Included in the Cats’ golden run are some impressive accomplishments: a 157-point win over Richmond, West Coast’s first defeat following an impressive start to the season and victories against fellow finals participants the Kangaroos, Collingwood and Sydney and Port Adelaide. Geelong currently has a whopping percentage of 154 and will finish the season at least two games clear at the top of the table.

Last time they met the Lions:
The Lions went goalless in the first half in less than pleasant conditions at Kardinia Park in round 12, but still managed to stay in the game until three-quarter time. The Cats, however, kicked clear in the final term to win by 50 points.

The coach:
Geelong coach Mark Thompson was widely thought to be in the firing line at the end of a disappointing 2006 campaign – but few would now expect him to be moving on any time soon. The former Essendon premiership skipper will take the Cats into a fourth finals series in eight years, with the form and playing group to go at least one better than their brave (but ultimately unsuccessful) preliminary final appearance against the Lions in 2004.

Missing in action:
Jimmy Bartel is the biggest name of the certain Cats absentees. The Brownlow Medal fancy is still recovering from an operation to remove his appendix. Cameron Ling is scheduled for a test on his injured hamstring, an ailment that will also keep Kane Tenace sidelined.

The gun:
Such has been the quality of Gary Ablett’s play in 2007 that few have questioned a Brownlow Medal price that, at first glance, looks exceedingly short (Ablett’s quote drifted slightly this week, but only to $2.10). Certainly Lions fans need no introduction to him – not after he gathered 35 possessions in round 12 – and his near match-winning and brilliant major against Port Adelaide last week wouldn’t have escaped attention either. The 23-year-old is blessed with uncanny awareness, superb skills, explosive pace and the apparent ability to play two or three steps ahead of his opponents.

The bolter:
If any Cat is especially keen to prove his worth come the business end of the season, then it’s probably Cameron Mooney. The flamboyant forward won a premiership with the Kangaroos in 1999 but didn’t pick up a stat on football’s biggest day. Mooney’s efforts to date in 2007 – 51 goals and 162 marks – suggest he’s primed for a better return this year should he get the opportunity.

Strengths:
Three Geelong players – Ablett, Bartel and Joel Corey – rank in the top-four possession winners in the competition, a sure sign of the spread of talent in the Cats’ midfield. Much of Geelong’s drive comes from defence, where Matthew Scarlett, Darren Milburn, Tom Harley and Matthew Egan back themselves in and there is no shortage of players able to capitalise on their good work at the other end. Mooney, Ablett, Nathan Ablett, Steve Johnson, Ling and Mathew Stokes have all kicked 25 or more goals in 2007. Brad Ottens has been much-maligned player throughout his career but the ruckman-forward isn’t far off the form that won him All-Australian selection in 2001.

Weaknesses:
How do you pick the flaws in a side that has lost only once in the last 16 weeks – and only then on a last-gasp goal. Nathan Ablett could do with more consistency, Bartel will be missed (as will Ling, if he doesn’t come up) and Ottens can’t be expected to carry the load alone in the ruck. Fellow big man Mark Blake remains an awkward sort, while former captain Steven King has had an interrupted campaign.

The Queensland factor:
Perhaps it’s the cold weather down on the shores of Corio Bay but there are no Queenslanders on the Geelong list. The nearest thing is Joel Selwood, a Rising Star nominee this year and younger brother of Lions midfielder Troy Selwood.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club