HEAT’S ON HOPEFULS
Toby Greene, Josh Kelly, Tom Scully, Jeremy Cameron, Brett Deledio and Rory Lobb would be walk up starts for the Giants, and the Cats injury concerns have been well documented.
It makes winning these types of games crucial because if Geelong slips up and goes 3-4 after seven rounds then earning a double chance at the end of the season becomes an almighty challenge, and, apart from the Bulldogs two years ago, it has been proven that winning a flag from outside the top four is a seemingly impossible task.
For the Giants, cementing their place in the top four is one thing, but proving to themselves and the competition that they are capable of winning big games on the road is a vital step in their development.
Leon Cameron will stress EMG: the importance to the 22 players who run out for GWS of playing the game their way and dispelling the notion that they are not a selfless team.
On field, it will be led by Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel, Phil Davis and Jonathon Patton, and it will need the support of guys such as Matt de Boer and Lachie Whitfield.
For Geelong, the return of Zac Smith and Scott Selwood is significant, and along with the rest of the midfield group they must quell the Giants at stoppages.
The Cats cannot allow the centre square leakages of last Saturday to repeat tonight.
Tom Stewart has a big evening ahead of him but he has proven time and again that he is up to any challenge and along with Jake Kolodjashnij, Zach Tuohy, Jack Henry, Mark Blicavs and Jed Bews, the Geelong defence looks fine.
Its issues — predominantly winning the football first — are elsewhere, and fixing those will help the Cats enormously in their bid to move to 4-3 and remain in touch with the leading pack.