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AS IT HAPPENED: Cats run away with semi-final over Giants

3rd September, 2021
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Geelong Cats

103

Match Complete

GWS Giants

68

28
GEE103 : 68GWS

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3rd September, 2021
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2067 Reads

Geelong Cats

103

Match Complete

GWS Giants

68

Fourth Quarter
S. Menegola28:37
I. Smith26:57
24:28C. Stone
21:14H. Himmelberg
G. Miers19:54
T. Hawkins18:30
J. Cameron16:45
T. Hawkins14:29
Rushed13:01
10:42H. Himmelberg
T. Hawkins8:53
5:51C. Ward
3:54C. Stone
2:14N. Haynes
B. Close0:38
30:21S. Mumford
S. Menegola27:41
I. Smith20:13
G. Rohan18:32
17:13Rushed
Rushed15:40
10:37Rushed
T. Hawkins8:26
G. Rohan4:52
1:37B. Hill
31:28H. Himmelberg
29:54D. Lloyd
J. Cameron28:15
J. Cameron25:36
E. Ratugolea24:00
20:02D. Lloyd
G. Rohan19:01
T. Hawkins13:09
11:20C. Stone
G. Rohan8:48
6:54J. Kelly
E. Ratugolea27:00
B. Close25:05
T. Hawkins19:37
J. Cameron16:49
S. Menegola11:43
10:11S. Coniglio
6:13J. Hopper
I. Smith3:40
2:23Z. Sproule
Rushed1:52

Show Preview

A preliminary final date with Melbourne awaits at the Geelong Cats and GWS Giants face off in a semi-final showdown at Optus Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).

Geelong will be looking to redeem themselves against the Giants after a lacklustre display against Port Adelaide in last week’s qualifying final. They never looked settled during their 43-point loss to the Power, looking worryingly slow as Port’s army of smalls ran amok.

The Giants, on the other hand, did enough in their elimination final to pip Sydney by a solitary point, holding off a surging Swans to stay alive for another week. The win was set up by a dominant first half where the lead blew out to 29 points.

From here, though, they’ll be without talisman Toby Greene, handed a three-week suspension – which could yet be extended as an AFL appeal looms – for touching umpire Matt Stevic. His absence is a brutal blow to the Giants’ 2021 finals campaign, and more immediately, their path forward against Geelong.

These two teams played a month ago at Geelong, with an undermanned Giants causing a major boilover to win by 19. Greene kicked 4.1 that day – goals Leon Cameron will have to find a way to replace.

In-form Giants forward Jesse Hogan will play his 100th game – could he be the answer? Meanwhile, Cats spearhead Jeremy Cameron will face his old teammates for the first time after departing the club at the end of 2020.

Prediction
Without Toby Greene the job just got harder for the Giants. He’s their barometer. He’s a goal kicker. He’s a big-game player. That’s tough to replace.

It’s not to say the Giants can’t win without him, because they can – but who’s going to step up? This game is Geelong’s to lose. Look for a far better, more ferocious output this week; remember, the Cats are renowned for semi-final bounce-backs after a first-week stinker.

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Geelong by 33 points.
Catch all the action on The Roar’s live coverage of this do-or-die final from 7:50pm (AEST).

Game information

Opening bounce: 7:50pm (AEST)
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go, 7Plus
Betting: Cats $1.37, Giants $3.14 (odds via PlayUp)

Teams

Geelong Cats
FB: [38] Jack Henry, [25] Lachie Henderson, [8] Jake Kolodjashnij
HB: [2] Zach Tuohy, [46] Mark Blicavs, [30] Tom Atkins
C: [29] Cameron Guthrie, [22] Mitch Duncan, [7] Isaac Smith
HF: [17] Esava Ratugolea, [5] Jeremy Cameron, [23] Gary Rohan
FF: [45] Brad Close, [26] Tom Hawkins, [32] Gryan Miers
FOL: [1] Rhys Stanley, [14] Joel Selwood (c), [35] Patrick Dangerfield
I/C: [3] Brandan Parfitt, [9] Max Holmes, [24] Jed Bews, [27] Sam Menegola
EMERG: [4] Shaun Higgins, [28] Darcy Fort, [37] Sam Simpson, [39] Zach Guthrie

GWS Giants
FB: [42] Jake Stein, [15] Sam Taylor, [13] Isaac Cumming
HB: [7] Lachie Ash, [19] Nick Haynes, [6] Lachie Whitfield
C: [22] Josh Kelly, [3] Stephen Coniglio (c), [36] Harry Perryman
HF: [14] Tim Taranto, [27] Harry Himmelberg, [4] Toby Greene
FF: [28] Zach Sproule, [23] Jesse Hogan, [24] Matt de Boer
FOL: [41] Shane Mumford, [2] Jacob Hopper, [8] Callan Ward
I/C: [5] Tanner Bruhn, [37] Bobby Hill, [18] Conor Stone, [39] Connor Idun
EMERG: [1] Phil Davis, [26] Jake Riccardi, [32] Kieren Briggs, [45] James Peatling

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