OPPONENT: Collingwood
VENUE: MCG
DATE AND TIME: Friday, May 8, 7.50pm AEST
WEATHER FORECAST: possible shower, 17 degrees
Check out the Cats’ selected side here
FIVE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
1. THE RETURN OF THE FORGOTTEN MAN
When Josh Cowan played his most recent AFL game, in round 18, 2011, Julia Gillard was the Prime Minister, Matthew Primus was coaching Port Adelaide and Geelong was closing in on its third premiership in five seasons. Since then Cowan has battled numerous leg problems, and has even had a trip to a specialist in London in a bid to get himself right. But, at long last, the 24-year-old's body has healed to the point where he can have another crack at his dream of becoming a regular AFL player. After a couple of impressive performances in the VFL, Cowan has been named on the interchange bench for Friday night's huge clash with Collingwood at the MCG. Everyone at the club is hoping the boy from Daylesford has a big impact.
Watch Josh Cowan speak about his elevation to the AFL team
1384 days in rehab and didn't hear him complain once... Great bloke with the strongest of characters. Well done @jcowan_18
— James Kelly (@JamesPopsKelly) May 7, 2015
Congrats to my bro @jcowan_18 on his first AFL game in years. So much behind the scenes effort to get to this point. Well done man
— Cameron Guthrie (@CamGu3) May 7, 2015
1384 days between AFL games gives you an idea of his resilience, character and regard he's held within the club. Well done @jcowan_18
— Dale Amos (@dale_amos) May 7, 2015
2. TOM LONERGAN MATCHING UP ON TRAVIS CLOKE
Geelong's star defender has a great record on Collingwood's power forward. Lonergan's most famous effort on Cloke came in the 2011 Grand Final, when Cloke got away from Harry Taylor early before Lonergan took over the job and kept him goalless during the remainder of the match. Last season Lonergan held Cloke goalless when the teams met at the MCG in round three.
Watch Tom Lonergan's press conference held in the lead-up to his 150th game
3. OUR BOYS GETTING MORE OF THE BALL
Geelong's coaches have acknowledged that the team needs to win more of the footy. The Cats have won the disposal count just once this season, which was against Gold Coast in round three. The team lost the disposal count by 22 against Hawthorn in round one, by 88 against Fremantle in round two, by 89 against North Melbourne in round four and by 22 against Richmond last weekend.
Chris Scott addresses the Cats’ issues in Tweet The Coach
4. A CLOSE GAME
Between 1950 and 2014, Geelong had the highest winning percentage in the VFL/AFL. The Cats won 57.96 per cent of their matches during that period. The next best was Collingwood, which won 57.83 per cent of its matches in that time.
That random fact was courtesy of Rogers Results
5. AND HERE ARE A FEW FROM OUR FANS …
@Adam_McNicol @GeelongCats quick ball movement as we turn it over too often when we mess around with the footy. #getitinquick
— Brad Malingre (@mully74) May 7, 2015
@Adam_McNicol @GeelongCats not handballing to someone surrounded by five opposition players. Weve turned the ball over alot doing that.
— HughCam (@hughcam1) May 7, 2015
@Adam_McNicol @GeelongCats Tom Hawkins dominating like the 2011 Grand Final except he kicks 5 or 6
— George Templeton (@temptherat) May 7, 2015
@Adam_McNicol @GeelongCats must bring frantic pressure and use the ball better from the back line through the guts. Quick into the fowards
— Aaron Booth (@azareidies) May 7, 2015
