At first glance the upcoming contest between Geelong and Gold Coast appears to be a battle of old versus young, an expansion club against the second oldest in the country. The Cats have had an unparalleled period of sustained success, one that continues thanks to the steady introduction of young players over several years. The Geelong coaching staff have a few selection headaches this week and as many as 11 players with less than 50 games experience are in contention. They fielded two debutantes last week and Saturday and forward Shane Kersten is set to become the fourth Cat to make his debut this season. The Gold Coast are an emerging force in the AFL and are on track to reach the finals for the first time in their short history. The Suns’ enjoyed a bounty of draft picks during their formative years and the development of this young talent has resulted in a rapid rise up the AFL ladder. They have had a form slump in recent weeks but still sit just two games behind the fourth placed Cats. Far from a David and Goliath contest, when the Gold Coast hosts Geelong on Saturday evening it will be on for young and old.
KEY MATCH-UP
Mark Blicavs vs Charlie Dixon
Mark Blicavs is one of the more unique football stories. The son of two olympic basketballers, he was a promising distance runner who was close to competing in the Australian track and field team at the 2012 London olympics. He joined the Cats later that year and was a surprise selection to make his debut in the opening game of the 2013 season. Blicavs stands 198cm tall and has the athleticism and endurance to match the best midfielders in the competition. Early in his career he played as a mobile second ruckman and roaming utility. This season he has also been exposed to key defensive roles on some of the competition’s best power forwards. Blicavs is remarkably adaptable and has taken to this new challenge with the enthusiasm and confidence that has characterised his career.
Charlie Dixon is a Queensland native and joined the Suns as a local talent selection in 2010. He was a member of the inaugural Gold Coast side in 2011 and scored the club’s first goal in the AFL. Dixon is a mobile big forward and, standing at 200cm, he provides excellent support as the Suns’ back-up ruckman. He led the club for contested marks last season, despite missing nine games with an ankle injury. Dixon has again suffered injury setbacks this season, but has returned from a month on the sidelines in near career-best form, averaging 13 disposals and more than two goals per game.
LAST TIME THEY MEET - ROUND 10, 2014
Geelong 18.15 (123)
Gold Coast 10.11 (71)
The last meeting between these two sides was an historic event for Geelong and produced a match befitting the occasion. Fireworks erupted, the towers were turned on, and both teams stepped onto the field bathed in light and ready to play. Nothing separated the Cats and Suns in the opening term, arriving at the first break tied on 20 points. Geelong took the honours in the second quarter before Gold Coast kicked five unanswered goals to even the scores again at the final change. From that point on it was all Geelong, who scored nine goals to one and ran away with a 52 point win. Jimmy Bartel was the pick of the bunch with 30 possessions and three goals, while Nathan Vardy kicked four majors in an emphatic return from injury.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Cats boast nine players aged 29 or over, but the rest of the list is aged 26 or younger. Players generally reach their peak between 25 and 28 years old. Geelong have just six players in this age bracket, the least of any team in the AFL.
