CATS NEED TO BARE THEIR CLAWS

Defending premier Geelong is in an interesting spot ahead of round 11.

After being well beaten out west against Fremantle last Saturday, Chris Scott’s side sits in seventh position but, crucially, is already two games outside the top four.

As the Cats continue to try to find their best mix, the elephant in the room is their mounting injury list which threatens to derail their premiership defence.

Patrick Dangerfield will miss a third successive week with a hamstring injury, while they have copped a fresh setback with young midfielder Max Holmes set to be out until after the bye after going in for knee surgery.

It leaves the Cats as a bit of a watch in the coming weeks, as they look to recapture their best form in the second half of the season.

Champion Data analyst Daniel Hoyne threw up an interesting theory on SEN Sportsday during the week, calling for Geelong to abandon plans to finish in the top four and instead reassess its expectations and aim to take a shot at a flag from the bottom part of the eight.

“If I’m them, still go down the player rotation path, even if it costs them more losses,” Hoyne said.

“Concede (top four), get your house in order by round 22 and have a Hail Mary at (a premiership) from sixth, seventh or eighth.”

The fortunes of Geelong and how its season plays out will be one of the biggest on-field talking points for the rest of the season.

With games against the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide and Melbourne to come in the next five weeks, the Cats’ depth will be tested against some of the best in the competition.

The footy world is about to find out whether they are true contenders in 2023, or they’re simply making up the numbers.