Geelong will be chasing a six consecutive win when they host Essendon in their annual Powercor Country Festival clash at the GABBA on Sunday.

The Round 16 encounter shapes as an important game for both sides. A win for the Cats would move them a step closer to securing a spot inside the top four, whilst a win for the Bombers would keep them in the hunt for a top eight berth.

“They are going to want to play well, so we are going to need to be at our best to win and keep those top four chances or hopes alive,”  star forward Tom Hawkins said.

Geelong coach Chris Scott agreed.

"There first half against Hawthorn was a challenge for them but they showed great resilience and capacity to come back, so I think that they can take some positives out of that," Scott said.

"Like a lot of teams there threats are obvious when they get the game going the way they want it, they’re going to be hard to stop so we go in really respectful of what they can do.

"(Dyson) Heppell coming back helps them a bit, (Joe) Daniher coming back clearly helped them on the field as well as that intangible spirit type situation, so their best is pretty good."

For and Against: Played 218 games | Won: 98 | Drawn: 5 | Lost: 115

Last time they met: R7, 2019 – Geelong 13.8 (86) def Essendon 7.12 (54)

Broadcast & Match Details

Sunday 6 September from 3.35pm AEST.
Watch: Seven, Fox Footy, Kayo
Listen: K Rock Football

Warrior set to celebrate milestone

Zach Tuohy will play his 200th AFL game if he is named in Geelong’s final team on Saturday.

“He has been huge for us,” Scott said.

“I think our football club in general has done a really good job of integrating players from non-traditional football backgrounds and Mark O’Connor came over, Mark Blicavs, there are a range of players that hadn’t played much footy that we have been able to develop.

“Now Zach wasn’t one of those being he was already an established player in the AFL, but the influence he has had over our team, but specifically those guys has been huge for us and we now have a track record of developing players from non-traditional backgrounds off the back of the work that people like Zach Tuohy have done.”

“Zach has been a warrior. I can’t speak to how much I value what he has done and he is so committed to team success now – he’s at that stage of his career where he has ticked off a few things as an individual but he is just driven my team success and that can be really infectious within a group.”

READ - Mark O'Connor's special Zach Tuohy tribute

Powercor Country Festival and Virtual Farmers Market

Now in its fifth year, the Powercor Country Festival supports our regional communities and producers, and celebrates their contribution to our country. 

A big part of each year’s festivities is the Farmers’ Market and this year it has gone virtual.

Visit thefoodpurveyor.com.au to check out the amazing variety of Victoria’s finest sourced local produce that can be delivered straight to your door.