SUMMARY
Following back to back wins, the Brisbane Lions are back in top eight contention after this week’s Essendon finals ban. The planets will need to align perfectly for the Lions however and their first task is defeating the Cats, a team they have struggled against in recent years, at their Simonds Stadium fortress. A Geelong win will ensure a top-two finish for Chris Scott's men and a Melbourne final with the possibility of the minor premiership should Hawthorn loss to the Sydney Swans. The Lions are coming off wins against Greater Western Sydney and the Western Bulldogs, while the Cats have flexed their familiar end-of-season muscle with wins over Port Adelaide, West Coast and the Swans.
WHERE AND WHEN: Simonds Stadium, Saturday August 31, 2.10pm (AEST)
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R13, 2013, Brisbane 15.13 (103) d Geelong 14.14 (98) at the Gabba
R5, 2012, Geelong 12.7 (79) d Brisbane 4.17 (41) at the Gabba
R17, 2011, Geelong 20.13 (133) d Brisbane 15.14 (104) at the Gabba
R17, 2010, Geelong 19.13 (127) d Brisbane 9.10 (64) at Simonds Stadium
R8, 2010, Geelong 24.11 (155) d Brisbane 10.14 (74) at the Gabba
THE SIX POINTS
1. In one of the most memorable comebacks in AFL history, the Lions upset Geelong back in round 13 at the Gabba. The Cats led by 52 points late in the third quarter before the Lions came back to steal the win by five points courtesy of a goal after the siren from Ashley McGrath. Veteran Simon Black was the Lions best gathering 33 possessions while Steve Johnson starred for the Cats with 31 touches and two goals.
2. Apart from the comeback win earlier this year, the Lions have found the going tough against the Cats over the last eight seasons. Since 2006 Geelong have won 10 of the past 12 matches between the teams, with the Lions round 13 win their first since mid-2009.
3. Geelong will start warm favourites for the match with their ability to score heavily against the Lions who will be without key defender Daniel Merrett this week. Geelong has averaged 118.4 points against the Lions in their last five meetings of which the Cats have won four. The Cats average 109 points per game this season, while the Lions are ranked 14th with 86 per game.
4. Statistics show that Geelong should overpower the Lions in their respective attacking halves of the ground. The Cats can lay claim to three players in the top 30 of the Official AFL Player Ratings for forwards, including excitement machine Steven Motlop (ranked 76 overall), Tom Hawkins (79) and James Podsiadly (135). The Lions most productive forward is their injured co-captain, Jonathan Brown (235).
5. The loss to the Lions in round 13 has been credited for the defensive shake-up needed at Geelong, who have since been more intense with their defensive efforts. But the Cats are also moving the ball at considerable speed and have had the most inside-50s of any club this season with an average of 58 per game while Brisbane is 11th with 51.1 per game.
6. Paul Chapman’s return last week warmed the hearts of all Cats fans and prompted some experts to proclaim him the missing link in Geelong’s chances of winning a fourth flag in seven seasons. The 2009 Norm Smith medallist impressed coming on as a concussion substitute in the first quarter for Nathan Vardy and returned in the last quarter, finishing with 14 touches and a goal.
