The GWS Giants continue to rack up the frequent flyer miles with the young team’s first trip to Geelong. We’ll have live scores and a live blog from 1.45pm AEST.
The Geelong Cats will be looking for four points, no injuries and a healthy percentage boost as they continue their premiership defence.
The Giants must feel like a rock band on a world tour. Geelong will be the seventh city they play in over their first ten games, and Simonds Stadium their ninth venue. They didn’t disgrace themselves against the Bombers at Skoda last week, but the travel must be taking a toll on the players and they’ll be looking forward to the bye after this game.
First though, they have another opportunity to put up a competitive showing against a quality team.
Tom Scully and Adam Treloar get the chance to consolidate on their best performances for the club last Saturday.
Youngsters Dylan Shiel, Tobey Greene, Stephen Coniglio, Dom Tyson, Devon Smith and Tomas Bugg will learn a lot by playing against the experienced Cats midfield.
Sam Darley, Jacob Townsend and Andrew Phillips all need a strong performance to show Kevin Sheedy that they’re a part of the Gaints’ best 22.
Top 10 draft pick Nick Haynes gets his first run in the seniors.
Realistically though, this game won’t be much of a contest. While the Cats haven’t been at their dominant best lately, the star players are starting to find form. Steve Johnson was everywhere against the Dogs last weekend. Paul Chapman and Joel Corey have had good months after indifferent starts to the season.
They will simply have too much quality and experience.
Today is a chance for some of the other Cats to find some touch. Bartel, Podsiadly and Stokes could all benefit by getting their hands on the footy regularly this afternoon. The Cats are also giving debuts to Jordan Schroder and Lincoln McCarthy.
You only need to take a quick look at the ladder to see why the result of this game is important to Geelong. They sit just outside the eight, with a lower percentage than all but one of the top twelve teams.
With the finals race looking very tight this year, percentage might determine whether the Cats make the top four, earn a home final, or even play finals at all.
So there’s every reason for the Cats to want to put GWS to the sword. The Giants’ youngsters will need all their resolve to stay in this contest as long as possible.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Speaking of comedy - Richard Hinds with a well timed retort to Masters' recent nonsensical blabberings on GWS: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/gws-galapagos-tortoises-will-get-there-in-the-end-20120607-1zyz4.html
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Yeah. Geelong kicked twenty goals to five, in a game that was over by quarter time with a nine goal lead. Sorry, that was Sydney and Doggies. Nope, they kicked a thirteen goal bag from their full forward to win twenty seven goals to nine. Oops, Hawthorn vs North. Geelong were utterly dominating GWS, leading by a game winning zero points at half time. So, Gleeseo ... whats the weather like in your universe ?
Gleeso
Guest
Geelong seemed disinterested until embarresment got the better of them. GWS are aweful and all that has happened in the last 18 mths is that expectation of these new teams has bottomed out. Even a gutsy performance seems sensational. They got hammered.
MFB1991
Guest
Cattery and Ian, Great to see you fella's conversing...........you're a bit like a comedy duo.......except there's no straight man. Keep up the good work.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Cattery, My strong feeling is that GWS will be looking to sign some high leadership veterans this offseason to replace the Geriatrics With Scully
The Cattery
Roar Guru
The interesting thing is that Cornes, Power, Brogan and Mcdonald are only there for this season (one would imagine) - that will be a lot of experience to depart the scene in one hit. p.Tah is probably right that with those four retiring, GWS would want at least another two or three back in with experience. Balanced against that, this team currently seems better placed than the suns to go the next step, the bodies of the younger players looking that little bit stronger. I agree most are only two pre-seasons away from running out four quarters full on.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Belief is part of it, learning to win is part of it, and having the endurance to run out games is part of it. The game Im really looking forward to is against Melbourne in round 13. If the Giants play in that like they did today, then they are six goals or more up at half time. Its my strong belief that GWS arent going to sign any superstars in free agency, but will sign another couple of 'toilers' to help lead the kids around ... which, after all, was what Cornes, Power, Brogan and MacDonald were.
MFB1991
Guest
Cattery, Couldn't agree more...........there's only one word to describe the performance of the kids today.....yep......you guessed it.......BRAVE !!!!!!
MFB1991
Guest
Its best to keep your domestic circumstances to yourself Ian !!
p.Tah
Guest
I quite enjoyed the game. I'm no expert in AFL matters but it seemed to me that GWS don't have the self belief (which comes from experience) just yet. They get close to these top teams during the game but they're waiting/expecting the other team to switch up a gear. When they get a few more wins it'll be a different story. They may not be able to lure a superstar next year but in my uninformed opinion perhaps they need to recruit a few experienced 'toilers' to help lead these 'kids' around the field.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I was really impressed with the Giants' first half, but even in the closing stages of that second quarter, it was those little things creeping in: the easy turnover, the missed tackle, paying the full price for an error, etc, the final result looked likely. Anyway, 17,243 today at Kardinia Park, locals would have seen their team challenged by some talented youngsters, and enjoyed it when their team put the foot on the pedal.
TomC
Roar Guru
Agreed Alan. It's a shame they couldn't run out the second half better, but that's what happens when a team of kids comes up against an experienced side like the Cats. The Giants now get a week off to rest and recharge for the second half of the season.
Alan
Roar Guru
I have to say though, the Giants are proving not to be easy pushovers in their debut season. I have been impressed by what they have accomplished thus far and to be tied against the Cats at Skilled Stadium at halftime is a great achievement for such a young side. They are moving along nicely in my opinion.
TomC
Roar Guru
So after an awful first half by the Cats, they regained their intensity and composure to completely dominate the last two quarters. Taylor kicked six goals playing deep forward all day. Johnson was the man who stamped the Cats' authority on the game with five of his own. Jimmy Bartel was the dominate midfielder with 32 possessions. Kelly also a big contributor but he'll have to answer to the Match Review Panel after a high shot on Tobey Greene. Chapman continues his return to reform with another big game. For the Giants, Coniglio was their best with 22 kicks and 5 handballs. Shiel worked hard all day. Cameron was brilliant early but was shut down by Scarlett. Ward had another solid game. Greene and Scully had good patches.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
*claps both teams off*
TomC
Roar Guru
Taylor sneaks it through, and that caps off a much better second half by Geelong. They run out 65 point winners. Geelong 19.12 126 GWS 9.7.61
TomC
Roar Guru
Stokes takes it from McCarthy and with a neat kick finds Taylor thirty metres out. Taylor will kick after the siren for his sixth goal today.
TomC
Roar Guru
Coniglio with a long searching kick into the forwardline. Clears Cameron and Scarlett plays it safe by knocking it through for a behind. Geelong by 59 points in the last couple of minutes.
TomC
Roar Guru
The tired Giants are flooding back in defence, and Geelong play keepings off in the middle of the ground. Selwood eventually finds Johnson in the forward pocket for Geelong. Johnson's shot lands in the goalsquare where Harry Taylor reaches up and takes a mark. He goes back and kicks his fifth goal in his hundredth game. Geelong 18.12.120 GWS 9.6.60 Interesting experiment by Scott to play H.Taylor as a full foward. Taylor has taken nine marks and kicked five goals but I wouldn't say he's looked like a natural down there.
TomC
Roar Guru
Lonergan wins a free kick at half forward and kicks long. Bartel drifts in front of the contest and takes another mark. Coming up for his zillionth possession this quarter. Shot is across the face though.