Rahilly lines up Cat big guns

HE coaches the attack that just kicked its lowest score of the season and lost one of the AFL’s top full-forwards to suspension.

Now his charges take on the league’s most miserly defence.

Geelong assistant James Rahilly is having a big week, but it’s far from calamitous ahead of the huge home match today against Richmond. For all their problems in the wake of last Friday night’s loss to Sydney, the Cats still pack ample firepower.

They are the league’s second highest-scoring team this season and although Tom Hawkins is a major loss with his two-game ban, Patrick Dangerfield and Daniel Menzel are welcome returns.

Hawkins is fifth in the goalkicking with 46, while Dangerfield (35) and Menzel (34) are in the top 20. Having to reshape their forward line is nothing new for the Cats.

“It’s been a busy year — continuity hasn’t been kind to us with a lot of the players,” Rahilly said. “We’ve been OK, it’s probably just the inconsistency — we’ve had some really good games where our efficiency has been quite good.

“Then there are others where it’s been lacking.”

Heading those “others” is last week’s home loss to Sydney, where the Cats kicked a wasteful 8.13. Corey Gregson has not played this season, Lincoln McCarthy has needed surgery and Nakia Cockatoo has played only 10 games.

Geelong has recalled ruckforward Rhys Stanley and swingman Harry Taylor is another tall option in attack.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has said that without Hawkins, Geelong’s attack will be less predictable.

It is something Geelong is planning to exploit.

“When guys look up and they don’t see him [Hawkins], we’ll have multiple options and we think they’re viable options, whether it is Menz or Rhys or Harry’s there,” Rahilly said.

“We have a new look and it’s something different, but we still need to have that predictability to each other.”