GEELONG CATS vs SYDNEY SWANS
Simonds Stadium, Saturday August 24, 4:40PM

The Cats are guaranteed a top four finish following their 66 point demolition of the West Coast Eagles in Perth last Saturday night. With a second chance in the finals now secure, Geelong will have their premiership credentials thoroughly evaluated by the Sydney Swans. Since winning the 2012 Grand Final Sydney have added power forward Kurt Tippet and introduced exciting young midfield talent Tom Mitchell, who have both have added depth and quality to the reigning premiers. The Swans were the last time to visit Kardinia Park and leave victorious, overcoming the Cats on their home turf in the penultimate round of the 2011 season. They currently occupy third position on the ladder, two points behind Geelong, but with a superior percentage. A repeat of their 2011 effort will see them overtake the Cats with just one more match to play. The contest at Simonds Stadium on Saturday evening shapes as a battle between two heavy weights, fighting for the home ground advantage in a qualifying final this September.

Last Time They Met
SCG, Round 4, April 19, 2013
SYDNEY      16 -  7  - 103
GEELONG   19 - 10 - 124

The clash between the Cats and the Swans in round four this year was one of the most exciting games of the season. The opening term was a high tempo, high scoring affair that displayed incredible skill from both teams and yielded 15 goals. Sydney kicked 8.1 to Geelong’s 7.2, including two goals from Harry Taylor. The Swans kicked the first two goals in the second term before Geelong responded to be just five points down at the major break. The third quarter was dominated by the Cats, who kicked seven goals to one. Taylor Hunt took a shot at goal from outside 50 that bounced through as the three quarter time siren rang, giving Geelong a 31 point lead at the final change. The two teams were evenly matched in the last quarter before the Swans scored three in a row to bring the final margin back to 21 points.
Joel Selwood was clearly best afield, amassing 31 disposals, eight clearances, 10 tackles, one goal and four goal assists.

Player to Watch
JARED RIVERS vs JESSE WHITE
Jesse White has taken his game to a new level this season and is one of the most improved players in the competition. He has always possessed the physical attributes and the talent to be an AFL footballer. He even won the Swans’ rising star award in 2009, but has struggled to consistently perform at a high level. Injuries to Adam Goodes, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Sam Reid this year has provided an opportunity for White to be a regular member of the senior side, something he has battled to achieve over his career. He has played the last six games as a mobile tall forward and averages 11 disposals, 4.3 marks and 1.6 goals this season. White is 196cm tall and 102kg with the pace and agility of a much smaller player, making him a difficult match-up and a dangerous target in the Sydney forward line.
Jared Rivers has missed most of his debut season at Geelong with a knee injury, but has been a welcome inclusion in the past couple of weeks. He is a versatile defender who is able to play on tall and small forwards and has added further flexibility to the Cats’ defence. Rivers played his best game in the blue and white hoops last week, displaying his intercept marking ability and bravery in aerial contests. Sydney boasts a forward line that includes Mike Pyke and former Cat Shane Mumford, who will both demand close attention form the Geelong key defenders. As a result, Rivers will have to compete against White, to whom he concedes 10kg and four centimetres. He has the talent and experience to win the battle, and the support of a team defence that has operated with great unity and effectiveness in the back half of the season.

JOEL COREY vs JUDE BOLTON
Joel Corey is the most experienced player in the Geelong side and has been an important contributor this season. A stoppage specialist and career on-baller, Corey has had to adjust his game style and role within the team this season. At 191cm he has the size and strength to be an effective utility and has played predominantly across halfback throughout the year. Corey provides great on-field leadership and helps to maintain structural discipline in the team, while still averaging more than 21 disposals per game. Always a cool head in heavy traffic, he has steadily worked towards his best form in the lead up to finals and his experience will be invaluable to the Cats in September.
Jude Bolton has played 321 games for the Swans and, like Joel Corey, has had to adapt his game in the twilight of his career. He still rotates through the midfield, but spends a lot of time on a forward or back flank. Bolton embodies the Sydney philosophy of hard running and physicality, always committed to the contest and to his defensive duties. This year he averages 14.4 disposals and has kicked 26 goals, including a career best four goal effort in round three. Currently equal second in the club’s goal kicking, Bolton remains a dangerous and influential player who is making a valuable contribution in the Swans’ forward line. The outcome of this game will have a big impact on the finals, a proposition that will not intimidate either of these veterans. They have both played in several grand finals and tasted premiership success, a sensation they may battle for more than once before the season ends.

Did You Know?
Geelong has the best win/loss record against other top eight sides this year. The Cats have tallied eight victories from nine matches against teams currently in the top eight, better than any team in the league.

Geelong’s record is even more impressive against the three sides occupying a position in the top four. In four matches this season (two against Hawthorn, one against Fremantle and one against Sydney) the Cats are yet to be defeated by a top for team.
Sydney premiership defender Nick Malceski kicked the first goal and the last goal of the 2012 Grand Final. The last player to achieve this was Geelong’s own Max Rooke, who booted the opening goal of the 2009 Grand Final and kicked another after the final siren to add the finishing touch to a famous victory.

Last Saturday was the 14th time Joel Selwood has played an AFL game against one of his siblings. Joel holds all bragging rights in the Selwood family, boasting 13 wins from those 14 matches.