When and Where:
2.10pm at Skilled Stadium
Overall Head-To-Head:
Geelong – 115
Sydney Swans – 93
Draws – 0
Last Time They Met:
Geelong 11.15 (81) defeated Sydney Swans 7.12 (54), Round 4, 2011 at the SCG
Recent Form:
Geelong – WWWWB
Sydney Swans – WBLLW
Current Ladder Positions:
Geelong – 2nd (18-2)
Sydney Swans – 7th (10-1-9)
Key Players:
After managing only 14 games in 2010, many thought Joel Corey’s knee would derail him and his career was on the verge of extinction. However, the 29-year-old has been one of the Cats’ best performed players this season. Corey has been in hot form since Round 13, averaging 26 disposals per game over his past eight matches. He only had 24 against Adelaide in Round 21, but many thought he was the best player on the ground. After a well-deserved break, expect Corey to be up and firing at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.
Rhyce Shaw has been released from tagging duties in the past month and has thrived. The 29-year-old was particularly damaging against the Saints last weekend, accumulating a season-high 29 disposals and six marks. Shaw had a brilliant game against Geelong earlier in the season, gathering 27 disposals in Round 4. Whether he’s playing as a tagger, rebounding defender or attacking midfielder, his run and carry will be a key to the Swans competing with the Cats.
Geelong Team Changes:
IN – Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie, Tom Hawkins and Trent West
OUT – Joel Corey (Groin), Cameron Mooney (Suspended), Nathan Vardy (Hip) and Mitch Duncan
Sydney Swans Team Changes:
IN – Brett Meredith and Luke Parker
OUT – Jarrad McVeigh (Personal) and Lewis Jetta
Who Wins?
The boys from New South Wales face the toughest road trip in the AFL.
Geelong should be cherry ripe after enduring the weekend off in Round 22. As mentioned in past previews, the closer a team’s bye is to the end of the season, the fresher it returns the following week. Promising big man Nathan Vardy will not play another game for the rest of the season due to a hip injury, therefore Tom Hawkins, Cameron Mooney and Trent West will be competing for one or two key position spots in the next fortnight.
Sydney never ceases to amaze the footy community. The Swans bounced back from an insipid loss to Richmond to knock over St Kilda by 15 points last weekend. They were back to their competitive best, thrashing the Saints in the clearance and contested possession counts. Former Cat Shane Mumford proved why he is one of the Swans’ most important players, finishing with a career-high 54 hit-outs, while Josh Kennedy was instrumental in the midfield with 12 clearances. Despite last weekend’s gutsy win, it’s hard to see the Swans making an impact in September – that’s if they get there.
Since losing to Port Adelaide in Round 21, 2007, Geelong has won 29 consecutive games at Skilled Stadium. However, we all know Sydney loves playing with its back against the wall. But down at the Cattery, you get the feeling the Cats will be the one’s slamming the Swans face-first into the same wall.
Best Head-To-Head Bet:
Geelong by 1-39 ($2.80 – Sportsbet)
Also Sportingbet Australia is doing a first goal scorer special on the AFL, on top of the usual first goal scorer payout. If your first goal scorer bet scores the second goal, the guys at Sportingbet will pay you out as well! If he kicks the first two, they will pay you double! Get on!
Other Suggested Bets:
First Goal Scorer – Steve Johnson on Sportingbet