VFL: Top Cats look to stun Sandy
Geelong will look to remain on top of the VFL ladder when it clashes with Sandringham on Sunday .
Playing Assistant Coach Dominic Gleeson will this weekend play his 175th VFL match and earn VFL life membership. The 2012 VFL premiership player is one of the most respected players in the competition and it is fitting that the rare achievement comes in the same year that he captained Victoria.
Oddly Gleeson will join close mate James Podsiadly as a former Werribee Tigers captain, best and fairest winner and ‘favourite son’ who achieved the 175 game milestone after crossing to the Cats late in his career.
At selection, 2012 VFL Premiership forward Shane Kersten and first year recruit Jackson Thurlow have both been named to return from injury while AFL omission Jordan Murdoch has been named to play against his younger brother Brodie.
VFL listed contingent Ben Raidme, Piers Flanagan, Ryley Hall, Andrew Banjanin and Daniel Measures have also been included in the 27 man squad.
St Joseph’s ruck/forward Lachlan Howe will play with the Cats as a 23rd player after a standout season in the Geelong Football League. It will not be a new experience for Howe who played 2 games with the Cats as a 23rd player last year while on the Murray Bushrangers list.
Jed Bews (ankle) joins elevated trio Mitch Brown, Nathan Vardy & George Horlin Smith as the outgoing AFL listed players. Cal Wade will return to St Mary’s after 3 impressive matches as the 23rd player.
The Simon McPhee coached Sandringham side side have named a very strong line up that includes the likes of Adam Schneider, Ahmed Saad, Jason Blake, Trent Dennis-Lane and Rhys Stanley.
The match has ramifications for both sides with the 10th placed St Kilda aligned Sandringham Zebras (5 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw) seemingly fighting it out with 5 other teams for the prestigious 8th position and a finals berth.
While the top of the ladder VFL Cats (11 wins, 2 losses) will be looking to consolidate on the 2 game gap they have opened up on the 2nd placed Scorpions.
The match kicks off at 2.00pm with the Sandringham Zebras Vs Casey Scorpions Development league curtain raiser starting at 11.00am.
For those that cannot get to Sandringham, the match will be broadcast live on VFL Radio - across Victoria including Geelong on 99.5FM.
You can also participate in the Cats live VFL chat with VFL writer Nathan Kettle by clicking here.
Bendigo Bank Cats – Round 15 Selected Side
B: Daniel Measures, Jared Rivers, Robert Condy
HB: Jackson Thurlow, Matthew Sully, Cameron Eardley
C: Jordan Murdoch, Troy Selwood (c), Jaxson Barham
HF: Brad Hartman, Joshua Walker, Mark Corrigan,
F: Ryan Bathie, Shane Kersten, Dominic Gleeson
R: Trent West, Joshua Cowan, Jordan Schroder
I/C: Andrew Banjanin, Piers Flanagan, Jack Hollmer, Mitch Herbison, Daniel Gibbs, Ryley Hall, Tom Maas, Ben Raidme, Lachlan Howe (23rd Player)