Cats tall task for Tigers

Rioli comeback to boost brigade of small forwards

THE Richmond Tigers are masters at picking apart opposition defences but Geelong’s back six have proved more difficult than most to break down this season.

The Cats host the reigning premiers at the MCG today in their first meeting since the Tigers’ famous qualifying final win last year.

Chris Scott’s fourth-placed side boasts the stingiest defence in the competition, having conceded just over 66 points a game on average on its way to an 8-4 record.

Second-placed Richmond is no slouch, with the fourthranked defence heading into Round 13, but it’s the Tigers’ non-traditional forward line that could prove the deciding factor.

“They have that smaller setup and they bring that manic pressure but for us it’s all about being really organised and set behind the ball,” Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij said.

“Knowing our starting points and trying to (secure) the ball when it comes in through the air so we can hopefully take away the influence of those small forwards.

“If we’re all contributing, flying for marks and trying to intercept against their smaller forward line then hopefully we can hurt them on the rebound.”

That small forward brigade is boosted by the return of Territorian Daniel Rioli, who will play his first game of the sea- son after overcoming a foot injury. Brownlow Medal winner Dustin Martin is also a huge inclusion after a week out with a calf strain.

With pillars Harry Taylor (three games) and Lachie Henderson (none) rarely sighted this year, unheralded Kolodjashnij, Tom Stewart, Jack Henry, Mark Blicavs and company have done a bang-up job.

Kolodjashnij has played every game in his fifth season at the club after he was a third- round draft pick (No.41) in 2013.

He will play the 60th game of his career today and credits club great and assistant coach Matthew Scarlett for helping him take his game to new heights.

“Scarlo put it on me that he wanted me to be more of a dangerous intercept player,” he said.

“In previous years I’ve got into areas where I could have impacted a game more and I either didn’t go or I didn’t finish my work in the air.

“So that’s been a big focus for me and hopefully that’s been coming out in games.”