Here’s what geelongcats.com.au will be keeping our eyes on this Friday night when we return to the MCG to take on the Tigers

All Eyes On… The Big Sticks

We don’t need to talk about what happened during the final seconds of last weekend’s game. What we can talk about is what happened before it, and on balance, Cats fans have every right to go into Friday night’s game feeling good about things. 

It’s a very, very rare occasion that a team loses a game with numbers like these, which Geelong did on Saturday night:

+33 Contested possessions

+68 Uncontested possessions

+26 Inside 50s

+13 shots on goal

In short, the Cats did a lot right at the SCG last weekend. A lot. If we repeat these numbers on Friday night and snag an extra goal or two, there’s a good chance we’re singing the song into the weekend.   

All Eyes On… Taming the Tigers

There’s no way around it. The Cats have had a tough time against the Tigers over the last few years having won just one out of the last seven contests. 

For what it’s worth, previous to that we’d only lost once to Richmond in 15 years. But the challenge is set. To be the best you have to beat the best, and until someone else holds up the Cup on the last Saturday in September, that team is still the one working out of Punt Road. 

While some key Tigers will be missing on Friday night, notably Trent Cotchin, Dylan Grimes, and Dion Prestia to name a few, they will welcome back Dustin Martin and potentially Nick Vlaustin as well. For the Cats, Shaun Higgins is expected to be back in the hoops and should slot nicely into the spot vacated by an injured Gryan Miers. 

Incidentally, Higgins has averaged 33 possessions in his last two games against Richmond. He is also good for just over a goal a game at the MCG in his 30 appearances. 

Handy. 

All Eyes On… Mixed Netballer to Milestone Man

The MCG is a long way from the mixed netball courts of Cobden where he plied his trade as a 14-year-old, but Gary Rohan will line up for his 150th game on Friday night, a considerable achievement considering his early battles with injury.

In a 2009 pre-draft interview he was asked which current AFL player he most resembled. This was his answer: 

“Steve Johnson. He makes things out of nothing, puts on good forward pressure, and is a good team player.”

How much pressure Stevie J put on is a debate for another day, but there’s no debating how dangerous Rohan can be in front of goal, especially recently, where he’s struck some good form. 

He’s kicked five of his eight goals this season over the last fortnight, and like the great Stevie J, when he plays well, so does Geelong 

Congrats on 150. Go well, Chucky 

All Eyes On… VFL Under Lights

Our VFL boys are in the spotlight this week with a live Thursday night fixture at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. 

As always, there’ll be a handful of AFL-listed players lining up so you’ll get a first-hand look at how the younger boys are traveling and who’s banging on the door of senior selection.

So if you want to kick off the weekend early and see some live footy action you can grab your tickets here, or you can tune in live on Kayo and Fox Footy.

The Cats are currently in third place on the VFL ladder and will be very keen to keep the ball rolling against the Northern Bullants on Thursday.