big game player for most of his career and Saturday afternoon was no exception. He led Geelong with 29 disposals and played 99% of game time almost entirely on the half back line. The Cats have forced more turnovers than any team in the competition this year but it was Fremantle who forced mistakes with relentless pressure, making Bartel’s disposals efficiency of 82.8% all the more impressive.
DT: 101
SC: 130

4 ANDREW MACKIE amassed 25 disposals playing as a defender and at times on the wing. Selected as one of 40 players in the All-Australian squad from which the final side is chosen, Mackie carried his strong form from the home and away season into the first final. Despite a heavy landing in the first term he continued to launch himself into aerial contests and took seven marks. He rebounded defensive 50 five times and provided valuable delivery into the attacking half with six inside 50s.
DT: 93
SC: 96

5 TRAVIS VARCOE picked the perfect occasion to tally his highest number of disposals for the year. He has drifted in and out of the contest throughout the year, but was able to stay regularly involved in the play and finished the match with 20 disposals. Despite achieving an overall disposal efficiency of 70%, Varcoe missed free targets on a couple of occasions and was responsible for some costly turnovers.
DT: 47
SC: 66

7 HARRY TAYLOR swapped roles with James Podsiadly for a burst in the forward line during the first term after playing in attack for most of the game last week. Keeping him in attack was a luxury Chris Scott could not afford, needing his best defender to counter the multiple tall targets in the Fremantle forward line. Taylor gathered 14 disposals and took eight marks, performing his spoiling duties superbly but unable to have his usual rebounding influence.
DT: 64
SC: 90

9 JAMES KELLY is well suited to the congested and physical Fremantle game style. With nine tackles he added intensity around the stoppages, but he suffered the fate of many Cats and struggled to find time and space when in possession. Kelly finished the game with 18 disposals, well below his season average and a tally he will be desperate to improve upon when Geelong take on Port Adelaide.
DT: 89
SC: 77

11 JOEL COREY made a very important contribution and was among the most consistent players on the ground. The brigade of young Cats have been a crucial component of Geelong’s success this year, but it was Corey’s wealth of experience that came to the fore on Saturday. He looked refreshed from a rest last week, winning 22 disposals, three clearances and making a game high 11 tackles. Corey was composed and confident in his 21st final, kicking the opening goal after several errant attempts from Geelong early in the match.
DT: 116
SC: 111

13 TOM LONERGAN did not receive the usual amount of support from his fellow defenders. The Dockers pushed numbers into defence, leaving an open attacking half for their forwards to run into. Lonergan regularly found himself one out against Sandilands or Pavlich, who forced errors and earned free kicks close to goal. The Fremantle skipper tore the Cats apart in an elimination final last year and again caused headaches for the Geelong defence. Lonergan was 80% effective with his five disposals but was only able to take one mark for the match.
DT: 21
SC: 37

14 JOEL SELWOOD was the recipient of a hard tag from Ryan Crowley last time the two teams met, a match up that was expected to be repeated on Saturday. The pairing didn’t eventuate and Selwood was free to play without a Crowley shadow. The Geelong captain collected 21 disposals and was effective with all but one of them. He attacked each contest with his trademark ferocity, winning five clearances and five free kicks.
DT: 79
SC: 91

20 STEVE JOHNSON went into the quarter time huddle as the most influential player on the ground, gathering 11 disposals and kicking two goals in the opening term. His electrifying start earned the close attention of defensive midfielder Ryan Crowley, who successfully negated the mercurial Cat.  Fremantle smothered every contest and Johnson was unable to find space around stoppages, finishing the game with 20 disposals.
DT: 75
SC: 84

22 MITCH DUNCAN was one of the better performers in the Geelong midfield, gathering 22 disposals. The Dockers’ structural discipline made free targets hard to come by but Duncan worked hard to run into space when the Cats were in possession and take nine marks. After missing a chance to kick the opening goal of the match he did not waste his next set shot, kicking a second successive Geelong goal to start the third term.
DT: 104
SC: 101

23 JOSH CADDY won the opportunity to play the first final of his career by delivering his best football at the business end of the home and away season. Playing as a small forward he had limited opportunity and was forced to battle for possession in a congested attacking 50. Caddy tallied nine disposals and kicked inside 50 on two occasions. When required he pushed up the ground, running hard to support teammates and rebounding defensive 50 twice.
DT: 27
SC: 30

25 JARED RIVERS accumulated 13 disposals in his first finals appearance as a Cat. Recruited by Geelong to add versatility to the defence, his ability to compete against bigger opponents was very valuable. Fremantle forced turnovers with relentless pressure but Rivers was able to maintain his composure and make the most of his possessions, disposing with 84.6% efficiency.
DT: 50
SC: 62

27 MATHEW STOKES was in unchartered territory at the start of the match, lining up against run-with player Ryan Crowley. Stokes has consistently delivered the best form of his career this season, earning the close attention of a tagger in the most important game of the year so far. After being restricted in the opening quarter he was freed from the tag and was able to make a valuable contribution in the midfield and tally 27 possessions.
DT: 91
SC: 94

28 ALLEN CHRISTENSEN collected 14 disposals playing mostly through the midfield. A premiership player, Christensen has considerable finals experience but was unable to deliver his best football on this occasion. He has been one of the most effective stoppage players in the team this year but Fremantle applied enormous pressure, winning almost twice the number of clearances as Geelong and limiting Christensen to just one.
DT: 53
SC: 59

29 CAMERON GUTHRIE played 18 games last season before being dropped for the final against Fremantle. In a turn of fate he was a late inclusion to play his 18th game of 2013 and make his finals debut against the Dockers on Saturday. Guthrie was one of Geelong’s best, collecting 17 disposals with 88% efficiency. He displayed great versatility to nullify small and tall forwards, taking eight marks and winning several crucial contests on the last line of defence.
DT: 83
SC: 92

30 NATHAN VARDY returned to the Geelong side to take on one of the most experienced and capable ruck duos in the competition, battling for six hit-outs against giant Docker Aaron Sandilands, who played his best game of the season. When rotated forward, Vardy hurled himself at aerial contests, finishing the game with eight disposals and four marks. He took a big contested mark and kicked the Cats fourth goal in the opening term, providing reward for their early dominance.
DT: 48
SC: 58

31 JAMES PODSIADLY had the opportunity to kick a goal before the opening bounce, awarded a free kick after Zac Dawson struck him high in a pregame tussle. Podsiadly was unable to punish the mistake but was given another opportunity from Dawson’s undisciplined interference, this time closer to goal. Podsiadly converted the set shot, scoring one of two goals in the second term. He played a vital role in the absence of Tom Hawkins, collecting 13 disposals and kicking three goals as the Cats most dangerous forward.
DT: 67
SC: 87

32 STEVEN MOTLOP was unable to achieve team success to match the individual honour he was awarded during the week, earning selection in the 2013 All-Australian squad. In a game that was slowed down by successive stoppages and large numbers around each contest, Motlop’s pace was a valuable asset, allowing Geelong to break the lines and generate fast ball movement. Along with five running bounces, he sent the Cats inside 50 six times and tallied 20 disposals. He kicked the first goal of the third term to regain the lead soon after half time.
DT: 75
SC: 77

34 JOSH WALKER was a surprise inclusion to play the first final of his career, replacing Tom Hawkins in a late change to the selected side. Walker’s effort could not be questioned, but he certainly felt the added pressure of finals football. Fremantle’s stranglehold of the midfield starved him of opportunity inside attacking 50, limited to seven disposals and two marks. Although Walker fumbled a few chances at critical moments of the game he will no doubt be a better player after his first taste of September action.
DT: 33
SC: 34

35 PAUL CHAPMAN worked through a long and interrupted recovery to regain his place in the Geelong side, earning selection for the first final with two strong performances at the end of the season. He started as the substitute in his 250th match, activated at half time to replace injured defender Corey Enright. Chapman provided an injection of physical intensity, making five tackles, and displayed his class with 10 effective disposals from a total of 11.
DT: 54
SC: 57

44 COREY ENRIGHT tallied 12 possessions in just one half of football. After Fremantle wrestled the ascendancy from the Cats during the second quarter he lifted his intensity to drive a response from the team. Only minutes before half time he suffered a strain to the medial ligament in his knee and was forced from the field. Enright got his knee heavily strapped in an effort to return to the game but he was ruled unfit to play during the major break. An elite defender, Enright’s injury was a crushing blow for Geelong and could see him sidelined for the remainder the of the finals series.
DT: 46
SC: 31

46 MARK BLICAVS was charged with an enormous task in his first final, battling Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands. As he has done throughout his short career, Blicavs played with skill and composure that belies his inexperience. Against much bigger opponents he managed just seven hit-outs but was able to utilise his exceptional running ability to influence contests all over the ground. Blicavs maintained a high intensity and work rate for the entire match and collected a total of 15 disposals.
DT: 61
SC: 70