Round 18 - 7:40pm Saturday, July 19 @ Spotless Stadium
Victory on the road has been a rare occurrence for the Cats this year. They earned four points for defeating Brisbane way back in round two and have not tasted interstate success since. The next four attempts resulted in a combined losing margin of 222 points. Despite this poor record Geelong will venture into the AFL’s western front with the confidence to overcome the league’s newest club.
It will be the first time the Cats meet two time premiership player Josh Hunt, who collected 23 touches in the blue and white hoops last time Geelong played the Giants. They welcome back gun onballer Mathew Stokes, who is averaging just under 27 disposals this season and gathered 28 in that same contest. Stokes has not played since injuring his ankle in the round 14 loss to the Gold Coast, the Cats’ fourth loss outside of Victoria in five attempts. Since playing the Suns Geelong have won their last three games and aim to set a more favourable 4-1 record with a win over GWS.
KEY MATCH-UP
Hamish McIntosh has been remarkably resilient this season, playing 14 of a possible 16 games after spending all of last year sidelined with injury. He has accumulated possessions all season, averaging 14.2 per game, the fourth highest of any ruckman in the competition. McIntosh’s form in recent weeks has been exceptional, tallying 17 disposals against the Bulldogs and 20 against the Demons, including an equal game-high seven clearances. If he continues to find the ball he will be a great asset during the latter stages of the season. If he can continue to win clearances for Geelong he will prove invaluable
Clearances have been a strength of the Giants, unlike the Cats who rank 16 in the AFL. GWS are second for total clearances thanks in no small part to the aerial dominance of Shane Mumford. Greater Western Sydney lured Mumford from their cross-town cousins, offering him a salary that the star-studded Swans simply could not match. He has been worth every cent, leading the AFL with an average of 40.5 hit-outs per match. Mumford provides great leadership for the young onballers around him, setting the standard for physical pressure with a relentless contested attitude. He is an on-field general for the Giants and a formidable opponent for recently acquired Cat Hamish McIntosh.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Geelong 24.13 (157)
GWS 15.8 (98)
The last meeting between these two sides, in round 11 last year, was far closer than the 59 point margin might suggest. The Cats were sluggish early in the match and were exposed by a fast-starting and enthusiastic Giants outfit. The competition’s youngest club kicked the first five goals of the game and led by 18 points at quarter time. Geelong responded after the break but could not shake a persistent GWS, who were still level with the heavily favoured Cats until late in the third term. Just as Giants fans began to believe that an unlikely upset might be possible, Geelong kicked 11 of the next 12 goals to secure a comfortable victory. James Podsiadly booted five goals, ahead of All-Australian Giant Jeremy Cameron, who kicked four. The two captains Callan Ward and Joel Selwood topped the possession tally with 30 and 29 respectively.
DID YOU KNOW?
When the GWS last played Geelong, Giant Jonathan Giles had 41 hit-outs while former Cat Trent West won 42. Like West, Shane Mumford once donned the blue and white, joining the club at the same time as Dawson Simpson, who was included to play this Saturday.
The Cats are currently the no. 1 ranked tackling team in the AFL, averaging more than 75 tackles per match.
As part of Multicultural Round the match between The Cats and Giants will have a special commentary broadcast in Mandarin Chinese.
