Match Preview: Geelong v Kangaroos

[catempire]

From afl.com.au:

Match Preview: Geelong v Kangaroos
4:08:21 PM Tue 4 April, 2006
Andrew Wu
Exclusive to afl.com.au
GEELONG v KANGAROOS

WHERE & WHEN: Skilled Stadium, 2:10pm (AEST), Saturday, April 8

TV & RADIO: Fox Footy (LIVE - Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth), ABC (Melbourne), K-Rock

OUR COVERAGE: live scores, stats & audio, Game Day News Desk, match replay (24 hour delay)

HEAD TO HEAD: Geelong 84, Kangaroos 56, Draws 1

LAST TIME: Geelong 22.14 (146) d. Kangaroos 8.13 (61), Skilled Stadium, Round 9, 2005.


THE MEDICAL ROOM: Key defender Tom Harley (knee) and midfielder James Kelly (scapula) are the only two Cats from their best 22 who have no hope of lining up against the Kangaroos. Harley will miss another three weeks, while Kelly could return in a fortnight. Spearhead Kent Kingsley (hamstring) and forward Steve Johnson are a chance of breaking into the team this week, but a lack of match practice may cost them at the selection table. The Kangaroos will be without young gun Jesse Smith (ankle) for at least two weeks, possibly six, and Callum Urch (hamstring), while Blake Grima (soreness) is still to be assessed.

THE STORY SO FAR: Season 2006 has been one of continuous joy for Cats fans as they wait keenly for their 43-year premiership drought to end. A successful NAB Cup campaign and a first-up trouncing of the Brisbane Lions, the kings of yesteryear, has seen Mark Thompson's men installed by some bookmakers as the outright flag favourite. After having their NAB Cup campaign ended by the Cats, the Kangaroos continued their habit of winning in round one when they shook off Port Adelaide in the second half to cruise home by 41 points, their fifth consecutive opening round victory. Quick to answer pundits who took a dim view of the club's recent recruits, Dean Laidley's Roo boys will find out this Saturday at the Cattery how close they are to the cream of the competition.

THE WHITEBOARD: Could 2006 be the year where Daniel Wells, one of the most exciting youngsters in the competition, steps up a gear and becomes one of the elite players in the league? Wells collected 21 possessions and booted four goals in two electrifying bursts during the second and third quarters against the Power. He received valuable support from seasoned campaigners in Brent Harvey and Adam Simpson, while Daniel Harris and Brady Rawlings also contributed. The same names will again have to put their hands up this week against a Cats midfield lauded for its talent across the board. What it lacks in brilliance, it more than makes up for with work ethic. Certainly, it has more depth than the Power midfield, which is now a shadow of what it was earlier this decade. Led by Matthew Scarlett, the Cats defence is one of the stingiest in the competition, but it is up the other end of the ground where question marks still remain. Brad Ottens will be better for the run last week, Kingsley (hamstring) is a chance of returning but will be underdone, as will the mercurial Steve Johnson.

THE VERDICT: Once again, the underrated Kangaroos have proved their critics wrong. However, a victory against a team on the wrong side of Mick Malthouse's premiership clock is not exactly the greatest indication of their chances against the flag favourite, but winning form is still good form. The Cats have not put a foot wrong so far this season, have won 15 of their past 17 at Skilled Stadium and look to be too good on every line for the Kangaroos. The Cats won't have things all their own way but should still find enough to grab the four points. Geelong by 21 points.

It’s looking more and more like Kent and SJ will play this week at the expense of Henry and possibly Mackie.

I think that will weaken our side slightly, but significantly through CHF. Milburn or Mooney will have to play forward. Kent will play out of the goalsquare with Ottens and we’ll have to rely on Ablett, Chapman, Gardiner and SJ to get amongst the goals.

North seem to be a bit like us in that one of their biggest assets is their work ethic. Expect there to be some great tackling and pressure football and the side that can find the most space and move the ball cleanly and quickly in to their forward line will win.

Last week Geelong surprised me a bit in terms of how good they were. I think that Skilled is going to be a fortress this year and North will do well to get within 5 goals.

Cats by 36 points.

 

[Unwritten_Law]

Andrew Wu loves his cliches.

North seem to be a bit like us in that one of their biggest assets is their work ethic. Expect there to be some great tackling and pressure football and the side that can find the most space and move the ball cleanly and quickly in to their forward line will win.

It will be a proper game of football, none of this Western Bulldogs, Fremantle, Collingwood/Adelaide muck that the AFL has brought upon itself. I wish it was on FTA, it's radio again for me this week.

I would be disappointed if we drop this one. We have to win each and every game at Skilled to make the top 4 and have a chance at the top 2.

 

[Lingsface]

Rooke to tag wells?

 

[Rosso]

Rooke to tag wells?

I think DJ might get first crack. Probably has the toe to go with Wells more so than Rooke. He was pretty impressive in shutting down Aker last week.

 

[catempire]

Rooke to tag wells?

I'd go with DJ.

 

[Ricketts]

Did Enright play on Wells last year when we thumped them and rack up 30+ possessions?

 

[smelly cat]

Rooke or Johnson- it wont matter. Don't forget, Rooke annihilated Judd, so he can put wells away too. And I reckon he's a little stronger than Johnson. Wells just needs to be tackled hard and battered a bit, then he'll go missing for the rest of the afternoon.

 

[thehoff]

Rooke or Johnson- it wont matter. Don't forget, Rooke annihilated Judd, so he can put wells away too. And I reckon he's a little stronger than Johnson. Wells just needs to be tackled hard and battered a bit, then he'll go missing for the rest of the afternoon.

Perfectly said. Plus the conditions will not suit him, he is a silky skillful player that will not adapth to the fierce pressure Rookie will place on him.

Doubt he will have more than 15 possies and minimum impact.

 

[ezbian]

Really looking forward to the side being announced tomorrow night for a couple of reasons:

(a) It will help to show us what they think of Mackie and Gardiner. Both had decent games on the weekend but could be left out to make way for others. Would be stiff to be left out on their performances, but I think mackie may be unlucky. Particularly given the fact KK and SJ appear ready, and only Playfair is out. Gardiner would be likely to carry the CHF role.

(b) It will help us move a step closer to finding out what they want to do with Nath this year. 6 goals he could be an automatic IN, if they are trying to fast track his progress

(c) Blake to remain in the side. I think this is a given as they are basically putting the big blokesin cotton wool this year.

 

[Kegs44]

I reckon we should tag someone else before Wells. Grant notched up 36 touches against us last year, although we stilled thumped and Harvey is very danergous. I wouldnt tag wells from the start cose whoever from the cats line up on him will be able to contain him I'm sure.

 

[Saint]

Is it just me, or does our forward line almost look formidable and, dare i say it, hard to match up on!

Mackie played a good game last week, and Nathan kicked 6, but both were able to be overlooked, for other players. They will both get more experience in the 2nds, as key positions, rather than bench in the ones.

Chappy and Gaz as the two best forward crumbers and forward pressure exponents in the AFL, as well as an in form Ottens, Johnson, Mooney and Kent who can all present, and are mostly good the other way, besides perhaps SJ. If our midfield gets on top as it has done over the last few years, our forward line looks dangerous and our inside-50 to score conversion rate should be well up on previous years.

After plenty of development, the forward line is starting to gather some structure, even without Playfair, who IMO is our no.1 CHF.

 

[D0nk]

Agree on that one, looking much better up forward.

Just a question, why is your name "Saint" your club "Essendon" and you posting as a Cats supporter????

Edit: Nevermind I just read your other post.

 

[RoosterLad]

Cats to win by 3 goals in a tight, tough affair. May not be pretty football but it will be a good game to watch, even better if you are a Loyal BigFooty Cats Fan.