Walters and Ballantyne come in at second and third on the Dockers' goalkicking tally (with 20 and 14 goals respectively), and with Matthew Pavlich still missing from the side they need to have an impact for Fremantle to kick a winning score. Whilst the Geelong tall defenders are rock solid, its smalls (and the players likely to match up on Walters and Ballantyne) can sometimes be vulnerable.

 

Leigh says: 'The Geelong defence is always pretty good in the air, but Fremantle's strength isn't to mark the ball in their forward line, it's their ground level speed and it's based around players like Walters and Ballantyne.

The Cats defenders who take these two are really critical. You've got Enright, John Hunt and maybe Taylor Hunt who will likely be the ones to get those roles and I think they can be a little bit vulnerable against really good opposition small forwards. Geelong has to set itself for a really low scoring game. They'll understand that it's going to very hard to score themselves, but they have to make it hard for Fremantle to score too'

 

While Geelong can be found near the top in most statistical categories, clearances are one area that they are far from dominant in. They rank dead last in the AFL.

Compounding this is the loss of Steve Johnson, who leads the Cats in clearances this season (averaging 4.8 per game).

 

Leigh says: 'Centre bounce clearances against Fremantle are even more important than they are against anyone else, because against the Dockers they're your best chance of scoring. That's when there's likely to be less congestion in the Geelong forward line, if the Cats can get it in there quickly.

Stoppages haven't been a great area for the Cats this year, Steve Johnson has been their best clearance player but he's not there this week. So players like Selwood, Kelly and James Bartel become really important'

Geelong to win

 

Leigh says: 'I can't tip against Geelong at home, even though Fremantle has been amazing'

 

*Winner in capitals

 

West Coast vs. ESSENDON

SYDNEY SWANS vs. Carlton

GOLD COAST vs. Adelaide

Port Adelaide vs. COLLINGWOOD

GEELONG vs. Fremantle

Melbourne vs. WESTERN BULLDOGS

HAWTHORN vs. Brisbane Lions

NORTH MELBOURNE vs. Greater Western Sydney

RICHMOND vs. St Kilda