With the AFL confirming a time for the upcoming Geelong vs Essendon VFL match, the Cats will feature in another curtain-raiser at GMHBA Stadium.

The Bankers currently sit in 6th position while Essendon are 19th.

Despite their issues scoring, the Bombers have been a solid defensive side and rank third out of all teams outside the top 8 in points against.

Although the Cats have only played seven games, they sit 4th in the competition for points scored and sit above six other sides who've played more than seven games.

One of Geelong’s senior VFL-listed players, Jackson Thurlow, has played both Essendon’s AFL and VFL sides and understands how they like to play.

“Once they get in the game they control the ball probably up until halfway then they go fast inside 50,” Thurlow said

“I actually watched a bit of their game against Casey on the weekend and around the contest they were really in it but got blown out late.”

“Like their AFL team they’re young, exciting and unpredictable so it should be a good challenge.”

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Against an unpredictable side, Thurlow sees the best way to counteract this challenge by looking at the past match against Brisbane.

“Once we controlled the game around the contest and moved the ball, we were pretty hard to stop going forward,” he said.

“Hopefully we can be good around the contest and then take the ball forward with precision and kick some goals.” 

Fans won’t need to expect a different approach with the Bankers’ current form, especially from coach Shane O’Bree.

“‘Cheese’ is pretty straight down the line and keeps it pretty basic for us,” Thurlow said

“Especially once we get it in our forward half we want to let some of the young boys just show their flair.”

“As long as we’re good around the ball and we set up well I think forward of it we should take care of things.”

With both AFL and VFL sides for the match being selected tonight, Geelong’s VFL side will have to keep an eye on some quality players at Essendon.

Intercepting defender Martin Gleeson has been strong in his VFL appearances lately, as has experienced ruckman Andrew Phillips.

The match will commence at 4.10pm at GMHBA stadium Friday afternoon as a curtain-raiser ahead of the annual Powercor Country Festival blockbuster between Geelong and Essendon at 7.50pm.