Geelong Cats vs Adelaide Crows: AFL live scores, blog

Geelong are out to extend their four-match winning streak when they take on Adelaie at their GMHBA Stadium fortress. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 2:10pm (AEST).

It took a few weeks for the 2022 premiers to get rolling, but get rolling they have, with four consecutive wins storming the Cats up the ladder after a shaky start.

Tom Hawkins has rediscovered his form after playing injured through the opening rounds of the season, Patrick Dangerfield all of a sudden looks like the bull of old, and Gryan Miers is executing his kicks inside 50 superbly. Across the park, the Cats look very much like the team that romped to last year’s flag, yet will be hunted today by one of the best up-and-coming teams in the competition.

Adelaide did all but beat Collingwood last week at home; but for some errant kicking, they could have had the game in the bag heading into the final term. Sadly, they didn’t, and opened the door for yet another Pies comeback.

Prior to that disappointment, there had been four wins on the trot, against Port Adelaide in the Showdown, Fremantle, Carlton and Hawthorn, with the Carlton and Port scalps certainly adding some weight to their credentials.

These teams sit seventh and eight on the ladder on 16 premiership points, and the match looms as a crucial one for both as they attempt to keep pace with the top four. It seems odd to even mention the Crows at that level, but Matthew Nicks has his team firing and ready to contend in 2023.

Team news sees the Cats lose Jack Bowes, Gary Rohan and Sam De Koning, with Zach Tuohy and Jon Ceglar back into the 22. The Crows look solid at the selection table, with Rory Laird named despite concerns over his fitness; otherwise, the Crows are ready to rip and tear with an unchanged line-up.

Prediction

In Adelaide, I’d think the Crows would get the four points in this one. However, the narrow and quirky dimensions of GMHBA Stadium suit the Cats and are generally played expertly by them.

Despite a few injuries, Geelong might just use the conditions and venue to sneak home in what could be a low-scoring affair.

Game information

Venue: GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
First bounce: 2:10pm (AEST)
TV: Fox Footy
Streaming: Kayo Sports
Betting: Cats $1.20, Crows $4.50 – odds via PlayUp

Teams

Geelong

B: M. O’Connor, E. Ratugolea, Z. Guthrie

HB: J. Kolodjashnij, T. Stewart, Z. Tuohy

C: I. Smith, M. Blicavs, M. Duncan

HF: O. Henry, J. Cameron, T. Bruhn

F: G. Miers, T. Hawkins, B. Close

R: J. Ceglar, M. Holmes, P. Dangerfield (c)

I/C: M. Knevitt, J. Bews, T. Atkins, S. Simpson

EMG: B. Parfitt, C. Whyte, O. Dempsey, O. Mullin

IN: Bruhn (R7 sub), Ceglar, Tuohy.

OUT: Bowes, De Koning, Rohan.

Adelaide

B: M. Michalanney, N. Murray, T. Doedee

HB: M. Hinge, J. Butts, B. Smith

C: J. Soligo, J. Dawson (c), R. Sloane

HF: I. Rankine, C. Jones, J. Rachele

F: T. Walker, D. Fogarty, R. Thilthorpe

R: R. O’Brien, R. Laird, B. Keays

I/C: L. Murphy, L. Pedlar, W. Milera, L. Sholl

EMG: M. Crouch, N. McHenry, E. Himmelberg, P. Parnell

NO CHANGE