MATCH DETAILS
Geelong v Richmond, Telstra Dome, 7.10pm, Saturday

FORECAST
The bureau is tipping a wet and windy day with the mercury only hitting the low teens but, under the roof at Telstra Dome, there shouldn’t be too much rain – or wind – about.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Geelong 14.15 (99) def Richmond 10.9 (69), round eight, 2008 at the MCG

The Tigers actually led by a goal at half-time in round eight on a freezing Melbourne day. Trent Cotchin burst onto the AFL scene, impressing in his debut and kicking a clever goal with his first kick of the Sherrin.

Significantly, Gary Ablett and Paul Chapman were the Cats’ best in the slippery conditions. However both will be missing on Saturday night which will be to the liking of star Tiger Matthew Richardson – who was also prominent when the two teams last met.

FORM GUIDE
There’s little more the Cats could have done to position themselves perfectly for another run at a premiership. Geelong is in pole position to challenge for back-to-back flags, having just taken care of the two teams many consider their main challengers for the 2008 title – the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn. Having won 16 from 17 – and with stars to return in coming weeks – Mark Thompson’s team can afford to drop matches and is still likely to finish on top of the table. Not that there will be any foot-off-pedal talk at Skilled Stadium.

The Tigers are coming with a rush in the back half of the season, playing exciting, confident footy. After getting over Melbourne in round 12 the message out of Richmond was ‘here we come’. Enthused at the prospect of a better draw, Terry Wallace’s men haven’t disappointed by winning five of their past six. With stars Matthew Richardson, Nathan Foley and Brett Deledio up and running, Richmond has put itself in the finals mix.

RANDOM FACTS
- When these two teams last met at Telstra Dome (round six, 2007) the Cats beat Richmond by 157 points. At that time West Coast was the reigning premier and on top of the AFL ladder. However Geelong’s win kick-started its run to the 2007 flag.

- Geelong defender/midfielder Corey Enright has had a superb month. In his past four matches the sublimely skilled Cat has had 132 possessions at an average of 33 per game.

- Richmond midfielder Brett Deledio is averaging 21 touches a game this year. Against the Cats in round eight he was bang on his average and booted two goals.

KEY MATCH UPS
Cameron Ling v Nathan Foley
Foley simply couldn’t shake Ling’s relentless pressure in round eight, although the heavier ground suited the star Cat, who doesn’t possess the natural leg speed of his younger, likely opponent. Ling was also able to sneak forward and enjoy two goals as a frustrated Foley had no answers to the game’s best tagger. He’ll have learned from that experience and will enjoy the slicker, Telstra Dome surface.

Jimmy Bartel v Kane Johnson
Can anyone stop the Brownlow medallist’s rampaging form? Tigers skipper Kane Johnson might be assigned the task. The pair have played on one another a few times in the past, and Richmond’s prime stopper will need to be at his best to shut down Geelong’s chief ball winner. Johnson has also been winning plenty of it this year.

Brad Ottens v Troy Simmonds
Both men were fantastic for their respective sides last week. Their duel at Telstra Dome on Saturday night could go a long way to determining their sides’ fortunes. Simmonds might have the edge in running ability around the ground but, when the Sherrin hits the deck, Ottens’ ability to win the contested ball is almost unparalleled.

WHAT THE CLUBS SAY
Geelong coach Mark Thompson
“Maintaining our form would be great. If we get better, because we haven’t played the perfect game yet, that would be fantastic too.

“We can’t ask for too much and I think we as a club are pretty happy with what the boys are doing.”

Richmond coach Terry Wallace
“They [Geelong] have treated all bar Hawthorn with a fair whack of contempt and ... that's footy contempt, not the other contempt.

“They've handled good sides very, very comfortably and they've set a bar for themselves that's a fair way ahead of the rest of the group.”