1. Tom Lonergan, one of the bravest Cats of all
It's part of football folklore. A young, skinny forward in just his seventh game of AFL, runs back with the flight of the ball, leaps and gets crushed by two players. He loses a kidney. Eleven years later, that skinny kid played his 200th match against the Brisbane Lions. Tom Lonergan is now a premiership player, and has been a vital cog of Geelong's defence for many years. The fact he got back to play a single game of football after such a traumatic injury is incredible. To make the 200-mark at the highest level? Extraordinary.
2. Blistering 10-goal quarter sets up win
After a week of training in the sun on the Gold Coast, Geelong looked refreshed and ready to atone for the disappointment of last week's draw to Greater Western Sydney. While the Lions hit back late in the first quarter, the second quarter was Geelong's. It owned the corridor, scoring goal upon goal after waltzing through the middle of the ground. The Cats' ball movement was slick and effective. And in promising signs, it was the lesser lights who really stood up; Jordan Murdoch, Mark Blicavs, Steven Motlop and Jed Bews among them.
Cam Guthrie converts for the Cats! #AFLLionsCats pic.twitter.com/NHdmgu2TN6
— AFL (@AFL) July 8, 2017
3. Disappointing Lions tamed
There were high hopes for the Brisbane Lions after coming off a stirring win against Essendon at Etihad Stadium. But the Lions crashed back to earth on their home deck, barely raising a whimper in the second quarter. There was very little pressure, especially in the middle of the ground and off half-back, consequently putting their defence under enormous pressure. Cam Guthrie, in an unusual forward role, shut down Daniel Rich's run in the first half, winning the battle of questionable hairstyles and strangling the Lions in the process. Coach Chris Fagan would be bitterly disappointed with his team, who have put in a wildly inconsistent month with two big wins interspersed with 10 and 14-goal thumpings.
Patrick Dangerfield slots a beauty from a tight angle. #AFLLionsCats pic.twitter.com/ZxESCo9Is2
— AFL (@AFL) July 8, 2017
4. These kittens have claws
Geelong has played the most debutants of any team this season, managing to blood eight players while sitting in third position. The Cats have unveiled a decent amount of talent along the way. James Parsons has come off the rookie list and has been more than handy around the ground, kicking three goals against the Lions. Fellow rookie Zach Guthrie may look much younger than his 19 years, but was very assured down back. High-flying forward and cult hero Wylie Buzza showed enough in his second game to have locked in matches for the next few weeks, while the silky Brandan Parfitt kicked two in his return from a hamstring injury.
Wylie Buzza flies, but it's Brandan Parfitt who finishes the job. #AFLLionsCats pic.twitter.com/tBcQZ7p5R3
— AFL (@AFL) July 8, 2017
5. Just another game for the incredible Zorko
Dayne Zorko put in another typical Dayne Zorko performance, running his heart out to finish with 36 disposals, four goals, 10 clearances and 12 tackles. So, just another day for the Lions' magician, who has probably sewn up a third consecutive best and fairest already. Zorko's one poor game came against GWS two weeks ago, where Sam Reid applied a hard tag and held him to just five touches. Oddly enough, Cats coach Chris Scott opted not to tag Zorko, instead trusting his midfield to outplay their opponents as a group.
WATCH: Great Dayne continues to impress
Dayne Zorko has no issue with distance! #AFLLionsCats pic.twitter.com/omRIcIZ46E
— AFL (@AFL) July 8, 2017
