The Cats are coming off a backs-to-the-wall victory against Gold Coast, holding on for a nine-point victory despite finishing the game with only one fit player on the bench.

It was a third quarter burst of six goals to one that proved crucial for the win at Simonds Stadium, and it was during the term that the variation in its ball movement proved too much for the Suns to handle.

There were two common themes to the quarter; when Geelong was moving the ball through the centre of the ground it was at rapid speed, and it also loaded numbers up towards the boundary side where possible.

Starting with the movement down the boundary, here is how the setup looked at the beginning of a play that led to a goal for the Cats.

11 Cats are in frame, giving Corey Enright the option to go long down the line to a contest, or affect a quick switch to the open side of the ground.

The benefit of these numbers is two-fold; if a turnover comes close to the boundary, it’s tricky for Gold Coast to quickly rebound through the traffic into its forward 50.

Also, if Geelong is unable to switch the ball, opts to go down the line and eventually wins the ball from the contest, all of a sudden there’s enormous space heading towards its own goal.

This is exactly what happens on this occasion after a scramble. Note the gaps through both the centre square (where a potential switch could have occurred) and over the back of the forwards heading towards goal.

The play ended with Josh Walker getting goal-side of his opponent in Steven May and converting truly for his side’s first of the term.

Later on in the third quarter, towards the end of the Cats’ six-goal burst, they opted to use the space on the far side.

From a stoppage situation on Geelong’s defensive 50, the home side eventually came away with possession. At this stage there are 12 Cats in the frame, all either very close to the ball or behind it.

After Geelong wins possession and Motlop works his way into space, he chooses to switch the ball. This is where Geelong backs itself to take the game to its opponents and uses its players with pace to great effect.

His long kick finds its way into the hands of youngster Cory Gregson, one of the quickest Cats on the team.

Gregson has space in front of him and a multitude of options. Eventually he chose to kick long on goal from outside 50 and converted truly, but if he opted to take a shorter teammate instead, the key forwards had nothing but space to work in.

This ability to move the ball in a number of different ways allows Geelong to put scores on the board quickly when it has the momentum.

Against Gold Coast, the Cats had 15 fewer inside 50’s (67-52), yet still managed to score more than 100 points.

The ball movement at times also had some similarity to how Port Adelaide was able to put up a high score against the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium. It no doubt means that North will be on high alert for it at Simonds Stadium.