Jay Clark and Scott Gullan say Nick Vlastuin is the answer to SuperCoach backline woes
North Melbourne's Nathan Grima joins the panel to discuss their "off the chain" picks for Round 7.
Joel Selwood bursts out of the middle. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun
SOME games are worth more than four points and tonight is a case in point for Essendon.
When the final siren sounds, a lot of questions surrounding the Bombers' premiership aspirations should be answered.
Everyone is in awe of Geelong - on and off the field - but it is reaching another elevated platform of performance, a level few teams can match when the Cats are purring.
HOW THE CATS
CAN WIN
THE Cats need to own the "Geelong freeway". They love to hurt their opponents right through the corridor.
Stevie Johnson, Joel Selwood and the like are prepared to back their foot skills, bringing the ball into the middle with the arrogance and precision that makes them the game's best.
If Essendon cannot handle this, it will pay. If it cannot commit to it for 120 minutes, they will pay.
SEE THE ROUND 7 TEAMS
From 2006-2013 the Cats averaged 135 points against Essendon. Yes, 135 points!
Geelong needs to put Essendon to the sword again and reward the efforts of Steven Motlop, Taylor Hunt, Mathew Stokes etc, who are creating havoc in the midfield.
The Cats handball a staggering 170 times a week, up 23 on last year. They will challenge the Bombers to be good enough to catch them and then tackle with the correct technique.
Expect to see one of these lads carry the ball 40m to 50m and score a goal at some stage tonight.
Chris Scott must tag David Zaharakis. Geelong's midfield method can cover Jobe Watson and Brendon Goddard is important, but Zaharakis is the Dons' big-game performer. He is the igniter, the spark player who is forward of centre in close games.
CATS WARY OF SLOW STARTS
When Zaharakis has an impact it goes on the scoreboard. Goddard not so much and Watson ... well maybe he's untaggable.
Geelong has the best leaders in the game. Selwood, Paul Chapman, James Bartel and Stevie J just love the game in the balance moments and, more recently, in the third term.
They've dominated their opponents by 123 points in the third quarter, outscoring quality opposition such as Sydney by six goals.
If it's close, just wait and see whose turn it is to wrestle momentum back the Cats' way. Compare Watson and Co to Selwood and Co post-game, and that may just be the story.
How great is it to play for Geelong? Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
HOW THE BOMBERS CAN WIN
ESSENDON'S main asset is its ability to deny the opposition time and space, through tackle pressure and harassment. The flow-on effect of this pressure has allowed Cale Hooker and Michael Hibberd to stay aggressive in hunting the intercept at half-back, which has served them well.
Hooker is the competition leader at intercept marks, and Hibberd is No.3 at ground level, but can they do it against the AFL's best? They must stay proactive. The Bombers are the best in the business at counter-punching once they've forced a turnover.
About a third of the turnovers they create are converted into a score.
In this regard, their midfield is ranked No.1, up from No.11 last year - a dramatic improvement.
Dyson Heppell, Zaharakis and Goddard are powerful when given possession in space.
The Cats come into the corridor more than any other team from the defensive half - right through the absolute guts.
If the Bombers fail to force turnovers in the corridor they will be embarrassed on the scoreboard.
The Bombers must exit clearance situations by hand.
Watson must continue to put his teammates into space via his creative handballing and poise in traffic. It will be self-defeating if they hack-kick out of congestion because the Cats game is based on the extra defender being 30m to 40m on the defensive side of stoppages.
The Cats' mode at stoppages is to circle the stoppage with a noose like effect. If they lose the initial first possession they squeeze in to force an ineffective disposal, a hacked kick and, bingo, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie etc intercept and the Cats at speed on the counter-punch are unstoppable.
The Bombers short-kick the ball quickly and instinctively, allowing them to move the ball at speed.
They do it more than any team and it must continue because any slow play against the Cats will be largely unproductive.
This tactic demands that Geelong's midfielders are diligent defensively.
The Bombers are scoring a goal with 30 per cent of their I50 entries, better than any other team. Michael Hurley, Stewart Crameri and Paddy Ryder must have a genuine presence inside the forward arc.
Jobe Watson. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun
VERDICT:
The Cats will roll on and win a close win, but Essendon may just show enough to continue the premiership conversation
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