Geelong v Sydney

Each week Michael Rogers gives us an exclusive look at the stats and facts that matter for the Cats.

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From 1897 to 1926, Sydney/Sth Melbourne's home at the Lake Oval (Sth Melbourne Cricket Ground) was Geelong's 'hoodoo' venue. Its win percentage of 18.18% ( 6 wins from 32 matches) was its lowest at all venues in the period and included 21 consecutive losses there from 1906 to 1926.
Geelong played for premierships points at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 77 years before the Swans did, defeating Carlton by 10 points there in 1903.
The Cats were the first team to play the Swans at the SCG in round 12 1980. Geelong won 21,21-147 vs Sth Melbourne 12,12-84.  (The Swans were still based in South Melbourne at the time.)
Geelong's win% of 57.1% is the second highest of all of the Swans' opponents at the SCG. Highest: Adelaide 68.75% - 11 wins from 16 matches.
Geelong last lost to Sydney by more than 22 points in round 15 2005 - 7.8-51 vs Sydney 16.9-105.
Sydney only has a worse record in its last 15 matches against all opponents vs Collingwood - just two wins from its last 15 matches.



Geelong has won 17 of its last 25 matches vs Sydney - the most the Swans have lost in it last 25 matches against all opponents. Next most: 16 lost vs Collingwood.

The Swans have only lost three matches by 10 goals or more in the last 10 seasons - one to Carlton by 61 points in round 16 2009, one to Geelong by 67 points in round 7 2010, and one to Melbourne by 73 points in round 17 2010.
Geelong was the first to beat Sydney/Sth Melbourne in all four quarters in round 5 1897 (10.12-72 vs 3.6-18) and the last to do so in round 7 2010 (19.12-126 vs 9.5-59.) However of teams it has competed against since 1897, Sydney/Sth Melbourne has lost the least in all four quarters to Geelong. Most: 25 lost to Collingwood in all four quarters.
The second highest aggregate half-time score recorded is 198 points - Geelong 18.3-111 vs Sydney/SM 14.3-97 in round 20 1978. (Highest: 210 points - Sydney/SM 19.6-120 vs Nth Melbourne 13.12-90 in round 6 1991.)
Geelong have finished ahead of Sydney/SM in 67 of the 114 seasons that they have competed in against each other.
Geelong's season win% in its last three premiership winning seasons was: 84.0% in 2007, 84.0% in 2009, and 88.0% in 2011. Sydney's was 69.23% in 2005 and 76.0% in 2012.