SUMMARY
Geelong has a chance to register its fifth consecutive win after humiliating Gold Coast by 120 points, while West Coast will make the journey across the Nullarbor with optimism after kicking eight goals to one in the final term of its 62-point win over Collingwood. Interestingly, the Eagles have a less than impressive record outside of Perth, with their last five away games – including the Grand Final – resulting in four defeats and a draw. Following losses on the road this season to Hawthorn (round two) and the Sydney Swans (round five), the Eagles need to start claiming wins away from home and there's no better occasion to test their mettle than at Simonds Stadium. The Cats, however, will again be hard to beat on their home deck after a comprehensive showing against the injury-ravaged Suns last week.
WHERE AND WHEN: Simonds Stadium, Saturday, May 7, 2.10pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for AFL.com.au's broadcast guide
Nic Naitanui took mark of the year the last time these two teams met. Picture: AFL Media
LAST FIVE TIMES
R9, 2015, West Coast Eagles 16.24 (120) d Geelong Cats 10.4 (64) at Domain Stadium
R4, 2014, Geelong Cats 16.11 (107) d West Coast Eagles 4.8 (32) at Simonds Stadium
R21, 2013, Geelong Cats 16.11 (107) d West Coast Eagles 6.5 (41) at Domain Stadium
R20, 2012, West Coast Eagles 16.6 (102) d Geelong Cats 15.7 (97) at Domain Stadium
2PF, 2011, Geelong Cats 17.15 (117) d West Coast Eagles 10.9 (69) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. Geelong and West Coast will meet for the 49th time and the Eagles hold a narrow advantage, winning 24 games to 23, plus one draw. Since 2011, it's three wins each.
2. It will be a battle of the top two teams for marks inside 50. Geelong is first with an average of 17.3 per game, while West Coast is second with 15.7.
3. Under Adam Simpson, the Eagles have won 22 of 30 games in Perth, averaging 105 points per game. But outside of Perth, they have won 11 of 23 matches, averaging 89 points.
4. Geelong has dominated West Coast recently at Simonds Stadium, winning the past four matches by an average margin of 64 points. The Eagles last won in Geelong in 2006.
5. The Cats and Eagles are the top-two teams for contested marks. The Cats are No.1 with 14.2 per game, just ahead of the Eagles with 14.
6. Onballer Josh Caddy is the biggest mover for the Cats in the Schick AFL Player Ratings so far this season, climbing 45 places from No.112 to No.67 overall.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Josh Kennedy
The 28-year-old notches his 150th club game for the Eagles this week after 22 appearances for Carlton between 2006 and 2007. The 171-gamer will be aiming for a repeat individual performance to his last outing against the Cats in round nine last season. In that game, Kennedy bagged six goals, had 16 score involvements and took 11 marks, and he'll need to be on song after booting an inaccurate 3.6 against Collingwood last Sunday.
PREDICTION: Geelong by 17 points
