TonyK
CibbuanoRound sixteen preview: Geelong v Melbourne
July 17th 2009 14:33
VENUE and TIME: Skilled Stadium, Saturday 18 July, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 205, Geelong 120, Melbourne 83, Drawn 2
LAST TIME: Geelong 15.21 (111) def Melbourne 10.8 (68) Round 6 2009 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won four of its past five against Melbourne with the other result during that stretch being a draw in round 21, 2006.
FORM: Geelong has lost its past two to St Kilda and Brisbane - the first time they have lost back-to-back matches since early 2007. The Cats are still second on the ladder with a 13-2 win-loss record. Melbourne has won its past two games against West Coast and Port Adelaide to move of the bottom of the table.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Cats welcome back Gary Ablett, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie, Travis Varcoe, Cameron Ling and Darren Milburn from injury but star midfielder James Bartel (hip) and Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh) will miss while Steve Johnson remains on the sidelines with a hip injury. For the Demons, lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (knee) is at least three weeks away while is at least three weeks away as he continues to battle a knee injury but Simon Buckley (groin) and Jake Spencer (ankle) will miss at least another week. Colin Garland (foot), Daniel Bell (shoulder), youngster Addam Maric (shoulder) and ruckman John Meesen (foot) have all been ruled out for the rest of the season
KEY MATCH-UPS: Cameron Ling vs. Aaron Davey
Davey has been below his best in the past couple of weeks and will be keen to bounce back with a big performance against Geelong.
When he is up and firing Davey is able to continually set up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clean use of the football.
However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Geelong’s best midfield stopper in Ling likely to be his opponent.
Not only will Ling make Davey earn every possession he will also try and hurt him going the other way - Ling has averaged 22 disposals per game so far this season.
It is vital for the Demons that Davey works hard going both ways.
James McDonald vs. Gary Ablett
Ablett has been his side’s most damaging midfielder so far in 2009, averaging just under 35 disposals per game and booting 17 goals in 12 matches.
The Brownlow medal favourite is damaging with his ability to win the football in close, break the lines and kick goals.
If the Demons are going to have any hope of containing a Geelong side that has the best attack in the AFL they will need to shut-down Ablett’s creative run.
The last time these two sides met in round six McDonald was given the job on Ablett and more than held his own - the Melbourne skipper collected 16 possessions and kept the Geelong star to 25 touches.
Expect McDonald to be given the task of running with Ablett once again in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
The Demons will need McDonald to be proactive and win the football at the stoppages otherwise Ablett will be able to dictate terms and help get his side’s running game going.
Andrew Mackie vs. Liam Jurrah
Jurrah showed he is a star of the future with four goals and a couple of spectacular marks in the win over Port Adelaide.
The Demons will need him to fire once again if they are going to have any hope of coming close to a Geelong side that will be desperate to snap a two-game losing streak.
Mackie is a mobile defender who is good overhead so you would expect him to be given first crack at Jurrah.
If Jurrah is going to have any hope of having an impact on the scoreboard he will need his midfield to be smart and clean with their use of the football going forward otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Mackie who collected 31 possessions in the clash between these two sides earlier in the year.
Cameron Bruce vs. Paul Chapman
The last time these two sides met in round six Chapman starred with a game-high 41 possessions, 12 marks, one goal and 11 inside 50’s.
Chapman will need to be watched closely as he is highly effective at winning the contested football, kicking goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Bruce has the ability to go with Chapman if he starts in the middle and also when he pushes forward and will most likely be given the job on the underrated Cat.
Expect Bruce, who racked up a game-high 37 disposals in the win over Port Adelaide, to run off Chapman at every available opportunity and try and hurt him going the other way.
VERDICT: Melbourne has its tail up after two straight wins but their joy will be short-lived with Geelong simply having too much class and depth through the middle for the Demons to contain. Expect Dean Bailey’s men to stick with the Cats for a quarter or two before Geelong’s stars take control. Cats by 41 points.
GEELONG v MELBOURNE
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Harry Taylor, Tom Harley, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, David Wojcinski
HF: Mathew Stokes, Cameron Mooney, Shannon Byrnes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Travis Varcoe, Simon Hogan, Tom Lonergan, Kane Tenace
Emg: Tom Gillies, Trent West, Jeremy Laidler
In: Ablett, Scarlett, Mackie, Varcoe, Ling, Milburn
Out: Jimmy Bartel (hip), Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh), Mark Blake, Ryan Gamble, Jeremy Laidler, Tom Gillies
MELBOURNE
B: Cale Morton, Matthew Warnock, James Frawley
HB: Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers, Jack Grimes
C: Neville Jetta, Brock McLean, Aaron Davey
HF: Cameron Bruce, Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd
F: Russell Robertson, Brad Green, Liam Jurrah
Foll: Mark Jamar, James McDonald, Nathan Jones
I/C: Lynden Dunn, Stefan Martin, Paul Wheatley, Clint Bartram
Emg: Paul Johnson, Jamie Bennell, Brad Miller
In: Bartram
Out: Daniel Bell (shoulder)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 205, Geelong 120, Melbourne 83, Drawn 2
LAST TIME: Geelong 15.21 (111) def Melbourne 10.8 (68) Round 6 2009 at the MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Geelong has won four of its past five against Melbourne with the other result during that stretch being a draw in round 21, 2006.
FORM: Geelong has lost its past two to St Kilda and Brisbane - the first time they have lost back-to-back matches since early 2007. The Cats are still second on the ladder with a 13-2 win-loss record. Melbourne has won its past two games against West Coast and Port Adelaide to move of the bottom of the table.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Cats welcome back Gary Ablett, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie, Travis Varcoe, Cameron Ling and Darren Milburn from injury but star midfielder James Bartel (hip) and Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh) will miss while Steve Johnson remains on the sidelines with a hip injury. For the Demons, lively small forward Austin Wonaeamirri (knee) is at least three weeks away while is at least three weeks away as he continues to battle a knee injury but Simon Buckley (groin) and Jake Spencer (ankle) will miss at least another week. Colin Garland (foot), Daniel Bell (shoulder), youngster Addam Maric (shoulder) and ruckman John Meesen (foot) have all been ruled out for the rest of the season
KEY MATCH-UPS: Cameron Ling vs. Aaron Davey
Davey has been below his best in the past couple of weeks and will be keen to bounce back with a big performance against Geelong.
When he is up and firing Davey is able to continually set up scoring opportunities for his teammates with his clean use of the football.
However, he faces a tough afternoon at the office with Geelong’s best midfield stopper in Ling likely to be his opponent.
Not only will Ling make Davey earn every possession he will also try and hurt him going the other way - Ling has averaged 22 disposals per game so far this season.
It is vital for the Demons that Davey works hard going both ways.
James McDonald vs. Gary Ablett
Ablett has been his side’s most damaging midfielder so far in 2009, averaging just under 35 disposals per game and booting 17 goals in 12 matches.
The Brownlow medal favourite is damaging with his ability to win the football in close, break the lines and kick goals.
If the Demons are going to have any hope of containing a Geelong side that has the best attack in the AFL they will need to shut-down Ablett’s creative run.
The last time these two sides met in round six McDonald was given the job on Ablett and more than held his own - the Melbourne skipper collected 16 possessions and kept the Geelong star to 25 touches.
Expect McDonald to be given the task of running with Ablett once again in what shapes as being a pivotal duel.
The Demons will need McDonald to be proactive and win the football at the stoppages otherwise Ablett will be able to dictate terms and help get his side’s running game going.
Andrew Mackie vs. Liam Jurrah
Jurrah showed he is a star of the future with four goals and a couple of spectacular marks in the win over Port Adelaide.
The Demons will need him to fire once again if they are going to have any hope of coming close to a Geelong side that will be desperate to snap a two-game losing streak.
Mackie is a mobile defender who is good overhead so you would expect him to be given first crack at Jurrah.
If Jurrah is going to have any hope of having an impact on the scoreboard he will need his midfield to be smart and clean with their use of the football going forward otherwise they will be punished on the rebound by the likes of Mackie who collected 31 possessions in the clash between these two sides earlier in the year.
Cameron Bruce vs. Paul Chapman
The last time these two sides met in round six Chapman starred with a game-high 41 possessions, 12 marks, one goal and 11 inside 50’s.
Chapman will need to be watched closely as he is highly effective at winning the contested football, kicking goals and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Bruce has the ability to go with Chapman if he starts in the middle and also when he pushes forward and will most likely be given the job on the underrated Cat.
Expect Bruce, who racked up a game-high 37 disposals in the win over Port Adelaide, to run off Chapman at every available opportunity and try and hurt him going the other way.
VERDICT: Melbourne has its tail up after two straight wins but their joy will be short-lived with Geelong simply having too much class and depth through the middle for the Demons to contain. Expect Dean Bailey’s men to stick with the Cats for a quarter or two before Geelong’s stars take control. Cats by 41 points.
GEELONG v MELBOURNE
GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Harry Taylor, Tom Harley, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, David Wojcinski
HF: Mathew Stokes, Cameron Mooney, Shannon Byrnes
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Max Rooke
Foll: Shane Mumford, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
I/C: Travis Varcoe, Simon Hogan, Tom Lonergan, Kane Tenace
Emg: Tom Gillies, Trent West, Jeremy Laidler
In: Ablett, Scarlett, Mackie, Varcoe, Ling, Milburn
Out: Jimmy Bartel (hip), Nathan Djerrkura (corked thigh), Mark Blake, Ryan Gamble, Jeremy Laidler, Tom Gillies
MELBOURNE
B: Cale Morton, Matthew Warnock, James Frawley
HB: Brent Moloney, Jared Rivers, Jack Grimes
C: Neville Jetta, Brock McLean, Aaron Davey
HF: Cameron Bruce, Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd
F: Russell Robertson, Brad Green, Liam Jurrah
Foll: Mark Jamar, James McDonald, Nathan Jones
I/C: Lynden Dunn, Stefan Martin, Paul Wheatley, Clint Bartram
Emg: Paul Johnson, Jamie Bennell, Brad Miller
In: Bartram
Out: Daniel Bell (shoulder)
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