The Geelong Cats host the Greater Western Sydney Giants to start AFL Round 7. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:50pm (AEST).
Geelong’s last home game was a missed opportunity. Having led for a fair chunk against the Swans, they capitulated in the final quarter to lose by three goals.
GWS, for their part, won comfortably last weekend – as one would’ve expected, given they played the struggling Brisbane Lions.
In terms of history, the Giants have lost all three of their visits to this ground by an average of 40 points.
The Cats, on the other hand, have a great record at this ground, and a formidable home advantage. Thus, this match, as history tells us, should be a win for Geelong.
However, there are changes aplenty for both sides.
The Giants have lost former Tiger Brett Deledio and imposing key forward Jeremy Cameron, who join the likes of Josh Kelly, Rory Lobb and Toby Greene in the stands. Former Blue Dylan Buckley and ex-Collingwood player Lachlan Keeffe join the side for their club debuts.
Geelong have made three changes, with Rhys Stanley and James Parsons omitted, and George Horlin-Smith out with concussion. Scott Selwood, Zac Smith and former Bulldog Stewart Crameri all join the side.
Prediction
All signs are pointing towards a comfortable Cats victory, but ‘great record at the ground and up against a Sydney side missing several of their best players’ described last weekend’s game – look how that turned out.
Still, the Cats should win this one – probably narrowly, spoiling Giants’ coach Leon Cameron’s 100th match.
Geelong by 7 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:50pm (AEST).
Macca
Guest
Didn't want to disappoint!
User
Roar Rookie
Was waiting for that macca lol
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Cheers. Yeah, not the best game.
anon
Roar Pro
Great call mate. Shame how pathetic this mob are.
anon
Roar Pro
Phil Davis really showed GT tonight! Given the demographic of GWS, it might be all over for them. They are millennials, but even the average millennial shows more ticker than this. More passion shown in the FIFA -E-League!!!
Macca
Guest
Ban GWS from Friday nights, ban them I say!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
This has got to be satire, right?
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Have a good weekend buddy.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT An injury-ravaged Geelong have defeated a disappointing, injury-ravaged GWS side by 61 points in a Friday night match at GMBHA Stadium. The first quarter was a slow one to begin with, with the Giants starting brightly enough. The Cats, for their behalf, took a few minutes to get into their groove, but added three quick goals to their tally. Scoreless for the first twenty minutes of the game, the Giants booted their first through Lloyd, and went into the first break with a 19 point deficit. The second quarter was no better for the visitors. Much worse, even. The first four scores for the Giants - two corresponding with them benefiting with dubious frees - were behinds, and when they finally got their second goal on the board, it was probably fair to say the game was well on it’s way to becoming out of their reach. They were 27 points behind at half break. Still, it was a manageable deficit. Surely. Nope. I don’t mean to sound like overtly harsh, but the third quarter got even worse for the Giants. The Cats could smell blood, and they took advantage. They added five more majors throughout the term, before GWS added their third through Finlayson. The final quarter saw the Cats lose a little of their momentum, and saw a tad bit of inaccuracy drift into their game, but it didn’t deter them from adding three final majors to cap of a 61 point victory - and force the Giants to post their second lowest score in their short existence. Given the stature of their win, you would’ve assumed the likes of Dangerfield (26 touches) and Selwood (25) would’ve been prominent. Not so. Whilst they were important, I’d argue Mitch Duncan (33 touches) and Tim Kelly (30) were the premier midfielders in that group tonight. Tom Stewart also played superbly, whilst youngster Jack Henry fell off late but was great for the early stages of the game. GWS were well served by Dylan Shiel and Stephen Coniglio, but it’s hard to pinpoint anyone who was great. Whitfield was good, and Hayne was important in defence. Finlayson was their only multiple goal scores and probably their best forward. Geelong: 14.9 (93) GWS: 4.8 (32)
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Thanks for the call, AD.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me, BM!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
And there's full time. It's the Cats by 61 points. I'll have a match report up soon. Geelong: 14.9 (93) GWS: 4.8 (32)
Birdman
Guest
I'm out . Thanks for your outstanding work tonight AD.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND GEELONG Dangerfield with an odd looking shot, that hits the back of the post. Huh. Intriguing. Geelong: 14.9 (93) GWS: 4.8 (32)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND GEELONG Tuohy with a good looking kick, that drifts off to the left. Geelong: 14.8 (92) GWS: 4.8 (32)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL GWS Oh. Well, they've been saved from that indignity. Finlayson slams one home. Geelong: 14.7 (91) GWS: 4.8 (32)
anon
Roar Pro
A typical millennial effort from GWS tonight. They have brought disgrace to their orange jumper (designed by a millennial at some pony-tailed marketing agency in an inner-suburb near you).
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Oh, jesus. GWS is headed towards their lowest score ever. Like, ever ever. Even when they were a fledging side.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND GEELONG So close for Fogarty, but the football slams into the post. Geelong: 14.7 (91) GWS: 3.8 (26)
Birdman
Guest
Nothing for the Giants to take out of tonight - probably best to forget it completely. Have they been worse in the last couple of seasons? Feels like they've wound back the clock bigtime which is NOT a good thing for the Giants.