The Geelong Cats have secured their spot in the AFL top four with a 10-point win at home over the GWS Giants.
Final score
Geelong Cats 14.14.98
GWS Giants 14.4.88
WHAT’S NEXT? FOLLOW OUR LIVE BLOGS OF GOLD COAST VS SYDNEY AND FREMANTLE VS ESSENDON
Two sides with top four aspirations will face-off at Simonds Stadium on Saturday, as the Geelong Cats play host to the GWS Giants. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:35pm AEST.
The Cats started the season off red hot, but they’ve slipped into some poor form recently, as they’ve taken back-to-back losses to the Pies and the Blues.
For a side that was a Premiership favourite two weeks ago, they now find themselves in third on the ladder, and trying desperately to rediscover their form from earlier this season.
They put in their worst performance of the season so far last weekend, despite the efforts of Patrick Dangerfield and Mitch Duncan.
They’ll need better execution in front of goals this week, as the 12.13 scoreline was a key reason for the loss.
The Giants have been the bolters of 2016, but they got handed a football lesson last weekend by the Crows. Although the final margin was only 22 points, the Giants never looked like winning the contest, as they had 12 less scoring shots than their opponent.
They’ll need to prove they can win on the road if they want to be taken seriously as Premiership contenders, and this weekend stands as the perfect opportunity to get a key win on the road.
The Cats have swung the axe after last weekend’s shocker, with Billie Smedts, and Cory Gregson omitted from the side. Lincoln McCarthy, Daniel Menzel, and Tom Ruggles will all come in, while Rhys Stanley will miss with a foot injury.
The Giants get a couple of key defenders back this weekend, as both Matthew Buntine and Phil Davis have been named to return. Adam Kennedy and Rhys Palmer are the two to miss out.
Prediction
This is a tough one to predict. The Cats are usually very good at home, but their recent form is very hard to back. The Giants are the young upstarts, and I sense a season-defining win coming up for them.
Giants by 10.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:35pm AEST.
Kurt
Guest
#freekickGeelong
MIcko
Guest
I thought GWS lacked composure going forward. I think teams are working them out and shutting down the corridor. Still good game to watch.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Yeah, that's probably fair Micko. Just though they looked a little timid at times in the last quarter. Just need to learn how to win those types of games I suppose. I won't comment on the umpiring.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Click here for the full match report from this game What's next? Follow our live blogs ofGold Coast vs Sydney and Fremantle vs Essendon MVP VOTING 3. Joel Selwood: Just about earned the three points just on his last quarter alone, but 29 disposals and 8 clearances is a solid game in anyone's book. Also kicked a goal to round off his performance nicely. 2. Zac Smith: 10 Clearances for the big man, but also had 31 hitouts, and beat the rarely beaten Shane Mumford. 1. Callan Ward: Was GWS' best in my book. Only had the ball 22 times, but 9 clearances and 8 tackles show his effort was top-class. Also kicked a goal and took 6 marks in an impressive performance.
MIcko
Guest
Bit harsh - they were trying but skills let em down. Umps were not helping their cause just quietly either.
XI
Roar Guru
This season is starting to become harder to watch faster this year. I'm really disappointed by the standard of the umpiring and I have no faith that the League will actually do anything to fix it
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
No worries Rick. Good win for your boys
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL GIANTS Lachie Whitfield kicks a goal after the siren FULL TIME The Cats have jumped to third on the Premiership ladder with a 10-point victory over the Giants at Simonds Stadium. It was a good contest for three quarters, but the Giants just fell away in the last quarter in their 14.14 (98) to 14.4 (88) loss. The Giants jumped the Cats in the first quarter, dominating the stoppages to leap out to an 11-point lead. Toby Greene kicked two goals in the opening term, and Stevie J got the home fans off their feet with a classic goal. The Cats then worked their way on top of the contest, but were ultimately wasteful in the second quarter, as they only led by 5 points at half time despite having five more scoring shots. The Giants jumped out with two quick goals to start the second half, as Toby Greene and Dylan Shiel both goaled within the first 3 minutes. However, the Cats settled, as they kicked five of the next seven goals to build a match-winning 13 point lead early in the fourth. It was a disappointing last quarter fade out for the Giants, who never really looked like challenging in the last term. Coach Leon Cameron now has two straight road losses to deal with, and the doubters will remain until his young side can pick up a win on the road. Thanks for joining me for this clash. MVP Votes coming soon. STATS Disposals: Cats 387-358 Free Kicks: Cats 29-16 Clearances: Cats 50-45 Inside 50: Cats 76-48 Contested Possessions: Cats 174-144 Tackles: Giants: 78-61 Hit Outs: Giants 51-45
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Great game. Well done boys. Thanks for the call Joel. GO CATS!
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
1' A bit of an anti-climactic finish to be honest. The Giants haven't shown any desire to win this game in the last quarter. Hawkins and Davis having a good contest in the pocket. Cats 14.14 98 Giants 13.4 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND CATS 2' Menzel gets away with a push just inside 50, and he's lining up for a shot. He'll run around, and put it through post high... off to the left. Cats 14.14 98 Giants 13.4 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
3' Selwood lowers the shoulder into Wilson, and he'll win a free kick. The Cats are home, as they just start chipping it around. Cats 14.13 97 Giants 13.4 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
4' Lobb tumbles one forward, but Lonergan reads it best. He goes long to a contest, where Blicavs wins the footy. Shiel does supremely wel to win the footy, and now Wilson is taken very high by Blicavs. The Cats fans boo as well, but that was a coathanger. Cats 14.13 97 Giants 13.4 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND GIANTS 5' Davis caught high by Selwood, and the Geelong captain may be in some strife. Looked like a high bump. Tomlinson now marks in the pocket, and he needs to kick this goal. He's missed to the far side, and that might have been their last chance. Cats 14.13 97 Giants 13.4 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
6' Ward and Greene combine for a clearance, but Taylor comes through with the big fist. Now Cameron sends it inside, and Scully sees it out of bounds in the pocket. Cats 14.13 97 Giants 13.3 81
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CATS 7' Zac Smith with a clearance, but Shaw will win the footy at half back. Cameron can't mark, but Coniglio wins the footy. There's too many blue and white hoops though, and they'll get the footy going forward. Now Dangerfield steals the footy, and Menzel will kick the sealing goal!!! Cats 14.13 97 Giants 13.3 81
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CATS 7' Selwood with a brilliant win against two at half forward, and he'll spot up Hawkins at the 50. This is a massive kick, but Hawkins is up to the task!!! 10-point lead!!! Cats 13.13 91 Giants 13.3 81
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
8' Guthrie and Selwood combine out of the middle, and now a free kick to McCarthy. His kick inside isn't marked, so we'll get a ball up about 20 metres away from goal. Cats 12.13 85 Giants 13.3 81
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL GIANTS 9' Patton with a shocking kick inside that is easily picked off by Henderson. His kick goes out on the full, and now Ward finds Hopper inside 50. He missed one badly earlier, but this one is through!! Cats 12.13 85 Giants 13.3 81
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND CATS 10' Selwood wins a clearance, and Kersten marks on a strong lead 55 from home. He's looking to have a shot here, and he'll have to kick it 60. The kick is off to the left for a minor. Cats 12.13 85 Giants 12.3 75