By Justin Flynn
Geelong will be the first team to play the Suns at Metricon Stadium this season.
The Cats will make the trip north to take on Gold Coast as the Suns finally get to play at their home ground after being the AFL nomads so far.
The Suns were unable to play at Metricon until now due to the Commonwealth Games.
Geelong’s unattractive but gritty win against Carlton put it into sixth position on the ladder. Only percentage separates fifth placed North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, which sits ninth although with a game in hand.
The Suns are 15th and appear out of finals contention but there’s no doubt the side has improved under Stuart Dew.
With power forward Tom Lynch back this week, the Suns are no easy beats.
The Cats will be without young forward Esava Ratugolea, who underwent surgery late on Sunday after suffering fractures to his fibula and tibia at the ankle in Saturday night’s win over Carlton.
The surgery resulted in a plate and screws inserted to stabilise the injury.
Options to replace Ratugolea include Wylie Buzza and Rhys Stanley.
Chris Scott has opted not to play Stanley and Zac Smith in the same side all year, but he may be forced to do so tomorrow.
Buzza had 16 disposals, nine marks and two goals in the VFL.
Aaron Black came into the side as a late replacement last week for Harry Taylor and he could keep his spot with Ratugolea out.
Perhaps the big talking point about this game is the return of Gary Ablett to his old side.
Ablett crossed to the Suns from Geelong as a marquee player, but then requested a trade back to his home town last year.
Geelong gave away 31 free kicks last week and coach Scott was left fuming at his side’s lack of discipline.
“I don’t think we helped ourselves much, I thought we were undisciplined at times (and) gave them a chance to get into the game,” Scott said post-match.
“(To) give away free kicks inside the opposition’s forward 50, same as we did last week.
“Pick up the ball, throw it at a player after a free kick’s given. It’s pretty easy to explain.”
Boom Suns recruit Lachie Weller will play his first game in the red and gold while young gun Jack Martin will be keen to impress in Sir Doug Nicholls indigenous round.
The Suns won’t be a pushover and will be keen to put in a good display in front of their home fans for the first time in 2018.
And let’s face it, the Cats aren’t exactly in scintillating form.
Still, Geelong has much to play for with tough games against North Melbourne and Richmond to come before its bye.
Cats by 19 points.
