GAME ON!
The start of this game will be worth the admission alone. With Geelong losing last week, and Fremantle coming off a great win, you can guarantee that the attack and ferocity of both teams will be sky-high.

With Mark Thompson wanting to know where his players were in the first quarter against St Kilda, you can bet they will turn up this week. Both teams exert huge pressure in their own 50, and with the Cats second for inside 50s and Fremantle fifth, it will be interesting to see which side can pin the other early to get the scoreboard pressure on.

How Fremantle goes with a semi-final in Melbourne against the Cats at the 'G is an unknown, but they have jumped many hurdles this year.

MIDFIELD v MIDFIELD
Mark Thompson said Jimmy Bartel was the Cats' only good player last week, so expect Selwood, Ablett, Ling, Corey and co. to really lift their performance. Is Sandilands going to play? If so, how fit is he? Ottens and Blake will no doubt jump into him and test him out all night.

Will Fremantle bring back Hasleby to match Geelong in close, along with Mundy and maybe Pavlich, who spent time onball last time against the Cats? Morabito, Hill and Ibbotson will try to give the run and carry they need to get the ball deep inside 50, so will Geelong choose to put Hill away or let him go?

Does Crowley tag Ablett, or does McPhee, who did a great job on Hodge last week and who has reinvented himself as a run-with player this year?

BACKLINE v BACKLINE
Geelong is the second-best team for not allowing goals per inside 50 entry, while Fremantle is 11th. The visitors will have to try to generate lots of inside 50s in order to kick a big enough score to get over the line. Geelong's backs are terrific at winning most contests, and have the ability to roll over on opponents all night. Does Taylor take Pavlich? I would think so, but that will depend on if he plays up the ground. If he stays closer to goal, then Scarlett may take him.

Fremantle's backline was fantastic last week with the way they forced the Hawthorn forwards to rush their shots on goals. McPharlin did an outstanding job on Buddy, so I would think he plays on Mooney, however if the J-Pod comes in, he may be a better match-up. Hayden's ability to give Fremantle plenty of run out of their backline will be important to clear the ball away from the danger zone.

FORWARD LINE v FORWARD LINE
Fremantle relies on an even spread of goalkickers. Obviously Pavlich is the main target, but players like Mayne, Fyfe and Walters provided avenues last week, along with putting super pressure on the Hawks' backs. No doubt Mark Harvey will have them up for that again.

Will Geelong bring back Podsiadly for this game? I would think so. He gives them another tall option rather than just Mooney or Ottens who may need to spend more time rucking. Geelong's forwards in Johnson, Chapman, Stokes - and the much-improved Travis Varcoe - will try to get up the ground then back in behind Fremantle's backs and score, which they do well.

UNDER THE RADAR
Travis Varcoe has probably been under-appreciated this season, but his ability in the last month to go onball and give Geelong some real breakaway speed - not only from stoppages but through the middle of the ground - has become super-important. He really only escapes notice due to Geelong's supreme onball unit.

Anthony Morabito hasn't been spoken about like Stephen Hill this year, but he looks like he has the ability to win his own ball in close. We have certainly seen his run and carry, which is special to watch. He has also had 31 shots on goal this year, which is a great weapon to have.

OVERALL
Having played in a losing first final, I know we attacked the next game with huge intensity and I would expect that the Cats will be the same. They will be too strong for Fremantle in close, and will generate too many inside 50s for the Fremantle defence to cope with. That will allow them to kick a winning score.

PREDICTION
Geelong by 32 points

Matt Primus was appointed Port Adelaide's senior coach after steering the club to five wins from its last seven games of the 2010 season.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

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