Round 17 - 1:45pm, Saturday, July 12 @ The MCG
The home and away season is a marathon and teams are jostling for position with the finish line in sight. The competition for places in the top eight is fierce and the front runners are far from settled. After winning four of their last five games, percentage is all that separates Geelong from a coveted spot inside the top four. A second chance or a week off are invaluable after a long and gruelling season and have proven essential for premiership success in the current finals format. The Cats aspire to play on the MCG on the last Saturday of September, but must focus on beating the ground’s original custodians this Saturday afternoon. Melbourne have been rejuvenated under the guidance of Paul Roos and are no longer the fledgling football club they once were. Geelong have succeeded by slender margins over the past month, finding ways to win without playing their best football. The Bulldogs showed last week that no team can be taken lightly and Melbourne, themselves underdogs, pose the same threat. Geelong can defeat the Demons comfortably if they play at their best. However, form has been fleeting for the Cats and they can’t afford to use all nine lives before September.
KEY MATCH-UP
JOSH CADDY vs DOM TYSON
Josh Caddy was drafted to the Gold Coast Suns with pick seven in 2010 and then traded to the Cats for one their compensation selections from the Gary Ablett acquisition. After 18 games in his first season with Geelong, he proved a promising young talent and terrific trade. Caddy appeared set to reach another level this year with an imposing preseason campaign and good early form. He missed eight games after an unorthodox training injury and was substitute twice before starting in the game last week. Caddy is a powerful player with genuine explosiveness. Set to play his 50th AFL game, he has attributes that are sorely needed to correct Geelong’s poor clearance differential.
Dom Tyson was also drafted in the first round by an expansion club, taken by GWS with pick three in 2011. In an effort to fast track the Demon’s development, coach Paul Roos traded pick two for Tyson, who had played just 13 games in his first two seasons. A speculative and high risk move, the trade has been fruitful for both sides. Tyson has been one of Melbourne’s most consistent and important performers this year and contributed greatly to their improvement. He averages more than 22 disposals and is second at the club for clearances, with an average of 4.7 per game.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 16, 2013 @ Simonds Stadium
Geelong 13.20 (98)
Melbourne 4.6 (30)
Tom Hawkins kicked the first goal two minutes into the game and Geelong steadily advanced the margin from that point onwards. In wet and slippery weather similar to last week’s round 16 contest, the Cats were dominant in all facets of the game. They were most impressive defensively, conceding just one goal in each quarter and restricting the Demons to a record low 19 inside-50s. Joel Selwood gathered 29 disposals in 150th game and Steve Johnson was top of the possession tally with 38 touches.
DID YOU KNOW?
The last time Melbourne defeated Geelong in Round 6, 2006, Paul Roos was leading the Swans in defence of their 2005 premiership. Sydney reached the Grand Final that year, but lost their rematch with the West Coast Eagles by one point.
