Geelong ran out the comfortably 66-point winners over the Essendon Bombers on Sunday afternoon.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Geelong 15.10.100
Essendon 4.10.34
With the race for the top four heating up, the Geelong Cats are out to send an ominous warning to their rivals when they host the Essendon Bombers at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar from 3:20pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary.
The Cats have pounced back into title contention in 2016 and will be determined to close the gap on rivals Hawthorn and separate themselves from the rest of the pack.
Only four points separate second from eighth position, with any slip up proving costly at this stage of the season.
Geelong’s return to the top has come with a few bumps along the way, losing three matches this season to bottom eight sides.
However, the Cats have also enjoyed an impressive run against top-eight sides, having won eight out ten against these teams.
Their victory over the Bulldogs last week saw Rhys Stanley dominate the contest, kicking five goals, while Patrick Dangerfield carved up the disposals, racking up 33 possessions in Jimmy Bartel’s 300th game.
The Bombers have been valiant and resilient this season, proving they ae not to be taken lightly by playing some exciting football. Despite only achieving one victory, the Dons have exceeded the expectations of many, with performances that would excite fans for the future.
That said, Essendon had a match to forget last week, going down by 82 points to the Crows, although Joe Daniher continued to shine, kicking four goals.
Geelong have dominated the recent history between the two sides, winning six out of their last seven meetings, with Essendon last beating the CAts back in 2011, by four points.
When these two sides met earlier this year, Geelong prevailed by 30 points at the MCG. The Bombers stuck with the Cats throughout the match, trailing by only eight points at the final break, before Geelong flexed their muscle and ran away with the victory.
Both sides have a number of changes for this fixture. Captain Joel Selwood – who leads the league in clearances, averaging 7.3 per game – is Geelong’s biggest inclusion, with Josh Caddy, Lachie Henderson, Shane Kersten and Darcy Lang also returning.
Furthermore, Scott Selwood will make his long-awaited debut for the club, having joined his brother at the Cattery in pre-season.
For the Bombers, Kyle Langford, Orazio Fantasia, Will Hams and Sam Michael make way for James Kelly, Mitch Brown, Sam Grimley and Jackson Merrett. It is also a big week for James Polkinhorne, who plays his 100th match.
Rhys Stanley kicked a career-high five goals last week in an impressive individual performance, having seven score involvements and looming as a dangerous option in Geelong’s forward line.
Despite looking a one-sided affair on paper, the Bombers will use their previous encounter with the Cats as motivation to give their opponents a bit of trouble. Geelong, however, will not take this contest lightly, aiming to cement their spot inside the top four.
Prediction
Cats to gain a healthy percentage boost.
Geelong by 60.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report Thank you everyone for joining us on The Roar this afternoon. Have a good week.
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Match Report It wasn't pretty but it was enough for the Cats who won quite comfortably in the end by 66 points over the Bombers at Etihad Stadium on quite a fine Sunday afternoon in Melbourne. Geelong claiming their fourth win in a row and what should be a decent boost in percentage ahead of their last three matches. However despite the result it was difficult to sat that the Cats were at their best this afternoon, being quite inaccurate in front of goal but as they say a win's a win. Despite losing by 66 points the Bombers were not disgraced, showing some fight throughout the game only conceding heavily late in the third term due to a lapse in concentration that allowed the Cats to pounce and flex their muscle. The match started in quite a fiery fashion with the Bombers coming out of the blocks like a house on fire setting the pace early on. But the Bombers let themselves down, lacking conviction going forward which showed in their inability to kick a goal in the first half. When the Bombers did get going it did look good. Joe Daniher and Conor McKenna provided rare highlights for the Bombers with impressive goals that got their supporters out of their seats. However the match belong to Corey Enright who racked up 20 disposals by half time across the half back line and ending up with 19 disposals at the end of the match. Whilst Geelong's big names were quiet, their aging stars stole the show with Harry Taylor turning back the clock taking 13 marks and having 23 disposals. The Cats extended their lead at every break, however should have probably won the game by a few more goals being quite inaccurate in the third term kicking four goals and six behinds. It took Patrick Dangerfield a while to fire up, but he proved in the second half why he is one of the best in the league finishing with 29 touches and a goal to his name James Kelly and Mitch Brown were among the best for the Bombers, whilst Scott Selwood had quite an impressive debut keeping David Zaharakis quiet throughout the game. The Cats play the Tigers next week at the MCG whilst the Bombers host the Suns at Etihad in what could be a great chance for a win. At full time the Cats were just too good winning by 66 points. Geelong 15.10.100 def. Essendon 4.10.34 Roar Votes 3 - Corey Enright 2- Harry Taylor 1- Patrick Dangerfield
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Roar Guru
Full Time The final siren goes and the Cats are victorious by 66 points over the Bombers at Etihad Stadium! Geelong 15.10.100 Essendon 4.10.34
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00:40 Goal The Cats are loose everywhere inside fifty as Cowan takes an uncontested mark and kicks his second goal of the match. Geelong 15.10.100 Essendon 4.10.34
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Q4 1:25 Goal Tom Hawkins puts the icing on the cake with his third goal and takes the lead out to 10 goals. Geelong 14.10.94 Essendon 4.10.34
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Q4 2:20 Behind Cooney has another go this time in open play however fails to rectify his earlier miss.
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Q4 3:10 Behind Francis chips a pass to Cooney who is unmarked inside fifty. Cooney lines up his shot however misses to the left. Geelong 13.10.88 Essendon 4.8.32
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Q4 7:56 Behind Laverde takes an uncontested mark inside fifty after a decent passage of play by the Bombers, Laverde however failed to convert missing to the right. Geelong 13.10.88 Essendon 4.7.31
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Q4 8:48 Goal Cockatoo receives a free kick downfield which takes him right into the goal square and kicks his second Geelong 13.10.88 Essendon 4.6.30
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Q4 13:03 Behind Daniher almost kicks two goals in a minute, just hitting the post trying to keep it low on the angle. Geelong 12.10.82 Essendon 4.6.30
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Q4 13:51 Goal Joe Daniher kicks a massive goal from 60 minutes out! He kicked that from just inside the centre square! Geelong 12.10.82 Essendon 4.5.29
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Q4 15:29 Goal Josh Caddy marks in the forward pocket, runs around and kicks the goal to take the lead out to 59 points. Geelong 12.10.82 Essendon 3.5.23
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Q4 18:20- Great direct end to end play by the Bombers as Zaharakis found Daniher with a spearing pass, however Joe is unable to convert missing to the right. Geelong 11.10.76 Essendon 3.5.23
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Q4 20:00 The final term is underway here at Etihad!
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3QT Joe Daniher very unlucky not to have his mark paid inside fifty on the 3QT siren. Geelong having quite an inaccurate quarter kicking 4 goals and 6 behinds as they extended their lead to 54 points at the final break. The Bombers meanwhile got going in that third term, kicking three goals that lifted the momentum and intensity. Geelong 11.10.76 Essendon 3.4.22
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Q3 00:25 Goal Hawkins makes no mistake this time taking his fifth contested mark and kicking his second goal from directly in front 15 metres out. Geelong 11.10.76 Essendon 3.4.22
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Q3 Goal Essendon have found a bit of momentum lately as Dempsey finds Aaron Francis out on the lead 30 metres out who then kicks straight, kicking his first AFL goal. The Bombers have two in a row! Geelong 10.10.70 Essendon 3.4.22
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Q3 4:14 Goal What a run by McKenna through the middle of the ground, taking the game on and then capping it off with a goal that got the Bomber supporters out of their seats. Geelong 10.10.70 Essendon 2.4.16
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Q3 5:23 Behind That was clinical from the Cats. Dangerfield getting the ball out of the middle and sending the ball long to Hawkins who throws off his opponent and takes an easy mark 20 metres out. It looks as though Hawkins may have the yips this afternoon, spraying his shot to the right. Geelong 1.4.10 Essendon 10.10.70
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Q3 6:00 Goal Dangerfield rises like a salmon and takes a strong mark out in front of the pack, before ending his sides run of five straight behinds with a goal. Geelong 10.9.69. Essendon 1.4.10