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FORM & HISTORY
Geelong burst back into some good form against Collingwood in round six. The team looked rejuvenated; skillful and quick in mind and body. As much as coach Chris Scott would dislike talking about it, Geelong played like they’d turned back the clock.
The last time Geelong met Sydney was midway through 2014. Geelong could only manage a score of 5.8.38 on their way to a 110-point defeat. Despite their most recent loss to Sydney, Geelong hold a 3:2 advantage across the last five matches between the two clubs. The teams however have not played against each other at ANZ stadium since 2010.
THE LEAD UP
Both clubs had victories in round six, but neither team put in a really solid four quarter performance.
Round seven will prove a great test for Geelong’s young midfield. Sydney is the number one tackling team in the competition and with Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly still on the sidelines; Geelong’s youngsters will need to play tough. Their clearance work has been slowly improving. Josh Caddy ($394,000 MID) and Mitch Duncan ($469,000 MID) got their hands dirty against Collingwood and will be looking for a repeat effort at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
Both teams will have changes forced upon them this week. Geelong will lose Josh Cowan to another heartbreaking hamstring injury. Andrew Mackie ($458,000 DEF) and Mathew Stokes ($460,000 MID) are likely replacements but both must pass fitness tests before they can be selected. Sydney will lose star draftee, Isaac Heeney for the match after he injured his PCL against Melbourne and they will need Jake Lloyd to pass a fitness test before selecting him. Harry Cunningham ($341,000 FWD/MID) is likely to earn a recall in place of the injured Heeney.
KEY MATCH-UP
Although neither will match up against each other, the battle of the forwards will go a long way towards determining the round seven victors. Both Geelong and Sydney have prominent key forwards who are capable of kicking bags of goals. This match could come down to whichever pair can kick the most goals; Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett ($376,000 FWD) or Tom Hawkins and Mitch Clark ($284,000 MID/RUCK).
Lance Franklin ($507,000 FWD) doesn’t have the greatest record against Geelong. He kicked four goals in Sydney’s 110-point win last year. Prior to that, Franklin has managed only six goals in his last four encounters with Geelong. Tom Lonergan ($286,000 DEF) matches up well against the power forward.
BOOM OR BUST
Mitch Duncan
Mitch Duncan was tried in a defensive role early in the season and was found out. Since being moved back into his traditional midfield role he has regained form. So much so that he has been one of Geelong’s best players in their last two encounters. The question over Mitch Duncan is not whether he is back in form, but whether he can maintain that form against one of the best pressure teams in the competition. Sydney has a lot of big bodied midfielders, the likes of Josh Kennedy ($547,000 MID), Dan Hannebery ($555,000 MID), Kieren Jack ($517,000 MID) and Luke Parker ($496,000 MID). Duncan’s test will be to hold his own, to still gather 30-odd touches and to use them well.
Tom Hawkins
Geelong’s star forward was brilliant early against Collingwood in round six but he faded in the second half, as did his team. Hawkins ($335,000 FWD) pushed well up the ground to influence the play and he was out-marking his opponent, Jack Frost, at every opportunity.
What the recruitment of Mitch Clark has done is reduce the pressure on Hawkins to kick a winning score. The big man can focus on freeing up Clark or setting up his teammates, something he did particularly well on Friday night. Against Collingwood, Hawkins had four inside 50s and four goal assists.
Unfortunately for Hawkins, his AFL Fantasy scores do not take these stats into account, hence his average of 52.2 from his five games thus far. His influence on the game has not waned, nor has his form. With a breakeven of 80 in round seven, Hawkins could be a bargain buy in the coming weeks.
FOOTY PROPHET'S FANTASY FIVE
1. Steve Johnson ($451,000 MID)
2. Josh Caddy ($394,000 MID)
3. Steve Motlop ($509,000 FWD,MID)
4. Joel Selwood ($563,000 MID)
5. Jackson Thurlow ($327,000 DEF,MID)
