SJ
Premium Platinum
AFL Premiership Round 21
Geelong v St Kilda
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Friday August 17
Etihad Stadium 7:50 PM (Local Time)
The unofficial official preview
Another Friday night game for the Cats and this time it’s the Saints, a team that needs to win to stay in the hunt. The Cats will want the points to secure a top 8 spot and ensure a home, well Victorian, final first up.
These two sides have shared the honors in the past with the last 6 meetings going 3 all. In 4 of those games (and 2 of which were finals in 09 & 2010) there was a kick in it when the final bell rang. One stretched out a little more in the final game of 2009 thanks to our much loved and admired VFL assistant coach Maxy Rooke. While both teams are vying for a place in the finals, the Cats are the ones that can really shape September.
Hats off to the AFL for being able to diffuse almost all mention of the deliberate out of bounds rule that went from an average of 0.6 frees paid per game up to 9 last Friday night. To think that it was livid amongst the print media and all over the airwaves from Friday night till 4.30 on Monday afternoon. Something of this magnitude would need something so ludicrous, so beyond belief, so F@?!en stupid that would make even the staunchest AFL fan check their brains in at the door. Ladies and gents, I present the MRP findings!!!!
So the cats accept the reprimand and Joel is free to lead out his charges yet again although he has some major points sitting over his head for the remainder of the season. The big question is do we, us being fans of the once great game of AFL, want consistency, something we often plead for from the men in white (or fluro). If that’s the case, every hands in the back and push in the back free kick paid should at least be looked at by the MRP……….end rant!!
Changes
Things didn’t go according to plan for the big blokes last round with the Big O suffering an injured hand that will have him missing for at least a week and the key forwards at either end in a race against time to be right for Friday’s match. Roo sent a massive scare through the Saints camp wrenching his knee and ending the game on crutches. From all reports he’s walking pain free but he’d want to at least get up to a light job if he’s hoping to have an impact on Friday night.
Geelong are sweating on big Tommy Hawkins pulling up OK after knocking himself out in a marking contest last week. Apparently he has pulled up well but if there’s any doubt the match winning big man will be rested.
Of the others Kelly, Corey, West and Josh Hunt are rated good chances to resume while there’s a bit of doubt to be sorted on Chappy. West will be the main one structure wise with Vardy & Simpson the only rucking backups on the Geelong list. Neither played VFL last week and have only managed a handful of matches between them this year. If West doesn’t make the cut, key forward and very part time ruckman Josh Walker will handle the bulk of the ruck duties. For the Saints, little big man Jason Blake is a chance to come back as well as Siposs & Milera, who both snagged 4 in the VFL. Clint Jones and Schneider have also put their hands up for a recall. Selection on Thursday will be interesting. The sides that take the field on Friday no doubt even more so.
Ones to watch (that most others wont tell you to be watching)
Jack Steven – Has really felt a sense of belonging this year as part of the Saints midfield. Has added some much needed pace to the not so quick Hayes, Dal, Jones & co that really relied on Montagna in years gone by. Certainly one that the cats will want to keep under control.
Ahmed Saad – Great posture this young man has. Has a set shot routine that is no doubt mimicked on football fieldsAustralia wide. Saad had shown his worth in the VFL for the last few years and has been able to step straight into the AFL and deliver more of the same. Has taken some of the reliance away from Milne in the small forward role and adds a bit more dash and excitement to a side that had that strangled out of them by former coaches Grant Thomas and Ross Lying, oops Lyon.
Beau Wilkes – The man with the second oldest head in AFL (Josh Fraser takes the crown as the oldest) stepped up to the plate last week bagging 5 majors and clunking a few marks in the process. If Roo struggles to get up the ex-Eagle will be looking to play a major role up forward.
West – Went from back up VFL ruck/key forward/key defender to finish with a premiership medal last year backing up Otto. Retirements and injuries have cast Westy as the main man and he has handled it better than expected. Battles manfully and plays his role but would love to see him get a bit more of the ball, especially in the air.
Motlop – Stepped up in the absence of Varcoe this year and has provided some razzle dazzle. Looks to be the fittest of the Motlop clan and combined with the undoubtedly family talent he has really impressed. Dropped off a bit of late but on the slick track of the Dome it might be just the time for him to shine.
Josh Hunt – Came under severe scrutiny earlier in the year when he didn’t commit to the contest against the Pies. Redemption was only a week away with a strong mark running with the flight of the ball. Has had a pretty good season and is really using his left boot as an offensive weapon more than ever. Some of the barrels he has unleashed from kick outs make you wince in pain for the ball that has just been smashed.
The form line
The Saints did what was needed to be done against the Dees to get the points. When the skipper went down so did the momentum in the match. Still strong performances from Hayes, Steven, Dal & Joey in the guts and rebounding from Fisher & Dempster saw sufficient scoring opportunities for Wilkes, Saad & Milne to kick a winning score. The week before they suffered a controversial, heartbreaking loss to the Pies in a match where they refused to give in, showing plenty of guts and determination. Unfortunately, relying on umpires to make correct decisions in close games, especially those against the Pies, is fraught with danger.
An undermanned Geelong side kept their noses in front for most of the game over in the West only to fall short at the final siren. A brave performance but also one that could cost us a home final in the wash up. The week prior the cats made it 9 from 9 against the Hawks thanks to a commanding 6 goal performance from the Tomahawk, including the match winner from outside the paint after the final bell.
The contest
Fast starts have been the norm for the cats over the past month and expect that trend to continue. The Saints will take some beating but an early lead may create some season ending doubt amongst the Saints, especially if they are without their skipper.
The battle of the midfields will be a sight to see. The season that Lenny Hayes has put in defies belief, the man is a gun and his courage, leadership and will to win will be sorely missed when he decides to hang up the boots. Dal & Steven will be doing their best in the guts and the whereabouts and form of Goddard will be an interest in itself. BJ has been playing a little under par in 2012 but really needs to be the rebounding rock at half back if he is to help his Saints over the line.
Expect the likes of Selwood, Kelly and Bundy to extract the sherrin from the middle more often than not and if Hawk is feeling no ill effects from last week, he’ll be a tough one to match up on. Too much big firepower up forward for the cats and the back six will look to mark and rebound anything that comes their way.
A good tune up for the cats finals tilt should see us home by 5 goals plus. They’ll want to make sure of this one and get that winning feeling back on track before a couple of sell out games in front of the partially completed state of the art grandstand at Skilled Stadium to wrap up the home and away season.
