Geelong will head into Friday night’s elimination final against Sydney as favourites, with the Cats paying $1.65 to the Swans’ juicy odds of $2.30 (Courtesy of CrownBet).
Sydney has several injury concerns heading into the match following a bruising semi-final win over Adelaide.
Jarrad McVeigh is battling a calf injury, while Gary Rohan is racing the clock to be fit after going down with what at the time appeared to be a season ending knee injury.
However, the luckless speedster has merely suffered bone bruising and is still a slim chance to take his place in the side.
Meanwhile, Kurt Tippett looks set to return from a hairline fracture in his jaw, while rising star Callum Mills is touch and go after suffering a hamstring injury in the Swans’ qualifying final loss to Greater Western Sydney a fortnight ago.
However, despite the favouritism tag and the battle-weary Swans, the Cats will not be taking their opponents lightly, having been handed a footballing lesson by Sydney in Round 16, going down by 38-points.
Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield says the loss left a “sour taste” in his mouth.
“We’ve played a few games this year that we were really disappointed with and that we largely played poorly in, but when we lost to the Swans at home we were outclassed and outmatched and beaten around the ball,” Dangerfield told the Herald Sun earlier this week.
“We know what Sydney will bring. This time we must be ready.”
Geelong host the Swans at the MCG on Friday night at 7.50pm.
