Over the past 10 years Geelong and Port Melbourne have played out some of the VFL competition’s most memorable matches and this week promises to be no different when the two sides once again meet in the VFL Match of the Round.
It has taken 11 rounds for the 2012 Grand Finalists to once again square off, but it is a match up that promises to be worth the wait with the VFL Cats sitting in third position (7 wins, 2 losses) on the ladder and the Borough only one position below in fourth (6 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw).
Although the classic VFL decider was only played nine months ago and a mere 10 VFL rounds have passed since that day, both sides have named different looking sides. The Cats have named only 10 players that played in the winning team with current listed players such as George Burbury, Shane Kersten, Jackson Sheringham and 2012 Norm Goss Medallist George Horlin-Smith all missing through injury.
As is always the case for a Sunday fixture, the AFL side will not be finalised until Friday night. As a result, the Cats have named the seven man AFL interchange bench of Billie Smedts, Jesse Stringer, Josh Caddy, Mathew Stokes, Taylor Hunt, Jordan Murdoch and Jackson Thurlow in the squad of 31 players that also includes AFL omission Mitchell Brown.
VFL premiership defender Ryan Bathie (calf) and first year draftee Brad Hartman (general soreness) both look set look set to return from injury, while Cameron Eardley (general soreness), Jai Sheahan (omit), Ben Capra (omit) and Daniel Measures (overseas) are the only confirmed outgoing players at this stage.
Former Gippsland Power defender Ryley Hall will play his third and final home and away match as the 23rd player with the Cats after impressive performances in his first two VFL games.
Port Melbourne has been the benchmark side of the VFL competition for a number of years and despite a number of losses in the first half of the season, the ‘Borough’ show no sign of dropping off anytime in the near future.
Former Geelong Cats coach Gary Ayres has named a formidable line up that includes a host of the household names that have returned the proud and traditional powerhouse VFL club to the glory days – players such as 2011 premiership captain John Baird, duel Liston Trophy winner Shane Valenti, 2012 Frosty Miller Medallist Dean Galea, the versatile Wayde Skipper, lion hearted midfielder Toby Pinwill and the evergreen defender Sam Pleming.
With the AFL Cats interstate once again this weekend, another large crowd is expected to flock to Simonds Stadium on Saturday for what promises to be an enthralling contest.
The match kicks off at 1.10pm and as is the case for all Geelong VFL home matches - 2013 Geelong Cats members gain free entry.
For those that cannot get to the Cattery, the match will be televised on the ABC from 1.00pm.
You can also participate in the Cats live VFL chat with VFL writer Nathan Kettle by clicking here.
Bendigo Bank Cats – Round 11 Selected Side
B: Jed Bews, Ryan Bathie, Piers Flanagan
HB: Taylor Hunt, Matthew Sully, Jackson Thurlow
C: Jordan Murdoch, Troy Selwood, Josh Caddy
HF: Brad Hartman, Joshua Walker, Billie Smedts
F: Mark Corrigan, Mitchell Brown, Jesse Stringer
R: Dawson Simpson, Jordan Schroder, Mathew Stokes
I/C: Jack Hollmer, Dominic Gleeson, Rob Condy, Mitch Herbison, Daniel Gibbs, Andrew Banjanin, Jaxson Barham, Tom Maas, Ben Raidme, Ryley Hall (23rd Player)
