West Coast Eagles vs Geelong Cats: JLT Series AFL live scores, blog

The West Coast Eagles welcome the Geelong Cats to Leederville Oval, as both sides continue to build towards Round 1 of the home-and-away season. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:10pm (AEDT).

The JLT Series is exciting because it simply means we are now in touching distance of the home-and-away season.

Sure, it never gives the supporters a true indication into how their side will look and play this season, but it is exciting to see your team take to the field again.

The West Coast Eagles are heading into the 2019 season with plenty of expectation after claiming the premiership last year.

To many, it was unexpected, but when you look at the way they played over the course of the year, Adam Simpson’s side completely deserved it.

Jeremy McGovern, Elliot Yeo and Luke Shuey, who were all instrumental in the Eagles’ success last season, are the big-name players who will feature against the Cats.

Nic Naitanui, Josh Kennedy and Jamie Cripps are still recovering from their injuries, however.

For the Cats, they will be looking for an improvement on last season. They arguably enter the new season with more pressure on them than any other side.

They had a poor 2018 season, finishing eighth and being knocked out of finals in the first week by the Melbourne Demons.

With the list they have got in terms of the average age, it is the type of list that should be entrenched within the top four, rather than limping into the top eight.

Chris Scott’s side have an opportunity to build some momentum towards the 2019 season with a solid JLT Series.

Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield will lead the way in terms of experience against the Eagles, but we will get a look at Gary Rohan for the first time in a Geelong jumper since he arrived at the club from the Sydney Swans.

Gary Ablett has been named as an emergency.

Prediction
It is always difficult to predict the result of pre-season clashes, as most sides are not necessarily looking for a result, but are more trying to implement new ideas and gain match fitness.

However, despite the game meaning very little, I get the feeling the Eagles won’t want to give anyone any reason to question their potential to go back-to-back this season.

West Coast to prevail by 13 points.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:10pm (AEDT).

When: 7:10pm (AEDT)
Where: Leederville Oval, Western Australia
TV: Fox Footy

West Coast Eagles
B: B.Sheppard 5, T.Barrass 37, S.Hurn 25
HB: T.Cole 28, J.McGovern 20, L.Jetta 23
C: J.Redden 8, D.Sheed 4, A.Gaff 3
HF: C.Masten 7, J.Waterman 2, W.Rioli 44
F: O.Allen 12, J.Darling 27, J.Petruccelle 21
Foll: N.Vardy 19, E.Yeo 6, L.Shuey 13 
I/C: L.Ryan 1, J.Brander 10, L.Duggan 14, T.Hickey 16, D.Venables 18, F.Watson 26, M.Hutchings 34, J.Cameron 39

Geelong Cats
B: J.Kolodjashnij 8, M.Blicavs 46, L.Henderson 25
HB: M.Duncan 22, H.Taylor 7, T.Stewart 44
C: G.Rohan 23, P.Dangerfield 35, J.Henry 38
HF: S.Menegola 27, E.Ratugolea 17, C.Guthrie 29
F: B.Parfitt 3, T.Hawkins 26, L.Dahlhaus 40
Foll: R.Stanley 1, J.Selwood 14, T.Kelly 11
I/C: G.Miers 32, Q.Narkle 19, M.O’Connor 42, T.Atkins 30, J.Clark 6, D.Fort 28, Z.Guthrie 39, C.Constable 18