Geelong can revive its failing season against the ‘gettable’ Western Bulldogs, writes Cam Mooney

It’s certainly no understatement: this week’s clash with the Western Bulldogs is the Cats’ most important game of the year thus far, writes Cam Mooney.

It’s certainly no understatement to say this weekend’s match with the Western Bulldogs is Geelong’s biggest of the year.

And after dropping the past three, and with the Dogs and the Power to come, a 0-5 formline over a crucial five-round period is likely to sink the Cats’ season.

It’s in the midfield which concerns me the most against the Dogs.

Coming up against the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Smith and Tom Liberatore, the Cats will certainly feel the absence of Patrick Dangerfield and Cam Guthrie more than ever if they don’t return for round 12.

I don’t think the retirement of Joel Selwood is a huge factor when it comes to the Cats’ current run of form.

Jake Riccardi after the final siren at GMHBA Stadium. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images).

While a true legend at Geelong and an icon of the game, we don’t exactly lack leadership at Cat Park.

With the forward line looking good, and the defence reasonably solid after the return of Sam De Koning and Tom Stewart and Jake Kolodjashnij in good form, it’s the midfield that is giving Chris Scott and his coaching staff the most issues.

That being said, the Dogs are gettable.

On paper they look great, but they’ve been prone to inconsistency for a few years now.

While the Gold Coast Suns have plenty of experience playing up in Darwin, it was a game you expected the Dogs to win.

Playing Port Adelaide over there, when the Power have won their past eight, will be the bigger test.

Patrick Dangerfield could return for the Cats in round 12. Picture: Brad Fleet

Despite missing forward options at times, like Charlie Dixon, Xavier Duursma, Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall and Orazio Fantasia, Ken Hinkley’s men continue to get the job done.

They appear to be playing for their coach and players have emerged as A Grade stars, like Zak Butters.

I said a few weeks ago that five-round period, starting with the match against Richmond, was likely to define our season.

You could stomach the loss to the Tigers – who really set themselves up for that game and still have a few punches to throw – and Fremantle over in WA.

The Dockers have started to get some serious form and have won the past four on the trot, including the Demons at the MCG.

It was a huge win for their collective belief.

But the loss to GWS last Saturday really stung.

Brent Daniels and Daniel Lloyd celebrate a goal for the Giants against the Cats in round 11. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Despite Toby Greene’s heroics in his 200th, you’d expect the Cats to win at home.

If the Cats miss the finals, it feels like the kind of loss you’d look back on and say it sunk their season.

Thankfully, it was a round of upsets with top eight sides in the Dogs, Dees, Lions and Saints also losing, so we’re not alone.

And if nothing else, it showed this competition continues to be pretty even among the top 10-12 teams.

However, a lot has to go right from here if the Cats are to defend their title.

They’re at the crossroads.

So if the Cats can get past the Dogs and the Power, and start to assemble their best squad, they can still give the premiership a shake, even from the bottom half of the eight.

That five-game winning streak earlier in the season showed we’re still one of the best teams in the competition.

But they need close to a full list to do it.

Without their best players firing from here on in, the Cats won’t be repeating their heroics of 2022.

Originally published as Geelong can revive its failing season against the ‘gettable’ Western Bulldogs, writes Cam Mooney