Geelong's fitness and conditioning have been up against it. The Cats started their season on Easter Monday against Hawthorn, backed up six days later with a game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium and then endured another short week to prepare for the Blues. They were full of running both last week as they came from seven goals down to overcome the Kangaroos and again against the Blues, they showed character and courage to overcome a three-goal deficit to kick away in the third term. And it doesn't stop there. The Cats face the Sydney Swans in an SCG blockbuster on Friday night, yet again on a six-day break.

  

Dylan Buckley became approximately the 1227th player in history to kick a goal with his first kick in League footy. And it was a pearler, a left-foot snap at full pace from deep in the forward pocket during the frantic second term. Buckley is the son of former Carlton rover Jim Buckley, who played 164 games for the Blues between 1976 and 1990. A teammate of Jim Buckley, Mark Maclure claimed on ABC Radio after the goal that his mother Debbie had a "heart attack" when she learned that her son would debut for Blues, but her son's first goal for the Blues was top-shelf.

 

Matthew Kreuzer is facing a prolonged period on the sidelines after injuring his thumb in the first quarter. He could be out for between six and eight weeks, a scary thought for the Blues at first instance, but crisis creates opportunity and Kreuzer's absence would give coach Mick Malthouse his first opportunity to have a good look at Matthew Warnock, who so far this season has been squeezed out of the side by Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson.

 

Idiots at the football. A streaker ran on to the ground at the 17-minute mark of the final quarter, with the Cats clinging to a 10-point lead, and he had a major effect on the play. He wasn't on the ground for long, collared as he was by the security staff. But as he scampered on, a Jimmy Bartel pass has been marked close to goal. But the umpire ruled that Bartel kicked again, so he went in board to Corey Enright, who turned the ball over.

 

5. Cats need to hang on to Harry
Harry Taylor might be one of Geelong's more unheralded players, but it is difficult to think of one more valuable. Taylor started and spent much of the evening in his customary key defensive post, and took a tremendous relieving mark at one stage in the final quarter as the Blues pressed hard. But he also pushed forward and kicked two goals, including one where he took advantage of a height mismatch with Carlton's Chris Yarran. Taylor is now a matter of intrigue amid reports the native West Australian might be looking to return home next season. The Cats need him to stay.