AFL 2019 Round 6: Geelong v West Coast, 4:40pm AEST, GMHBA

[Gralin]

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Where and when: GMHBA Stadium, Sunday April 28, 4.40pm AEST

Geelong Forecast

Cloudy. Medium (40%) chance of light showers, mainly this morning and afternoon. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h in the evening.

Last time they met: Optus Stadium, round three, 2018: West Coast 14.11 (95) defeated Geelong 11.14 (80)
The Cats skipped 15 points clear at the 17-minute mark of the final term before the Eagles' floodgate opened, kicking six goals in a blistering final 10 minutes. The Cats finished with three players on the bench through injury – Gary Ablett, Cameron Guthrie and Nakia Cockatoo.

What it means for Geelong: Another legitimate scalp. The Cats have knocked off three finalists from last year in the opening five rounds but beating the Eagles would prove they're a proper contender.

What it means for West Coast: A chance for the midfield to respond. The Eagles have lost the contested possession count in all five games this season, including by 29 and 21 in their two losses. Ranked seventh for contested possession differential last year, the Eagles are 18th this season.

How Geelong wins: Quick ball movement into the front half. Port Adelaide provided the blueprint last week by keeping the Eagles' interceptors out of the contest with a variety of forward entries.

How West Coast wins: Make the Geelong defenders defend. Hawthorn was able to do it for much of the first half on Easter Monday before wayward ball movement and slow entries allowed the Cats' defensive structure to pick off entries at will.

The stat: Despite being ranked 14th in the competition for inside 50s, the Cats are the highest-scoring team after round five, averaging 97 points per game compared to the Eagles' 76.4.

The match-up: Mark Hutchings v Patrick Dangerfield
The No.1 player in the Official AFL Player Ratings, Dangerfield has received attention from Matt de Boer and Daniel Howe in the past two weeks. With Hutchings' usual target Joel Selwood playing more on a wing this season, expect Adam Simpson to send him Dangerfield's way.

It's a big week for: Nathan Vardy
Returns to his former home with a big task alongside Tom Hickey against Rhys Stanley. Vocal in the lead-up to last year's Grand Final about the love he had received from the Eagles' coaches in three seasons compared to seven years at the Cats. Time to put the talking into action.

Former Cat Nathan Vardy was reacquainted with Rhys Stanley in the JLT Community Series. Picture: AFL Photos

Big call: Harry Taylor to sneak forward at some stage and expose an Eagles defence missing Tom Barrass.

Prediction: Cats by 13 points

Source: AFL Website

 

[WCfan22]

Not a head call only heart wc by less than 10pts.
Dont think i can watch tho could be bad.

 

[masai]

Nice write up, but Mr Simpson has left Vardy out.

Or will he be a late, back in ?.

Maybe the long sleeves would be handy.

 

[gingernuts]

Big game for the Cats, real test against a quality side. Back to the pack with mental demons if they lose this one

 

[LoungeLizard]

If West Coast win this, the 1st 9 teams will be equal on points, therefore i am tipping West Coast

 

[Lynch takes a mark]

Don't see WCE getting close in this one.

Cats by 43

 

[Fabes]

"It's a big week for: Nathan Vardy
Returns to his former home with a big task alongside Tom Hickey against Rhys Stanley. Vocal in the lead-up to last year's Grand Final about the love he had received from the Eagles' coaches in three seasons compared to seven years at the Cats. Time to put the talking into action"

....except it says he has been omitted in the team sheets...

 

[SunGirl89]

utterly ridiculous starting time

 

[MSB ROYS]

Which WC team will turn up? They have been inconsistent so far.

 

[Kram]

Should be a good game, Geelong by about 20 points.

 

[Peel67skin]

Geelong by 30 points , Tim Kelly maybe 24 disposal 2 goal

 

[Corkintheocean]

We're sputtering at the moment. Having said that I'm not completely sold on Geelong. I think they probably roll us here, but unconvincingly.

 

[SunGirl89]

I'm not completely sold on Geelong

Ridiculous comment. Name 1 team you are sold on then.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Big game for the Cats, real test against a quality side. Back to the pack with mental demons if they lose this one

I thought that was 2 weeks ago against GWS and the Cats failed pretty poorly only for GWS to get cleaned up by Port the next week.

Who knows what the hell is going to happen with the season.

 

[Scotland]

4.40 Sunday in Geelong. This is unusual.

Not looking forward to this, we're way too tall. Pretty sure 2006 was our only win in Geelong this century, not that we play there that often.

We beat GWS easily but lost at home to Port and weren't great vs Freo. Geelong going nicely but went to sleep against the Giants. I'll tip us out of heart but wouldn't be betting my house either way.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

With the Eagles injury list Geelong should win comfortably

 

[WCfan22]

Game of the day for viewing audiences in qld is hawks blues apparently according to the afl and channel 7.
Well done thats right thats what we all want to see a bottom side for the last 2 million years.
There is something seriously wrong with the afl and channel 7.
How could a potential top 2 showdown be put on the back burner.
F*** me swinging.

 

[Mantastic]

I am uncertain as to the eventual outcome of this game. I feel confident but I did before the GWS game too.

I will probably eat some KFC.

 

[Bazza97]

Think Geelong will win quite comfortably, but as a neutral I'm hoping for it to be close.

 

[WCfan22]

"It's a big week for: Nathan Vardy
Returns to his former home with a big task alongside Tom Hickey against Rhys Stanley. Vocal in the lead-up to last year's Grand Final about the love he had received from the Eagles' coaches in three seasons compared to seven years at the Cats. Time to put the talking into action"

....except it says he has been omitted in the team sheets...

Yeah and early omitting aswell.

 

[Macca18]

Hope they bash and crash the crap out of each other. A bit of (light) rain around and a 4:40pm start this time of year in Geelong isn't ideal for West Coast. Eagles will be keen to respond after last week though.

Cats to win narrowly in a tough game.

 

[gingernuts]

Game of the day for viewing audiences in qld is hawks blues apparently according to the afl and channel 7.
Well done thats right thats what we all want to see a bottom side for the last 2 million years.
There is something seriously wrong with the afl and channel 7.
How could a potential top 2 showdown be put on the back burner.
F*** me swinging.

what about the poor fookers like me live 4 hours away makes it impossible to travel and back again because of work Monday. Sunday games are absolute shyte for country folk

 

[Chinacats]

Real test coming up for cats. Don’t want to lose two on trot at home especially given its 10 year anniversary celebrations of 09 premiership. Chance to go one game ahead too! The incentives are there for cats, so we’ll see if their real this afternoon against the premiers. Can the kids stand up with the heat cranked up? Tipping cats but it’s 50/50.

 

[The_Todd07]

Couldn't tell last game because the giants have no fans but it seems my new seats are in one of the small sections they sell to opposition fans

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

I almost forgot. Geelong played Hawthorn last week. Historically, Geelong have been really flat following those games.