Geelong Cats
103
Match Complete
GWS Giants
68
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| S. Menegola |  | 28:37 | ||
| I. Smith |  | 26:57 | ||
| 24:28 | | C. Stone | ||
| 21:14 | | H. Himmelberg | ||
| G. Miers | | 19:54 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 18:30 | ||
| J. Cameron | | 16:45 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 14:29 | ||
| Rushed | | 13:01 | ||
| 10:42 | | H. Himmelberg | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 8:53 | ||
| 5:51 | | C. Ward | ||
| 3:54 | | C. Stone | ||
| 2:14 | | N. Haynes | ||
| B. Close | | 0:38 | ||
| 10.9 (69) | Third Quarter [+] | 5.7 (37) | ||
| 30:21 | | S. Mumford | ||
| S. Menegola | | 27:41 | ||
| I. Smith | | 20:13 | ||
| G. Rohan | | 18:32 | ||
| 17:13 | | Rushed | ||
| Rushed | | 15:40 | ||
| 10:37 | | Rushed | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 8:26 | ||
| G. Rohan | | 4:52 | ||
| 1:37 | | B. Hill | ||
| 5.8 (38) | Second Quarter [+] | 3.5 (23) | ||
| 31:28 | | H. Himmelberg | ||
| 29:54 | | D. Lloyd | ||
| J. Cameron | | 28:15 | ||
| J. Cameron | | 25:36 | ||
| E. Ratugolea | | 24:00 | ||
| 20:02 | | D. Lloyd | ||
| G. Rohan | | 19:01 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 13:09 | ||
| 11:20 | | C. Stone | ||
| G. Rohan | | 8:48 | ||
| 6:54 | | J. Kelly | ||
| 2.5 (17) | First Quarter [+] | 0.3 (3) | ||
| E. Ratugolea | | 27:00 | ||
| B. Close | | 25:05 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 19:37 | ||
| J. Cameron | | 16:49 | ||
| S. Menegola | | 11:43 | ||
| 10:11 | | S. Coniglio | ||
| 6:13 | | J. Hopper | ||
| I. Smith | | 3:40 | ||
| 2:23 | | Z. Sproule | ||
| Rushed | | 1:52 | ||
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.
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
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Shall I tell him, Toots?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You'll struggle, we'll see.
Windrince
Roar Rookie
Too tall, but good to get some young players in - at least those that are up to the level like holmes
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Pyke, Clarkson, Lyon and Buckley all said no thanks.
Boo
Guest
You won't find me defending Chris Scott obviously Bomber Thompson revered for changing culture at the club .Flags a hard pass mark of those three recruits Smith and Cameron earnt there keep Higgins a waste of time .Last night side much younger and taller than most this year hopefully we get the job.done..l
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Cheers, Boo. I think, considering you played in a GF last year and that you added 3 foreign legion guns without losing anything of value, that anything but a flag will be a fail. Bomber Thomson was a great coach, no doubt. Chris Scott? He's no Bomber Thomson. Good luck, Boo.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I watched the replay. Cats where a class above as you would expect with three vs eight but Cats kept wasting their opportunities. It should have been over at half time. The first five minutes of the final quarter, Giants were great, endeavour and skill. Cats closed it out. Close, run on goal, Hawkins two leads and uncontested marks, Hawkins contested mark, Meningola uncontested mark. The only remote possibility of a free was Hawkins contested mark. Himmelberg had a dive and got a free kick goal. In the end, a six goal win and ten more scoring shots is significant. Against Melbourne, a deserved minor premier, it will be different. If they are going to win, they need to kick the goals when they are there.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
In time just wait!
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I’m too young to worry about hypertension haha
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Lots of Ginger helps :thumbup:
Boo
Guest
Magnanimous of you Pablo Cruz .IMHO a good year is a prelim do you think Geelong have failed if they lose this week .No doubt 11 prelims in 15 years should have delivered a couple more than 3 flags but in the ten seasons since the Cats last flag Hawks and Tigers super teams who hammered all comers .
dab
Roar Rookie
Let's not discuss that online.
O M
Roar Rookie
Hope so...he's just another GWS thug!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Is that all you've got? One goal? They kicked 7; 6 of them assisted. They were quite weak in that last quarter. Two finals in a row where they couldn't go the distance. I think Geelong is in trouble, Yattuzzi. Melbourne and Geelong are my two favoured teams left. We say goodbye to one of them next week. I suspect it is your boys.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Well done, Catters. Did just enough to withstand a gutsy effort from a beaten up, undermanned, GWS. Can't say you did it in style, though.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
And last week
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Got to watch the blood pressure
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Man I’m looking forward to the cats falling off a cliff next year. Yes Jeremy Cameron and Tom HAwkins are still good players but you can’t take 11 players over thirty into a side and expect to form a dynasty.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Mumford is the ruck coach. The only reason he’s on the playing list is because of the reduction to the soft cap.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
My problem dab? Cheers.