The following article comes courtesy of Clare Evans and geelongcats.com.au

All Australian Geelong defender Harry Taylor has identified Brisbane Lions livewire Pearce Hanley as a potential match-winner ahead of Saturday’s clash at Simonds Stadium.

Speaking with Cats TV as part of his regular ‘Opposition Breakdown’ segment, Taylor recognised the Irishman’s ability to have a direct impact on the result.

“He’s a terrific ball user who often sets Brisbane up out of defence, averaging 21.6 disposals this year, and really gets them going from the back half,” Taylor told Cats TV.

“He is also very versatile and has spent a lot more time in the midfield and forward this season. He’s had 92 inside-50s for the year, which ranks him number one for the Brisbane Lions Footy Club.

“And he is someone who we have to be very conscious of in front of goal because he has also kicked 16 goals. He has become a really versatile player for Brisbane and the competition.

Hanley collected 19 disposals and kicked a crucial goal when the two sides met in that remarkable encounter at the Gabba back in Round 13, but has proven that he doesn’t need a lot of the ball to be damaging.

Against North Melbourne in Round 16, the 24-year-old was regarded as arguably best-on-ground despite having just 15 disposals.

But those 15 disposals included three goals and seven inside 50s.

Taylor says the Cats will need to pressure Hanley so that he isn’t given free rein to set-up play with his precise skills.

“How do we stop him?” Taylor questioned.

“Well in the forward half of the ground we have to make him accountable and limit his influence as much as we can. We also need to stop him from pin pointing the ball inside-50 to the Brisbane forwards as much as we possible and force him to kick the ball a bit higher and a bit wider than he normally would, to give us as defenders a better chance.”