The Geelong Cats have taken a 25-point win over a spirited Western Bulldogs side on Friday night.
» Click here for the full match report.
Final score
Geelong 16.7.103
Western Bulldogs 11.12.78
It’s raining Cats and Dogs at Simonds Stadium when Geelong and the Western Bulldogs meet there on Friday night. Join The Roar for live scores from the match, and a live blog of the game, starting from 7:50pm (AEST).
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To start with – immediate apology for making that joke in the opening line, I couldn’t help myself. Moving on, this looks like a really interesting match-up.
On one hand you’ve got the Cats who last week ended Adelaide’s run of eight straight wins, at this very same ground. That sounds like pretty good form, but they were having some trouble before that – like just about every other team in the top eight, their form has been rising and falling all year long.
They’re very tough to beat at this ground. They lost to Sydney here earlier in the year but otherwise have been unbeaten on their home turf.
Last week they made the interesting call of dropping Zac Smith as a late out before the game – not out of any injury or illness, but simply ‘managing’ him, in what seemed like a horses-for-courses approach.
Now they’ve brought Smith back in but it’s at the expense of Shane Kersten, despite Kersten kicking an impressive 21 goals from 15 games this year. This a team that, even with just five rounds left in the season, still doesn’t know what its best structure is regarding its wealth of tall players.
On the other hand we’ve got the Bulldogs. They’re a good team, a better team than I thought possible two years ago, but they are down on their luck at the moment having been whacked hard with the injury stick. In addition to losing Mitch Wallis and Jack Redpath last week, they’re also down Matthew Boyd and Matthew Suckling, both with Achilles issues, and Dale Morris with a hamstring.
The upside of that is that they’re getting Luke Dahlhaus back in, as well as Jake Stringer. Also into the team this week are Jed Adcock, Zaine Cordy, and former Cat Joel Hamling.
Prediction
Logically speaking the Cats look the likely winners. However, the results of matches like this have upset my tipping so many times this year that I’m now using reverse logic. It’s probably a really bad idea.
Western Bulldogs by 18 points.
Oh, and some love needs to be given to the milestone men tonight too – Jimmy Bartel playing his 300th game, Corey Enright his 326th – set to become the Cats’ games record holder – as well as Easton Wood, who will play his 100th.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match, and a live blog of the game, starting from 7:50pm (AEST).
Peppsy
Roar Guru
Jeez I wouldn't be happy if I went for Geelong. At home against half the Bulldogs, barely managed the win even with The dogs getting even more injuries during the game. If it had been Dangerfield instead of libratore the cats would've lost a much win game. 1 key injury and the cats are done, no injuries and they still might be done.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Dr Peter Larkins @doclarkins 18m18 minutes ago Geelong, Victoria Liberatore high grade syndesmosis tear left ankle tonight- will struggle to play finals but bulldogs will do their best to get him there
Josh
Expert
Well that's the end of that chapter folks. You can read my full match report here. If you're curious about how the NRL turned out tonight, take a look at Scotty Pryde's match report from that game here.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Always up against it, endeavour good, tackling pressure good, but Geelong simply had to absorb, and when the time was right slip out the back where they always found a target inside 50.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I take my hat off to the Dogs — steely effort from them, making the Cats earn an important win. This is why I love being a Cats fan. It was always going to be tough beating a wounded dog, but they did what had to be done tonight and played some pretty good football in the process. Thanks for the call Josh. GO CATS!
Josh
Expert
Full time Fairytale finish for the Cats as Jimmy Bartel kicks a great goal with seconds left on the clock. The crowd on their feet! Geelong 16.7.103 Bulldogs 11.12.78
Josh
Expert
Goal Geelong Fairytale finish for the Cats as Jimmy Bartel kicks a great goal with seconds left on the clock. The crowd on their feet! Geelong 16.7.103 Bulldogs 11.12.78
Josh
Expert
Goal Bulldogs Tommy Boyd with a set shot in the last minute of the game, that's a goal - his third for the night. Geelong 15.7.97 Bulldogs 11.12.78
Josh
Expert
Goal Geelong Steven Motlop pops through another goal - if this game wasn't already over, it is now. Geelong 15.7.97 Bulldogs 10.11.71
Josh
Expert
Behind Geelong Sam Menegola pops one into the post. Geelong 13.7.91 Bulldogs 10.11.71
Josh
Expert
Goal Bulldogs Zaine Cordy snaps a goal, that's his first ever. 19 points the margin, six minutes on the clock. Geelong 13.6.90 Bulldogs 10.11.71
Josh
Expert
Behind Geelong Another rushed behind for the Dogs, and then Daniel Menzel kicks a behind for the Cats. He has 1.3 for the night. Geelong 13.6.90 Bulldogs 9.11.65
Josh
Expert
Behind Bulldogs Koby Stevens sends a long shot on goal into the post. Geelong 13.5.89 Bulldogs 9.10.64
Josh
Expert
Behind Bulldogs Rushed behind to the Dogs. Geelong 13.5.89 Bulldogs 9.9.63
Josh
Expert
Goal Geelong Precision pass from Jimmy Bartel sees Rhys Stanley clunk a big mark and kick his fifth goal of the night - he's having some game. Lead back out to 27. Geelong 13.5.89 Bulldogs 9.8.62
Josh
Expert
Jackson Macrae now done for the night also with a bit of a hamstring twinge. This just keeps getting harder for the Dogs.
Josh
Expert
Goal Bulldogs Great start by the Dogs. Lin Jong with a long bomb, it rolls through and the margin is trimmed to 21. Geelong 12.5.83 Bulldogs 9.8.62
Josh
Expert
Final term underway.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
....and now the real pain sets in. Told you Josh — 10 goal thrashing coming up. Nothing like some unbiased commentary. :) GO CATS!
Josh
Expert
Dogs have been spirited all night but reckon this one is too far gone now. Kicking 0.6 in the quarter didn't help.