Geelong Cats
104
28
West Coast Eagles
46
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| J. Henry |  | 26:56 | ||
| P. Dangerfield |  | 25:19 | ||
| T. Kelly | | 21:57 | ||
| G. Miers | | 18:31 | ||
| 16:01 | | E. Yeo | ||
| 14:52 | | O. Allen | ||
| G. Rohan | | 9:56 | ||
| 7:36 | | L. Ryan | ||
| Rushed | | 3:13 | ||
| 12.11 (83) | Third Quarter [+] | 5.3 (33) | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 28:59 | ||
| C. Constable | | 26:03 | ||
| 23:37 | | T. Hickey | ||
| T. Kelly | | 19:25 | ||
| Rushed | | 18:59 | ||
| 17:15 | | J. J. Kennedy | ||
| G. Ablett | | 13:21 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 11:53 | ||
| R. Stanley | | 6:47 | ||
| P. Dangerfield | | 4:57 | ||
| E. Ratugolea | | 3:18 | ||
| 8.6 (54) | Second Quarter [+] | 3.3 (21) | ||
| 25:19 | | J. J. Kennedy | ||
| G. Ablett | | 16:17 | ||
| Z. Tuohy | | 15:38 | ||
| G. Ablett | | 14:32 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 12:53 | ||
| 6:52 | | O. Allen | ||
| 3:47 | | C. Masten | ||
| Z. Tuohy | | 2:50 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 1:51 | ||
| 7.1 (43) | First Quarter [+] | 2.1 (13) | ||
| E. Ratugolea | | 30:24 | ||
| 26:01 | | Rushed | ||
| G. Rohan | | 24:03 | ||
| G. Rohan | | 22:22 | ||
| 20:40 | | J. Petruccelle | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 15:48 | ||
| G. Miers | | 10:39 | ||
| E. Ratugolea | | 8:02 | ||
| T. Hawkins | | 5:13 | ||
| G. Rohan | | 3:44 | ||
| 1:10 | | J. J. Kennedy | ||
Geelong, the league pacesetters thus far, look to make it five wins from six when they welcome reigning premiers the West Coast Eagles to GMHBA Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, commencing from 4:40pm AEST.
Geelong bounced back from a close loss to the GWS Giants to come out clear winners against Hawthorn and re-establish themselves as the form team of the competition on Monday.
Meanwhile, after an opening-round loss against Brisbane, the Eagles appeared to have rebounded strongly until they came up against a ferociously hungry Port Adelaide side last week.
Two big losses in the opening five rounds of the season might rightly have set some alarm bells ringing for West Coast, but out of sight out of mind might be the best remedy as they come up against the biggest challenge of their season so far.
Geelong have recruited and revitalised two players with danger written all of them in Luke Dahlhaus and Gary Rohan, while the overall spread of the team appears to have evened out.
No longer are Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood carrying Geelong solely on their backs and as the contributors and threats have multiplied so have their hopes.
In the nostalgic moment of the last round Gary Ablett Junior reminded all that he is son of God as he wound back the clock with a mark displaying the miracle of levitation followed by a goal of divine right, from the boundary line.
In fact, if you squinted, you could almost make him out, a shower curtain of hair hanging on defiantly as he ascended the stairway to a Sherrin. One imagines the divine hand might unglove itself again to the faithful in Geelong.
West Coast have swung the axe on Nathan Vardy and will play with just one ruckman for the first time since 2017, while Jack Redden is out injured.
Their replacements, Jarrod Brander and Daniel Venables suggest West Coast are looking for some run and youthful enthusiasm to add to the arsenal as they head to Geelong.
The contest in the middle will be exciting as two elite midfields clash for the centre bounces, but it is on the outside where this game might be decided.
Additionally, the Eagles need their forward line to fire against a team renowned for their collective defensive efforts.
On paper the form team and the reigning premiers should be a blockbuster clash, but if West Coast turn up with the endeavour of last week things could get ugly fast.
Prediction
The Eagles to rebound but ultimately fall short on Geelong’s specialist ground in a close, hard-fought display.
Geelong by 12 points.
Where: GMHBA Stadium
When: 4:40 pm AEST
TV: Seven, Fox Footy
West Coast
B Shannon Hurn, Will Schofield, Brad Sheppard
HB Lewis Jetta, Jeremy McGovern, Liam Duggan
C Chris Masten, Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff
HF Dom Sheed, Jack Darling, Mark Hutchings
F Liam Ryan, Josh J. Kennedy, Jamie Cripps
FOL Tom Hickey, Elliot Yeo, Daniel Venables
I/C Oscar Allen, Jack Petruccelle, Jarrod Brander, Tom Cole
Geelong
B Jake Kolodjashnij, Jack Henry, Tom Stewart
HB Mark Blicavs, Harry Taylor, Mark O’Connor
C Tim Kelly, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan
HF Gary Rohan, Esava Ratugolea, Tom Hawkins
F Gary Ablett, Luke Dalhlhaus, Tom Atkins
FOL Rhys Stanley, Joel Selwood, Cameron Guthrie
I/C Sam Menegola, Zach Tuohy, Gryan Miers, Charlie Constable
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
Geelong are gelling at the moment, but a long way to go yet. We looked a bit off against GWS, partly us and partly the way they play I think. Essendon are starting to click and I think their speed could trouble us. To me sides do well against Geelong when their prepared to lower their eyes. Ultimately though we look like we will be in the mix with GWS, pies, eagles, tigers, port and maybe even the likes of Essendon, Adelaide and Freo, with saints as a bolter.
Cat
Roar Guru
No longer stuck with the second best defender and playing a very distant second to the buddy show. He also just genuinely looks happy. Not that he wasn’t happy at Sydney but it’s different being home and the Geelong crowd has really taken to him. We in the cheer squad are always having a chat with him when he I in the goal square. We get a smile, tip of the head or a thumbs up from him a few times a game.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I wouldn’t be surprised if they go down to the bombers. Can’t keep the focus up for to long.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
He made it up. Why would you believe Kennet... ever.
Cat
Roar Guru
Cats better record. Cat #1 attacking team. Cats #1 defensive team. Cats highest percentage in the league. And doing it with the hardest opening slate of games of any side. Yes, GWS beat Geelong but the Cats were absolutely flat, played their worst game of the year – easily – and still led for 98% of the match. I didn't actually see anything from GWS that was noteworthy. They were just slightly better at the right time of the game. Good on them for winning on the road in hostile territory. I'm actually not bothered by that loss at all. Geelong did not get cut up or shown up. The Cats weren't exposed, they just weren't the better side on the day. And honestly right now being 5-1 feels like a whole lot less pressure than being 6-0. The pressure just keeps building when you are undefeated for too long. I remember 2008 and 2009 very well and starting 8-0 and 13-0 respectively those two years. Every team just sets themselves up to be the one to knock you down. I think it actually makes it more difficult.
Samuel Cox
Roar Pro
Thanks mate, much appreciated!
Samuel Cox
Roar Pro
Table toppers Geelong defeated reigning premiers West Coast on their home deck by 58 points in a hugely impressive win. The claws were out at the Cattery as they tore the Eagles to shreds. It could very well be a changing of the guard, a passing of the torch, or it just could sum up West Coast’s recent stutter in form. Either way, the Cat’s are now a game clear at the top and are clearly the form team of the first six rounds. For Geelong the usual suspects were all good, with Dangerfield equal highest possession winner (30) and a goal, while Ablett rolled back the clock with some sublime disposal by foot and (28) touches, to go with two goals. However, it was young players and new recruits who really enabled a ground wide destruction of West Coast. Dahlhaus was good, Rohan took ten influential marks and kicked four straight, while young Constable and particularly Miers had eye catching games. A team wide effort by the form club. Geelong look restocked and rejuvenated for a big season. West Coast ended up having a similar size loss to last week and they are very much in need of a reboot as they were beaten all over the ground. McGovern was excellent after quarter time and stemmed some of the bleeding down back, but a former strength for the Eagles; the forward line, struggled all day. Gaff was equal leading possession winner with (30), Hickey fought well in the ruck and had (25) touches while Hurn also brought his usual effort and leadership but they were rare shining lights in big loss. Eagles need to get moving quickly if they are to follow up last years performance but have a good opportunity next week against the Gold Coast Suns. Thankyou to all who joined us!
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
He’s always had talent but It’s amazing what a fresh start and the freedom to have fun can do for your game.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
Well he sure jumped on the eagles band wagon during his last podcast and didn’t rate Geelong at all. Now fair enough I’ll give a 5 goal turnaround for home ground between these to teams but that was comprehensive and west coast had looked wobbly when he said it
Bruce
Guest
Exactly.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
Was Jeff Kennett onto something with those Geelong supporters’ boos and Ablett ;)
User
Roar Rookie
And we haven't won here since 06 and our wins have all been against in form quality sides so it's not ideal but I see no reason to panic, Geelong are a v.good side ATM.
Samuel Cox
Roar Pro
No one ever looks forward to going to Geelong, for the last decade and a half at least, but hard to see anyone having much hope there this season on this form at least.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
GWS?
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
The stats don’t tell anywhere near the full story when you look at Aitken’s and he’s measured so low and yet impacted so much. He and Dahlhaus have been critical to the Geelong forward cohesion.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Thanks for the great call, Sam. 3-votes to the little master. Go Cats!
User
Roar Rookie
Well done Geelong, reminded me of what we did to Richmond at Optus last year. You set yourself for it and the comp is listening.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
This ain't Tassie Matti and the Giants had a win here.
Samuel Cox
Roar Pro
And the siren goes! Geelong with a hugely impressive performance and they defeat West Coast by 58 points. Final Scores: Geelong 15.14 (104) West Coast 7.4 (46)
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Just a domination. Cats the undisputed team to beat at the minute.