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Top spot is on the line for the Geelong Cats and Melbourne Demons at the Cattery, with the victor guaranteed the minor premiership – and just maybe, flag favouritism too. Tune in to this blockbuster clash right here on The Roar with live scores from 7:25pm (AEST).
Just two points separate these two sides on the ladder, courtesy of the Demons’ recent draw to Hawthorn; so a Cats win would guarantee they leapfrog them to the top of the ladder. Meanwhile, the loser risks falling as low as third.
It’s been a superb season for the Dees, who have rebounded well from several mid-season hiccups to be closing the home-and-away rounds in top form. Now officially premiership favourites, they have few injury issues to deal with, and have dispatched Gold Coast, West Coast and Adelaide in their last three matches.
The Cats, though, are up a notch in class from that trio, despite having lost star defender Tom Stewart for the remainder of the season. Their backline struggled to cope without him early last week, conceding the first five goals to St Kilda, before their quality showed and they were able to reel in the deficit for a tense victory.
While a potential finals meeting between these two teams is well and truly on the cards, there can be no hiding of key tactics of strategic manoeuvring ahead of a September rematch: the stakes are just too high in the here and now.
Both sides are welcoming back a number of first-choice players; the Cats have forwards Gary Rohan and Gryan Miers returning, while the Dees enter gun backman Steven May, midfielder Jack Viney and key forward Tom McDonald into the fray.
Opening bounce: 7:25pm (AEST)
Venue: GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
TV: Channel Seven, Fox Footy
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go
Betting: Cats $1.85, Demons $1.95 (odds via PlayUp)
Geelong Cats
B: 38 Jack Henry, 25 Lachie Henderson, 8 Jake Kolodjashnij
HB: 42 Mark O’Connor, 46 Mark Blicavs, 24 Jed Bews
C: 27 Sam Menegola, 29 Cameron Guthrie, 7 Isaac Smith
HF: 3 Brandan Parfitt, 5 Jeremy Cameron, 23 Gary Rohan
F: 45 Brad Close, 26 Tom Hawkins, 32 Gryan Miers
FOL: 1 Rhys Stanley, 14 Joel Selwood (c), 35 Patrick Dangerfield
I/C: 9 Max Holmes, 30 Tom Atkins, 37 Sam Simpson, 40 Luke Dahlhaus
EMG: 4 Shaun Higgins, 17 Esava Ratugolea, 19 Quinton Narkle, 39 Zach Guthrie
IN: Gary Rohan, Gryan Miers, Tom Atkins
OUT: Esava Ratugolea, Shaun Higgins, Zach Guthrie
Melbourne Demons
B: 44 Joel Smith, 1 Steven May, 35 Harrison Petty
HB: 24 Trent Rivers, 8 Jake Lever, 3 Christian Salem
C: 4 James Harmes, 5 Christian Petracca, 15 Ed Langdon
HF: 7 Jack Viney, 25 Tom McDonald, 10 Angus Brayshaw
F: 31 Bayley Fritsch, 50 Ben Brown, 30 Alex Neal-Bullen
FOL: 11 Max Gawn (c), 13 Clayton Oliver, 32 Tom Sparrow
I/C: 6 Luke Jackson, 9 Charlie Spargo, 17 Jake Bowey, 36 Kysaiah Pickett
EMG: 14 Michael Hibberd, 18 Jake Melksham, 23 James Jordon, 37 Kade Chandler
IN: Jack Viney, Steven May, Tom McDonald
OUT: Jake Melksham, James Jordon, Michael Hibberd
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