Three men down and trailing by 34-points against a youthful and inspired Dockers outfit, Geelong have risen like Lazarus to steal a 2-point victory.
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Final score
Geelong Cats 10.14.74
Fremantle Dockers 11.6.72
After a lacklustre performance led to their fourth loss of the season, the Geelong Cats will look to rebound against a Fremantle Dockers team coming of a sorely needed bye. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:10pm (AEST).
The Fremantle Dockers are having a weird season.
Confusing, frustrating and unpredictable are also apt words to describe 2017 for Ross Lyon’s men.
Perhaps legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix said it best ‘Purple haze all around, don’t know if I’m comin’ up or down.’
From dead last after two rounds, Fremantle unexpectedly sat fifth, with only percentage keeping them from a place in the top four by the conclusion of round nine.
Their next three results?
A 100-point loss to the Crows, a 20-point loss to the Magpies at home and finally a 57-point drubbing at the hands of the cellar dwelling Brisbane Lions.
After their bye, they have as many wins as they do losses – six. Yet inexplicably the Dockers own the second-worst percentage (78.5) in the competition, with only the aforementioned Lions holding a lower percentage.
In an erratic season in which as many as 14 clubs could be vying for a spot in the top eight, the Dockers putrid percentage is worth an additional loss.
Hence their clash against the Cats looms as a vital one.
However, the Dockers will have to manufacture a victory without their captain Nat Fyfe. In a major blow for Fremantle, Fyfe was withdrawn on Friday due to a bruised sternum.
Fyfe is just one of six changes to the side that lost in Brisbane.
Joining their skipper on the sidelines, ruckman Jonathon Griffin and Brady Grey will also miss due to injury, while Cameron Sutcliffe and Sam Collins have been omitted.
In their stead, divisive forward Hayden Ballantyne has been recalled for his first game of season 2017 along with veteran Nick Suban and youngster Griffin Logue. The Dockers will also blood debutants Sean Darcy and Josh Deluca.
Their opposition are also not without their own injury concerns, as Nakia Cockatoo and Lachie Henderson will miss Sunday’s match for the Cats due to a hamstring and groin injury respectively.
After a disappointing loss to the Eagles last Thursday night, coach Chris Scott wasn’t afraid to wield the axe as well, dropping Zac Smith and Jordan Murdoch.
Nevertheless, Geelong also welcome back some handy inclusions with Tom Hawkins returning after a one week suspension and utility Mark Blicavs recovering after an injury.
Prediction
Fremantle are one of the few teams that have experienced recent success at Simmonds Stadium, winning two of their past three matches there.
However, it is likely that the Dockers 17th ranked offence will find it hard to keep up with Geelong’s high octane attack and a midfield lacking Fyfe will only exacerbate the disparity between the sides.
Geelong by 52 points.
Don Freo
Guest
Not so. It went right through the middle.
Robbo
Guest
freo missed that shot.. so it cost you 1 point.. and freo gave away a point on 3qtr time, so they cost themselves a draw.. but umps always pick out crap free kicks when players niggle, so ballas was asking for it when they had the ball inside 50
Don Freo
Guest
By the same token, Freo has now lost 4 games by less than a goal...could be 10 wins. I hope you are not suggesting Freo is flattered by its status. Did you mean "indictment" or indication? This is a genuine contender. Add Fyfe, Sandi, Langdon, Bennell, Balic...this is exciting.
Jon boy
Guest
A.D Ballantyne massive.......Really 3 of ball undisciplined acts which cost GOALS and you lose by a couple of Points not for mine . I would be giving his Pay towards Tucker To try and stop him from going home Good call on Kersten needs to go back to Peel Kids were great Johno looked old today. but they all give 100%
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
It was a belter, Rick! A belter that made me both super, super proud and utterly devastated all the same. Find the replay last two minutes - brilliant and frantic stuff! Eh, both teams actually had only one rushed behind each. You guys were fairly inaccurate in some stages, though. Didn't matter though! I think Geelong can take the fact that you guys were ridiculously brave during that match as a brilliant thing, whilst we can be super proud of our young guys.
Powerboy
Guest
I gotta say I am liking Ryan Buckland's statistical prognostications.......Freo 4 from 4 in close ones = due for a loss. Gallant, but ultimately an indictment of Freo's real status.
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
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Mattician6x6
Guest
So open that probably like last year the team who has best finals will win whole thing.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Damn. First Cats game I haven't been able to watch all year. Sounds like it was a belter. Did the Cats kick poorly (as reflected by the scoreline) or were most rushed behinds? Cats have been pretty accurate in most of their tight games this year, something they've improved on from last.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
I thought Sean Darcy, Darcy Tucker and Lachie Weller were all fantastic today. Sean Darcy will be great for us once he gets some more development into him. You're right about McCarthy and Kersten. They really need to offer us a bit more up forward. They blew a few chances today and didn't compete in the air enough.
Don Freo
Guest
The TV boys raving about this mammoth effort by one of the top sides against the 12th side. "one of the great efforts" says ex-Geelong boy Dwayne Russell. Geelong even had an extra player...Shane Kersten. He may as well have worn a Geelong jumper today.
Don Freo
Guest
You mean the dive by Geelong? The ump was wrong. The ump took that goal off us. The ump cost the game...not Ballas. Ballas set the win up.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Definitely. Loved the work of the kids - especially Darcy - whilst Ballantyne's return was a massive plus. McCarthy and Kersten, though. They need to improve.
Sammy
Guest
Very even comp. Hawks beat crows by 2 goals. Cats beat freo at the death by 2 points, bulldogs get home by 1 point, melbourne win at the death over the eagles, sydney over essendon by a point..all games that could have gone either way. Port beat collingwood after a big loss the week before and carlton currently lead richmond. Ladder position is no respecter this year
Joe B
Guest
Given McCarthy's impact today, Weller should have gone for goal.
Mattician6x6
Guest
Your boys put up a mammoth effort Jon. Was a great performance.
Jon boy
Guest
Great Fight FREO
Kishan Badrinath
Roar Guru
It was an ugly game but that's a season defining victory for the Cats. Down 34 points with only one rotation available on the bench due to injuries to Joel Selwood, Tom Stewart and Darcy Lang, Geelong have comeback from the dead to upset a young Dockers squad.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Even though we lost there is a lot of positives to take out of this game. Future very bright for us.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
heartbreaking. honestly heartbreaking. cannot say a bad word about geelong though, that's couragenous personified in a football team. brilliant game.