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Geelong Cats
138
32
Essendon
72
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| 31:00 |  | P. Wright | ||
| 29:29 |  | K. Baldwin | ||
| Rushed | | 28:38 | ||
| 26:49 | | J. Caldwell | ||
| F. Evans | | 24:55 | ||
| 23:23 | | J. Caldwell | ||
| M. Holmes | | 20:59 | ||
| B. Close | | 17:43 | ||
| T. Stengle | | 16:05 | ||
| M. Holmes | | 14:05 | ||
| 12:11 | | N. Martin | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 10:49 | ||
| 6:59 | | N. Martin | ||
| 5:44 | | N. Martin | ||
| 1:14 | | Rushed | ||
| 17.14 (116) | Third Quarter [+] | 6.3 (39) | ||
| C. Guthrie | | 31:11 | ||
| T. Stengle | | 29:43 | ||
| T. Stengle | | 27:42 | ||
| M. Holmes | | 26:06 | ||
| T. Stengle | | 23:16 | ||
| 19:41 | | N. Martin | ||
| S. Higgins | | 16:33 | ||
| P. Dangerfield | | 14:33 | ||
| Rushed | | 13:08 | ||
| B. Close | | 9:52 | ||
| 5:03 | | T. Cutler | ||
| 2:30 | | P. Wright | ||
| 12.10 (82) | Second Quarter [+] | 3.3 (21) | ||
| I. Smith | | 31:04 | ||
| B. Close | | 0:43 | ||
| S. Higgins | | 29:29 | ||
| T. Stengle | | 27:50 | ||
| B. Close | | 26:30 | ||
| Rushed | | 18:38 | ||
| 15:26 | | Rushed | ||
| 13:56 | | D. Smith | ||
| T. Stengle | | 9:55 | ||
| 8:20 | | N. Martin | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 4:29 | ||
| Rushed | | 3:12 | ||
| 8.5 (53) | First Quarter [+] | 2.1 (13) | ||
| Z. Tuohy | | 31:03 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 0:59 | ||
| T. Stengle | | 28:49 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 27:20 | ||
| P. Dangerfield | | 23:20 | ||
| 22:04 | | J. Caldwell | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 20:32 | ||
| L. Dahlhaus | | 17:48 | ||
| J. Cameron | | 16:33 | ||
| 14:29 | | D. Smith | ||
| Rushed | | 10:00 | ||
| J. Cameron | | 8:21 | ||
| P. Dangerfield | | 7:03 | ||
| 6:26 | | M. Guelfi | ||
| Rushed | | 3:35 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 2:03 | ||
Show Preview
Essendon will be looking to build from last year’s surprise run to the finals when they take on Geelong at the MCG to begin their season. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:10pm (AEDT).
Two sides that played finals football in 2021 meet to open their new campaigns and the faithful will be out in force for what looks an interesting contest on paper.
Geelong remains the most consistent team in modern football and will be once again determined to find a way to get the job done come finals time, after yet another disappointing finish in 2021.
The usual suspects are back, with growing concerns about the age of the squad and whether its best football is in fact behind it. However, the presence of a smattering of next-generation Cats and the return of Tom Stewart in defence will buoy the hopes of fans.
The Bombers made the finals last year, just, yet were still well off the pace in terms of pushing the top sides on a consistent basis. It stands to be a huge season for Darcy Parish, Peter Wright and Zach Merrett, with the important roles they play key to any potential success of the team as a whole.
Despite a clear strength in attack and the ability to score freely when at their best, 2021 finally saw the Bombers become a little tougher in the clinches and add the edge required to seriously compete for a premiership. If the upward spike in performance continues this season, we could be looking at one of the sides capable of breaking into the top four.
Prediction
Lining up this match-up is something of a mystery. Geelong will no doubt look like their normal selves and defend superbly, and exactly what Essendon produce in the early matches is difficult to predict. This should be a cracking affair.
Cats by 7 points.
Opening bounce: 2:10pm AEDT
Venue: MCG
TV: Fox Footy
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go
Betting: Cats $1.64, Bombers $2.30 (odds via PlayUp)
Geelong
B: J. Kolodjashnij, S. De Koning, J. Henry
HB: Z. Tuohy, T. Stewart, M. Blicavs
C: M. Holmes, C. Guthrie, I. Smith
HF: T. Stengle, E. Ratugolea, B. Parfitt
F: J. Cameron, T. Hawkins, S. Higgins
FOLL: R. Stanley, P. Dangerfield, J. Selwood (c)
I/C: T. Atkins, Z. Guthrie, L. Dahlhaus, B. Close
EMG: C. Whyte, C. Stephens, Q. Narkle, F. Evans
Essendon
B: J. Stewart, J. Laverde, J. Kelly
HB: N. Hind, J. Ridley, D. Heppell (c)
C: A. McGrath, Z. Merrett, N. Cox
HF: A. Perkins, K. Baldwin, D. Shiel
F: B. Ham, P. Wright, D. Smith
FOLL: S. Draper, D. Parish, K. Langford
I/C: J. Caldwell, M. Redman, M. Guelfi, N. Martin
EMG: B. Hobbs, A. Francis, T. Cutler, A. Phillips
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