SUMMARY
As Brisbane makes the trip down to the Cattery, the players will be asking, 'Why not?' Knocking off Hawthorn in Launceston a fortnight ago and almost doing the same last week to Adelaide, the Lions will be out to cause more chaos to a club's top-eight hopes. Geelong needs to bank the four points if it is to play in September and then worry about building percentage. Last week's two-point win over Melbourne cost the Cats 1.3 per cent, and saw them falling out of the eight after Hawthorn belted Carlton and gained 5 per cent. When the game was on the line last week, veteran Gary Ablett exploded with 14 final term disposals, joined by Tom Hawkins celebrating his 30th birthday. The Lions will be relying on their younger talent to upset the Cats for the first time at home in 15 years. NAB AFL Rising Star candidate Alex Witherden, first-round pick Hugh McCluggage and young stopper Nick Robertson have impressed in recent weeks.
WHERE AND WHEN: GMHBA Stadium, Saturday, July 28, 2.10PM AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R16, 2017, Geelong 25.13 (163) d Brisbane 11.12 (78) at the Gabba
R22, 2016, Geelong 19.15 (129) d Brisbane 10.9 (69) at the Gabba
R3, 2016, Geelong 18.17 (125) d Brisbane 7.14 (56) at GMHBA Stadium
R18, 2015, Geelong 17.11 (113) d Brisbane 8.9 (57) at GMHBA Stadium
R23, 2014, Geelong 21.17 (143) d Brisbane 12.9 (81) at GMHBA Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Chris Scott was playing game 174 when Brisbane last won in Geelong in round six, 2003. This weekend he notches 400 games as a player and coach combined, his 185th game as coach after playing 215 for the Brisbane Bears/Lions.
2.Brisbane has lost its past six matches at GMHBA Stadium by an average of 57.3 points. The closest the Lions got was back in round 23, 2013, caretaker coach Mark Harvey losing his third match by a point.
3. The Lions will be hoping Daniel Rich doesn't have a long memory. He's the only player still on the Brisbane list from the 63-point drubbing in round 17, 2010, the last time Gary Ablett played as a Cat against the Lions. He bagged five majors from 26 disposals.
4. Ranked the worst side in the competition for first quarters, the Lions won just their third opening term for 2018 last week against Adelaide. Geelong sits ninth at 9-8.
5. The Cats took 12 contested marks to Melbourne's six in last week's win. Ranked third in the competition, the Cats average 12.2 per game compared to Brisbane's 9.8.
6. The Cats and Lions possess two of the best first-year players in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Cat Tim Kelly is ranked No.1 in the competition, while Lion Cameron Rayner sits third behind Demon Bayley Fritsch.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Former Cat Josh Walker, traded out at the end of 2015, comes up against his former side after an impressive fortnight in defence. Contending with Tom Hawkins in career-best form will prove where he's at.
PREDICTION: Geelong by 42 points.
