Both Geelong and Fremantle have made significant changes to their list for Saturday’s qualifying final since last time they met in Round 14 and last year’s Elimination Final.

Fremantle have made eight changes since their 41-point loss against the Cats in Round 14 this year by taking away: Crozier, Ibbotson, Johnson, McPharlin, C. Pearce, Michie, Hannath, Taberner, and adding Spurr, Silvagni, Mundy, Barlow, Pavlich, Sandilands, Sutcliffe and Neale.

Both Geelong and Fremantle have made significant changes to their list for Saturday’s qualifying final since last time they met in Round 14 and last year’s Elimination Final.

Fremantle have made eight changes since their 41-point loss against the Cats in Round 14 this year by taking away: Crozier, Ibbotson, Johnson, McPharlin, C. Pearce, Michie, Hannath, Taberner, and adding Spurr, Silvagni, Mundy, Barlow, Pavlich, Sandilands, Sutcliffe and Neale.

Geelong have made a total of five changes with Guthrie, J Hunt, Murdoch, Simpson and Stringer out and Chapman, Johnson, Rivers, Varcoe and Vardy in.

Last year’s Elimination Final, where the Dockers sent the Cats packing, also involved two slightly different lists to Saturday’s upcoming final at Simonds Stadium.

Interestingly, both Geelong and Fremantle have made five changes to their squad since last year’s Elimination Final.

The five players that were a part of Geelong’s side for last year’s final but not Saturday’s are: J Hunt, Murdoch, Scarlett, Simpkin and West. The names that were missing from the list but will play this Saturday are: Varcoe, Rivers, Johnson, Caddy and Blicavs.

Fremantle’s best 22 from 2012’s Elimination Final that won’t be playing Saturday include: Bradley, McPhee, Johnson, Ibbotson and C. Pearce and the names that were missing from last year’s list but are included in Saturday’s game are: D. Pearce, Sutcliffe, Clarke, Sheridan and Neale.  

The big names from Fremantle’s current list that stood up during last year’s final, when they defeated Geelong by 16 points, were Matthew Pavlich who kicked six goals, Aaron Sandilands with 35 hit-outs and Barlow with 27 disposals.

This year, when the Cats gave it back to the Dockers with a 41-point win, Allen Christensen gave a career best performance with 36 possessions, seven clearances and six inside-50s. Joel Corey was also unstoppable with 22 touches, 10 tackles and two goals and Mitch Duncan had 29 disposals, four tackles and four inside-50s.

Geelong’s key playmaker, Steve Johnson, was missing for both previous clashes due to suspension.

Saturday both teams will be fighting hard to secure a home preliminary final.