GEELONG CATS vs GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY GIANTS
Geelong travel to Sydney for their Round 11 clash against the Giants, their first visit Skoda Stadium. During the week Kevin Sheedy wrote an open letter to all Cats fans, imploring them to make the trip to Sydney over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend and see Geelong battle the Giants. There will be mechanical bull riding and a petting zoo at Skoda Stadium, along with a range of other activities linked to the inaugural Tribute to Farmers match, which celebrates the contribution farmers make to Australia. The off-field distractions won’t affect the 2nd placed Cats, who will focus on beating the winless Giants after a tight contest with Gold Coast last week.
KEY MATCH UPS
Steve Johnson vs Tom Scully
Johnson had a tantalising battle with Gary Ablett last round, taking it upon himself to physically hassle the Gold Coast champion in an effort to minimise his impact on the game. Johnson will once again become the hunted at Skoda Stadium. He has been in match winning form this year, averaging over 28 disposals and 5 clearances per game. Tom Scully has been given a number of run-with roles this season and may go head to head with Johnson in the midfield. He has come under scrutiny for his low disposal numbers this season but has elite fitness and defensive skills. The number 1 selection in the 2009 draft, Scully is ranked 3rd at the Giants for tackles and had 25 pressure acts last week against Carlton, more than any other player.
Harry Taylor vs Jeremy Cameron
Jeremy Cameron is the most dangerous forward at the Giants, coming runner-up in the 2012 NAB Rising Star and winning the club goal kicking award last season. He leads GWS again this year with 27 goals and has kicked at least 1 goal in every game so far. Cameron, averaging 5.2 marks a game, has become the Giant’s primary forward target since number 1 draft pick Jonathon Patton’s season ending injury in round 3. If the Cats can shut down Jeremy Cameron they will shut down the Giants’ best avenue to goal. There is no player better equipped for the challenge than Harry Taylor, who is ranked 3rd in the AFL for marks this year, averaging 7.7 a game. His ability to intercept opposition kicks both impedes forward entries and allows quick transition from defence into attack. Geelong defenders will support each another in marking contests as much as possible but the aerial battle between the experienced Taylor and emerging star Jeremy Cameron will be one to watch.
Joel Selwood vs Dylan Shiel
Joel Selwood has long been admired for his on-field courage and contested brand of football. Physical pressure will be an area Geelong, and particularly Selwood, will look to gain advantage over their younger opponents. Selwood is ranked 3rd at the Cats for contested possessions, averaging more than 10 per game. Dylan Shiel played an excellent shut down role on Carlton’s Marc Murphy last week and will be keen to take the scalp of another captain on Saturday. Averaging 19 disposals in 2013, he won a Rising Star nomination for his performance against the Cats last year, gathering 21 disposals and kicking 2 goals. Sheils is ranked 3rd at GWS for clearances, an area of weakness the Cats will hope to improve when they face the Giants.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 10, 2012 at Simmonds Stadium
Geelong Cats defeated GWS Giants
19 - 12 - 126 9 - 7 - 61
DID YOU KNOW
The last time Geelong played GWS the two teams scored 4 - 2 - 26 in the first term and were tied again on 7 - 3 - 45 at the major break. It was just the 12th time in VFL/AFL history, over 14000 games, that two teams were level at both quarter time and half time.
Harry Taylor kicked a career best 6 goals in that match, his 100th AFL game. In his 99 previous outings with the Cats, Taylor had never kicked more than 1 goal.
