As the final game of the home and away season approaches, let’s take a look at the stats that could decide where the GIANTS and the Cats finish on the ladder after Saturday night’s clash at Simonds Stadium.

Expect a game full of stoppages, low scoring and a high contested possession count as the two sides fight off for a home final in week one.

Last time the two sides met for the season’s first draw in round 15 the GIANTS had 91 stoppages. In the last month, the GIANTS have been the number one team in the competition for stoppages, averaging 74 per game. 

Geelong have averaged 69.5 stoppages per game in the past month (fourth in the AFL) and lead the competition for forward half stoppages with 40.2 per game.

Saturday’s clash also sees two of the best contested ball winning sides go head-to-head. Over the past month the GIANTS have averaged 144.5 contested possessions per game (fourth in the league) while the Cats averaged 143.8 contested possessions per game (fifth in the league). 

Both sides have been miserly in defence over the past month with the travelling GIANTS averaging just 66.2 points against per game. They’re ranked third in the league for tightest defences while the Cats aren’t far behind in fourth place averaging just 72.5 points conceded per game. 

Phil Davis and the rest of the GIANTS’ defensive unit will need to continue their recent form as the Cats have been efficient in keeping the ball locked inside their forward half. 

After the past month of football Geelong was ranked second for inside 50s (13 more than their opponents) and time in forward half (Just under 11 minutes more than their opponents). 

The Cats are also efficient with their inside 50s, having scored from 23.7 per cent of their forward entries over the past month, ranking them third in the competition. 

The Cats have dominated possession in their past four games, ranked first in the AFL for disposal differential (64 more than their opponents) and for uncontested possessions (68 more than their opponents). 

Geelong’s love for handballing (fourth in the league, averaging 186.5 handballs per game) has been evident over the past month with the Cats fourth in the competition for their 1.09 kick to handball ratio.

The GIANTS on the other hand favour disposal by foot, averaging 218.2 kicks over the past month, ranking them third in the league.

The GIANTS take on Geelong in the final round of the home and away season on Saturday August 26 at 7:25pm.