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CibbuanoQualifying Final Preview: Geelong v Western Bulldogs
September 4th 2009 15:13
VENUE and TIME: MCG, Saturday 5 September, 2.30pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 147, Geelong 90, Western Bulldogs 55, Draws 2
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) d Geelong 14.12 (96) at Etihad Stadium, Round 21, 2009
IN FINALS: Geelong 7, Western Bulldogs 2
RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won four of its past five matches against the Western Bulldogs.
FORM: Geelong bounced back from a loss to the Bulldogs in round 21 with a solid 40-point victory over Fremantle to become the first club in AFL-VFL history to win 18 games or more in three successive seasons. The Cats haven’t won successive matches since rounds 16 to 18 when they defeated Hawthorn, Adelaide and Melbourne. The Dogs finished the season with wins over top eight sides Brisbane, the Cats and Collingwood to claim third spot on the ladder with a 15-7 win-loss record.
MEDICAL ROOM: Geelong welcomes back Paul Chapman and the much-improved Travis Varcoe from hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively while rugged utility Max Rooke and hard-running defender David Wojinscki will play despite suffering injuries in the win over the Dockers. Classy forward Steve Johnson (hip) could be back as early as next week if the Cats lose to the Bulldogs while David Johnson (corked thigh) remains unavailable. Matthew Egan (foot), Josh Hunt (knee), Mitch Brown (leg) and Ranga Ediriwickrama (hamstring) are out for the season. For the Dogs, midfielder Ryan Griffen returns from a hamstring injury while ruckman Ben Hudson is also back in the side after being a late withdrawal from the clash against the Magpies with back spasms. Key defender Tom Williams (foot) is expected to return via the VFL next week.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Cameron Ling vs. Adam Cooney
The last time these two sides met Cooney racked up a team-high 29 possessions, booted two goals and delivered the football inside 50 four times.
Last year’s Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Limiting Cooney’s in the middle will be a key for Geelong if they are going to contain the Bullodgs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards.
Ling is regarded as the best tagger in the AFL and will be given the job on Cooney in what will be a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.
Expect Ling, who is good overhead and a reliable kick for goal, to push forward at every available opportunity and take Cooney out of his comfort zone.
Brian Lake vs. Cameron Mooney
Mooney was Geelong’s most productive forward when these two teams met just a fortnight ago with four goals.
The Cats will need a similar performance from him on Saturday if they are going to overcome a Dogs side that has the most potent attack in the competition.
However, Mooney’s task won’t be an easy one as he will be matched up by one of the best defenders in the AFL in Lake.
It is vital for Geelong that they are clean with their delivery of the football into the forward line rather than just bombing it haphazardly inside 50 otherwise Lake who is ranked third in the AFL for marks per game with an average of 8.7 will be able to continually set up his side’s attacking forays forward from the defensive half.
Andrew Mackie vs. Brad Johnson
Johnson was instrumental in his side’s win over the Magpies with 22 disposals, seven marks and four goals.
When Johnson fires the Bulldogs invariably go on to win so shutting him down will be a key for Geelong.
Mackie has the ability to match the Dogs skipper in the air and also at ground level so you would expect him to be given first crack at the 346-game veteran.
If Mackie is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Johnson he will need his teammates to suffocate the Western Bulldogs’ running game with relentless tackling pressure.
Liam Picken vs. Gary Ablett
Ablett was his side’s best in the round 21 clash with a game-high 40 possessions and five inside 50’s.
The Bulldogs will be keen to shut-down Ablett’s creative run as it will help them contain a Geelong side that is capable of scoring in a hurry.
Picken has been impressive in a tagging role this season and looms as the obvious candidate to run with the classy Cats midfielder.
The Dogs will need Picken to apply plenty of body pressure at the stoppages and also ensure that Ablett doesn’t get any time or space in which to work in otherwise he will hurt them with his ability to break the lines and use the football cleanly.
VERDICT: The Western Bulldogs will head into this qualifying final with plenty of confidence given that they defeated Geelong just a fortnight ago. The Cats know what it takes to win games of football in September but they are well short of their devastating best while the Bulldogs are fit and firing on all cylinders. Bulldogs by 15 points.
GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Tom Harley, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, James Kelly
HF: Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Mooney, Travis Varcoe
F: Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins, Paul Chapman
Foll: Mark Blake, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Brad Ottens, Shannon Byrnes, Max Rooke, David Wojcinski
Emg: Simon Hogan, Ryan Gamble, Shane Mumford
In: Chapman, Varcoe
Out: Ryan Gamble, Simon Hogan
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
HB: Liam Picken, Dale Morris, Lindsay Gilbee
C: Callan Ward, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Brad Johnson, Mitch Hahn, Robert Murphy
F: Jason Akermanis, Will Minson, Shaun Higgins
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Nathan Eagleton, Daniel Giansiracusa, Josh Hill, Scott Welsh
Emg: Dylan Addison, Adrejs Everitt, Sam Reid
In: Griffen, Hudson
Out: Andrejs Everitt, Sam Reid
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 147, Geelong 90, Western Bulldogs 55, Draws 2
LAST TIME: Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) d Geelong 14.12 (96) at Etihad Stadium, Round 21, 2009
IN FINALS: Geelong 7, Western Bulldogs 2
RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won four of its past five matches against the Western Bulldogs.
FORM: Geelong bounced back from a loss to the Bulldogs in round 21 with a solid 40-point victory over Fremantle to become the first club in AFL-VFL history to win 18 games or more in three successive seasons. The Cats haven’t won successive matches since rounds 16 to 18 when they defeated Hawthorn, Adelaide and Melbourne. The Dogs finished the season with wins over top eight sides Brisbane, the Cats and Collingwood to claim third spot on the ladder with a 15-7 win-loss record.
MEDICAL ROOM: Geelong welcomes back Paul Chapman and the much-improved Travis Varcoe from hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively while rugged utility Max Rooke and hard-running defender David Wojinscki will play despite suffering injuries in the win over the Dockers. Classy forward Steve Johnson (hip) could be back as early as next week if the Cats lose to the Bulldogs while David Johnson (corked thigh) remains unavailable. Matthew Egan (foot), Josh Hunt (knee), Mitch Brown (leg) and Ranga Ediriwickrama (hamstring) are out for the season. For the Dogs, midfielder Ryan Griffen returns from a hamstring injury while ruckman Ben Hudson is also back in the side after being a late withdrawal from the clash against the Magpies with back spasms. Key defender Tom Williams (foot) is expected to return via the VFL next week.
The last time these two sides met Cooney racked up a team-high 29 possessions, booted two goals and delivered the football inside 50 four times.
Last year’s Brownlow medallist is damaging with his ability to break the lines, kick goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Limiting Cooney’s in the middle will be a key for Geelong if they are going to contain the Bullodgs’ dangerous mid-sized forwards.
Ling is regarded as the best tagger in the AFL and will be given the job on Cooney in what will be a pivotal duel in determining the outcome of this match.
Expect Ling, who is good overhead and a reliable kick for goal, to push forward at every available opportunity and take Cooney out of his comfort zone.
Brian Lake vs. Cameron Mooney
Mooney was Geelong’s most productive forward when these two teams met just a fortnight ago with four goals.
The Cats will need a similar performance from him on Saturday if they are going to overcome a Dogs side that has the most potent attack in the competition.
However, Mooney’s task won’t be an easy one as he will be matched up by one of the best defenders in the AFL in Lake.
It is vital for Geelong that they are clean with their delivery of the football into the forward line rather than just bombing it haphazardly inside 50 otherwise Lake who is ranked third in the AFL for marks per game with an average of 8.7 will be able to continually set up his side’s attacking forays forward from the defensive half.
Andrew Mackie vs. Brad Johnson
Johnson was instrumental in his side’s win over the Magpies with 22 disposals, seven marks and four goals.
When Johnson fires the Bulldogs invariably go on to win so shutting him down will be a key for Geelong.
Mackie has the ability to match the Dogs skipper in the air and also at ground level so you would expect him to be given first crack at the 346-game veteran.
If Mackie is going to have any hope of winning his duel with Johnson he will need his teammates to suffocate the Western Bulldogs’ running game with relentless tackling pressure.
Liam Picken vs. Gary Ablett
Ablett was his side’s best in the round 21 clash with a game-high 40 possessions and five inside 50’s.
The Bulldogs will be keen to shut-down Ablett’s creative run as it will help them contain a Geelong side that is capable of scoring in a hurry.
Picken has been impressive in a tagging role this season and looms as the obvious candidate to run with the classy Cats midfielder.
The Dogs will need Picken to apply plenty of body pressure at the stoppages and also ensure that Ablett doesn’t get any time or space in which to work in otherwise he will hurt them with his ability to break the lines and use the football cleanly.
VERDICT: The Western Bulldogs will head into this qualifying final with plenty of confidence given that they defeated Geelong just a fortnight ago. The Cats know what it takes to win games of football in September but they are well short of their devastating best while the Bulldogs are fit and firing on all cylinders. Bulldogs by 15 points.
GEELONG v WESTERN BULLDOGS
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Tom Harley, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, James Kelly
HF: Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Mooney, Travis Varcoe
F: Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins, Paul Chapman
Foll: Mark Blake, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Brad Ottens, Shannon Byrnes, Max Rooke, David Wojcinski
Emg: Simon Hogan, Ryan Gamble, Shane Mumford
In: Chapman, Varcoe
Out: Ryan Gamble, Simon Hogan
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Jarrod Harbrow, Brian Lake, Ryan Hargrave
HB: Liam Picken, Dale Morris, Lindsay Gilbee
C: Callan Ward, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Brad Johnson, Mitch Hahn, Robert Murphy
F: Jason Akermanis, Will Minson, Shaun Higgins
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
I/C: Nathan Eagleton, Daniel Giansiracusa, Josh Hill, Scott Welsh
Emg: Dylan Addison, Adrejs Everitt, Sam Reid
In: Griffen, Hudson
Out: Andrejs Everitt, Sam Reid
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