As the GIANTS get set take on the Cats at Simonds Stadium on Saturday afternoon, we’ve been keeping a close eye on all the news coming from Kardinia Park this week.
The GIANTS will need to be wary of Geelong who have now lost their last two matches.
Cats coach Chris Scott slammed their performance in their shock loss 19-point loss to the Blues.
"We - right at the moment - are a shadow of the team we were even three weeks ago," Scott said in his post match press conference.
"The fundamentals were really poor."
Scott then hosed down any suggestion his side is a premiership contender on Fox Footy on Monday night.
“I would contend that we don’t have any right to say we’re one of the better teams in the competition,” Scott said.
“It certainly wasn’t our view internally a couple of weeks ago and now I think everyone is starting to agree with us because we’ve put up a couple of poor performances. But it’s tight and if you have a few cogs in the chain that aren’t firing, you’re in a bit of trouble.”
Geelong ruckman Rhys Stanley has been cleared of any serious damage after suffering a foot sprain in their loss to Carlton last Sunday.
However geelongcats.com.au said his selection will be decided later in the week.
Small forward Lincoln McCarthy, defender Tom Ruggles and small forward Daniel Menzel could all return for Geelong according to geelongcats.com.au.
McCarthy has recovered from an ankle injury while Ruggles is in contention to return to the starting 22 after an eye infection ruled him out at the last minute on Sunday.
Menzel was rested from the Cats’ loss to Carlton after pulling up sore from their win over Adelaide and according to their website is “a near certainty to return to face the GIANTS”.
The Cats have made special mention of Steve Johnson - the three-time Premiership Cat, now GIANTS star - who will make his first appearance at Simonds Stadium since moving clubs at the end of last season.
Last time the two teams met, the GIANTS beat the Cats by 13 points at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
The GIANTS lead the round two clash from start to finish but had to withstand a fast finishing Cats to get over the line.
Steve Johnson, Devon Smith and Ryan Griffen kicked two goals each as Toby Greene picked up a game high 34 possessions.
Veteran Cat Corey Enright led the way with 24 disposals as Tom Hawkins booted three goals.
The GIANTS travel to Geelong to take on the Cats at Simonds Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
