Round 16 - 4:40, Sunday, July 6 @ Simonds Stadium
The oval shaped Sherrin is an unpredictable beast, bouncing at obscure angles and bending and curling as it flies through the air. It holds the path to victory but is capable of victimising those who attempt to tame it. In round 15 both Geelong and the Western Bulldogs emerged from the jaws of defeat thanks to the prodigious skill of two young talents. On Friday night Steven Motlop displayed a mastery of the Sherrin and composure under pressure, snapping two final-term goals to lead his team to victory.
The Bulldog’s win over Melbourne followed a similar narrative, with a young pup in just his eighth game sealing a hard-fought win. Trailing late in the last quarter, Marcus Bontempelli kicked a classy snap goal to regain the lead. He soon eclipsed that effort with a worthy goal of the year contender from tight on the boundary to win the game. The Bulldogs will no doubt be strengthened by their spirited win last Sunday, but face a far greater challenge this week. Very few sides travel to Geelong and leave victorious and the Cats are heavily favoured to add the Bulldogs to their list of victims.
Despite indifferent form the Cats have continued to win games and retain ambitions for bigger scalps than the Bulldogs. A match is so often decided by an act of individual brilliance or the bounce of an odd shaped ball. The Bulldogs have some emerging young stars, but if they are to pull of a monumental upset they will need a substantial contribution from every player. The certainly can’t leave their fortunes to the fickle natured Australian football.
HARRY TAYLOR vs JORDAN ROUGHEAD
Harry Taylor is is a Geelong champion and one of the club’s most important recruits. Following the career ending injury to star defender Mathew Egan in 2007, Stephen Wells was charged with the task of finding a new All-Australian centre half back, and that is exactly what he did. Taylor was drafted from East Fremantle as a 21 year old with pick 17 in the 2007 draft. He played 20 games in his debut season and has rarely missed a game since.
Taylor is thorough in his preparation and relishes the challenge of taking the AFL’s best forwards. His aerial ability is elite, regularly out-marking, not just spoiling his opponent. He has twice been selected as the All-Australian centre half back, 2010 and 2013, and has proven just as effective in the forward line, contributing 15 goals in each of the past two seasons.
Taylor is a universally respected footballer for his consistency in defence and willingness to take the game on and play positively from the back half. As vice-captain of the club and a crowd favourite, Taylor will receive a fitting tribute in his 150th game on Sunday.
Jordan Roughead was drafted just one year later than Harry Taylor but is five years his junior. Standing at 200cm tall and weighing 101kg, Roughead has been trailed in key positions at both ends of the ground over his 65 game career. He was chosen by coach Brendan McCartney as the best replacement for Brian Lake and played every game of the 2013 season in defence.
The young Bulldog is still developing his ground level skills, but in the air he is a formidable opponent. He made the third-most spoils in the AFL last season and has averaged just under five marks per game over the last two years.
Roughead has had an injury interrupted season but returns to the senior side this week. Although primarily a defender, he replaces forward Liam Jones and, like Harry Taylor, he may be required at both ends of the ground.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Geelong Cats 15.17 (107)
Western Bulldogs 13.8 (86)
The last meeting between the Cats and Dogs, in round five last year, was Geelong’s fifth straight win of the season but left a sour aftertaste. After an uninspiring first quarter, the Cats took control of the match and took a four goal lead into the major break.
They surged on after half time to lead by 39 points before the Bulldogs dragged the margin back to three goals midway through the final term. In a performance that was characteristic of the Cats’ recent form in 2014, they looked in control of the match but allowed the opposition back into the contest with a lapse of concentration and pressure.
They failed to kick a goal in the final term, while conceding three to the Bulldogs. The experiment of playing Harry Taylor forward paid off, with the Geelong vice captain contributing five goals. Liam Jones was the best of the Dogs, kicking a career-best four goals.
DID YOU KNOW?
Selected as a 21 year-old in the 2007 draft, Harry Taylor was the oldest first round draft pick since 1995.
Harry Taylor is set to play his 150th game from a possible 158. He debuted in round two 2008 and since then has only missed seven games.
Last season Taylor conceded 20 goals to his direct opponents and kicked 15 himself. He also ranked seventh in the AFL for rebound 50s, with 35% of his rebounds resulting in a forward 50 entry.
