The Geelong Cats and Gold Coast Suns find themselves at the wrong end of the ladder and will be desperate to pick up their first win of the season. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:20pm (AEST).
Ever since Gary Ablett’s famous defection to the Suns, these two clubs have had somewhat intertwined fates.
Former Sun Josh Caddy is an important cog in the Cats midfield machine, legendary Geelong coach Mark Thompson was rumoured to be a frontrunner for Gold Coast’s coaching vacancy, and the Kolodjashnij twins are split between the two teams, with Jake playing for Geelong and Kade suiting up for the Suns.
On the field, the Cats have dominated this rivalry. In addition to spoiling Gold Coast’s first real home game with a 66-point victory, the Cats won the first four contests between these sides by an average of 71 points.
Last time they played however, Harley Bennell’s six goals and Gary Ablett’s 33 disposals saw the Suns claim a coming-of-age 40-point victory.
But this season it’s been a different story for both clubs.
Losses to Hawthorn and Fremantle in the opening two weeks wouldn’t phase too many clubs, but the enormous margins of both losses mean Geelong – a club who were just percentage away from the minor premiership in 2014 – enter this weekend in last place.
The club’s attempts to strengthen their forward line in the offseason have borne little fruit thus far, with the Cats scoring 61 points in Round 1 and 60 last week. Their 44-point loss to the Dockers was their first 40-point loss at home since Round 3, 2006, and if that doesn’t serve as huge motivation then nothing will.
A popular pick to leap into the top eight this season, Gold Coast have started the season with comprehensive losses against last season’s bottom two sides. The vaunted young midfield has spluttered badly, with the Suns averaging 36 fewer disposals, 36 fewer marks and 13 fewer tackles than their opponents, while their effective disposals percentage is second last in the competition.
With Ablett’s shoulder injury and Jaeger O’Meara’s knee keeping them off the field indefinitely, the Suns need something special if they’re to turn it around in 2015.
Billie Smedts will miss with suspension, but Geelong could welcome back some big names for this clash, with Jimmy Bartel (concussion), Jared Rivers (knee) and Steven Motlop (suspension) all looking set to return after missing last week.
Gold Coast on the other hand will be gutted by the losses of Ablett and Jarrod Harbrow (shoulder). The Suns will look to recall the previously suspended Matt Shaw, and could re-work their forward line with smalls Brandon Matera and Aaron Hall, but in any case it looks as if they’ll be fielding a weaker team than they did a week ago.
Prediction
Both of these clubs will be flat-out desperate for a win, and given both sides are capable of playing good football, we should be in for an enthralling match.
But while both teams have endured bitterly disappointing starts to the year, Geelong have lost to far more respectable opposition. At the suddenly besieged Cattery, they should be able to feast on the vulnerable young Suns.
Cats by 43 points.
Stirling Coates
Editor
MATCH REPORT The Geelong Cats have finally picked up their first win of the season, overcoming the late withdrawal of Tom Hawkins and a host of injuries to hold off a spirited Gold Coast Suns outfit and prevail by nine points. Strongly predicted to have their way with the underperforming Suns, Geelong didn't have at all their own way in the first half. Gold Coast blew the Cats away in the clearances, notching 17 to five in the first quarter, to put 40 on the board at quarter time and hold an eight-point lead. The Suns notched it up a gear in the second quarter, dominating the inside 50s and continuing to hold their own the midfield. Michael Rischitelli (27 disposals, five tackles, one goal), Dion Prestia (29 dispoals), Harley Bennell (28 disposals) and Zac Smith (35 hitouts, 15 disposals) all dominated, but wasteful kicking for goal saw the visitors head into half time with only a 12-point lead when they should have been up by 20 or more. Rocked by Hawkins' late withdrawal and game-ending injuries to Jimmy Bartel and Matthew Stokes, the Cats had to dig deep in the third quarter to turn it around - and that's exactly what they did. Led by their extraordinary captain Joel Selwood (38 disposals, six tackles, one goal), along with James Kelly (27 disposals), Mitch Duncan (24 disposals) and late-inclusion Josh Walker (four goals), the Cats went into top gear in the third quarter. Six straight goals saw the hosts race out to a 26-point lead, and judging by coach Rodney Eade's iconic stressful grimaces, it looked as if the Suns were set to be blown away for the third straight match. But to their credit, Gold Coast were able to stem the flow towards the end of the quarter, eventually pegging the margin back to 17 points at three quarter time. With another Cat (defender Tom Lonergan) off the field, the Suns knew they were a decent chance to run over their opponents in the final quarter. An early goal to Sam Day put the Suns within two kicks, and whilst the Suns pushed hard for most of the quarter, the Cats managed to keep them at least a goal away for most of the quarter. A goal from Jack Martin with a minute and a half to play put the Suns within three points, before man of the match Selwood willed his team over the line, single-handedly winning the ensuing clearance and setting up Blicavs for the match-sealing goal. Geelong Cats 5.3 | 7.6 | 13.8 | 16.9 (105) Gold Coast Suns 6.5 | 8.12 | 9.15 | 13.18 (96) GOALS Cats: Walker 4, Caddy 2, Motlop 2, Gregson 2, Selwood, Johnson, Thurlow, Blicavs, Clark, Lang Suns: Lynch 3, Martin 3, Matera 2, Garlett, Hall, Rischitelli, Day, Miller Attendance: 20,813
Stirling Coates
Editor
FULL TIME REPORT Geelong Cats - 16.9 (105) Gold Coast Suns - 13.18 (96) Gold Coast came hard in that quarter, but in the end their wasteful first half came back to bite them, with the class of the Cats shining too bright for the Suns. Joel Selwood with a crucial captain's clearance at the death led to a clutch Mark Blicavs goal that sealed the deal. Both teams can be satisfied with their performances today. If the Suns bring that kind of footy for the rest of the season they'll be back on track in no time. If. GOAL KICKERS Cats: Walker 4, Caddy 2, Motlop 2, Gregson 2, Selwood, Johnson, Thurlow, Blicavs, Clark, Lang Suns: Martin 3, Lynch 3, Matera 2, Rischitelli, Day, Garlett, Hall, Miller DISPOSAL LEADERS Cats: Selwood 38, Kelly 27, Duncan 24, Motlop 23 Suns: Prestia 29, Bennell 28, Rischitelli 27, Martin 21 THE STATS THAT MATTER Joel Selwood: 38 disposals, six tackles, one goal Full report to come.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
YES!
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL CATS Selwood wins the clearance and the Cats find Blicavs all one on 50. He'll be in no rush whatsoever. Takes 30 seconds off the clock and slots. IT. THROUGH! Cats lead by nine and that'll be all she wrote. GEE - 16.9 (105) GCS - 13.18 (96) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SUNS GAME ON! A huge pack fly for the ball inside Gold Coast's forward 50, but Martin stays down, picks up the crumbs and snaps it through! 85 seconds left! GEE - 15.9 (99) GCS - 13.18 (96) Q4: 2'
Stirling Coates
Editor
There's enough time for the Suns but the Cats look have taken control over the last few minutes. GEE - 15.9 (99) GCS - 12.18 (90) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL CATS The Suns turn it over in the corridor and the Cats take it the other way. An uncontested Steven Motlop takes the uncontested mark and thinks about playing on before going back and slotting it. Huge goal. The Cats might be able to play shut-down footy now. GEE - 15.9 (99) GCS - 12.18 (90) Q4: 4'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND SUNS Gold Coast with all the numbers at half forward, but poor communication sees Hall shepherd when she should have pushed forward and presented an option, with Garlett taking a shot he didn't want to and Taylor tapping it over the line. Every play counts. GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 12.18 (90) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
This game is intense! Frenetic pace and ferocious pressure. Both of these teams are playing like the contenders we though they'd be at the start of the year. GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 12.17 (89) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
That could be costly. Nakia Cockatoo takes a mark on half-forward, but lazy running allows his kick to be smothered. He recovers the loose ball, but then kicks it lazily up forward and the Suns retain possession. GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 12.17 (89) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SUNS Classic finish incoming! Brandon Matera is held away from the marking contest and the umpire picks it up. From 40 metres out he slots it through! GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 12.17 (89) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND SUNS Adam Saad takes on a number of midfielders and gets a nice kick inside 50 but Matera misjudges the flight of the ball it rolls out of bounds. From the stoppage Richitelli gets a kick away but Guthrie manages to tap it on its way through. GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 11.17 (83) Q4: 11'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SUNS The Cats turn it over from the kick-in and as a result Touk Miller slots one from 20 metres out. They're back in this big time! GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 11.16 (82) Q4: 13'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND SUNS Martin extracts it from the stoppage but his no look snap is hooked across the face. Another wasted shot from the Suns. GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 10.16 (76) Q4: 13'
Stirling Coates
Editor
The Suns half forwards are playing behind their opponents this quarter and it's hurting big time. A lot of fast breaks getting snuffed out by intercept marks. GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 10.15 (75) Q4: 14'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL CATS Cory Gregson finds himself unchecked inside 50, runs about 10 metres and kicks an important steadying goal for Geelong. GEE - 14.9 (93) GCS - 10.15 (75) Q4: 14'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Josh Caddy takes the mark inside 50 but puts his teammate under enormous pressure with a terrible centering kick. Pressure of the situation is playing on the minds of both teams. GEE - 13.9 (87) GCS - 10.15 (75) Q4: 15'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND CATS Steven May takes no chances at the contest, double-fisting back over the line. GEE - 13.9 (87) GCS - 10.15 (75) Q4: 17'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Suns looking a lot more comfortable this quarter, the Cats have struggled to get their hands on the ball so far. GEE - 13.8 (86) GCS - 10.15 (75) Q4: 17'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL SUNS Sam Day takes advantage of a mismatch in a one-on-one with Jeremy Guthrie. He takes the mark on the edge of the goalsquare but replays show he probably caught it off the bounce. He slots the goal and the home crowd are furious. Umpire blew the mark very late as well - that never helps. GEE - 13.8 (86) GCS - 10.15 (75) Q4: 20'