Geelong v Western Bulldogs at the MCG, Friday September 19, 7:40pm
FORECAST
Showers developing, Min 12, Max 22
BETTING
Western Bulldogs $7.25, Geelong $1.10
LAST TIME THEY MET
Geelong 19.17 (131) d Western Bulldogs 10.10 (70), round 16, 2008, at Skilled Stadium
FORM GUIDE
Western Bulldogs
The Dogs bounced back from a heavy qualifying final loss to Hawthorn with a spirited 37-point victory over the Sydney Swans last week. Matthew Boyd and Lindsay Gilbee were outstanding with 33 and 28 possessions respectively, while Robert Murphy booted three goals.
Geelong
The Cats carry impeccable form into the prelim, with their qualifying final win over the Saints their 14th in a row.
MEDICAL ROOMThe Dogs bounced back from a heavy qualifying final loss to Hawthorn with a spirited 37-point victory over the Sydney Swans last week. Matthew Boyd and Lindsay Gilbee were outstanding with 33 and 28 possessions respectively, while Robert Murphy booted three goals.
Geelong
The Cats carry impeccable form into the prelim, with their qualifying final win over the Saints their 14th in a row.
Western Bulldogs
Brad Johnson and Shaun Higgins both copped knocks to the head against the Swans, but have been cleared to play, while Adam Cooney has won his fight against illness and will play.
Geelong
Paul Chapman hasn't come up from a hamstring strain suffered in the qualifying final win over St Kilda, and Matthew Egan and Brent Prismall are out for the year.
RANDOM FACTS
The Bulldogs and the Cats have shared the spoils from their last six meetings with three wins each.
Daniel Giansiracusa will play his 150th AFL match.
KEY MATCH UPS
Matthew Boyd v Jimmy Bartel
Boyd has elevated his game to a new level this year and he'll need to be right at his peak to go up against the Brownlow Medallist. Whether they go head to head or Boyd sacrifices his game to try to nullify Bartel remains to be seen, but it should be an absorbing duel regardless.
Daniel Cross v Gary Ablett
Cross is a key member of the Dogs' on-ball brigade and he has the tank to go with the Cat game breaker, who torched the Saints for 35 possessions and a brilliant goal in his last outing and looks in ominous form.
Ben Hudson v Brad Ottens
Ottens has been in cracking form late in the season and while Hudson has had a good first year at the Dogs he has been slowed by nagging injuries of late. The big Dog has the ability to match it with Ottens around the stoppages, but will need to hand off to Ryan Hargreave or Brian Lake when he goes forward.
WHAT THE CLUBS SAY
Western Bulldogs
"We've got a lot to lose – we've got as much to lose as Geelong, and that's a grand final spot.
"That's what we're playing for, and if either team loses, they'll be equally disappointed on the Monday. We'll be equally disappointed as Geelong would be if they lost the game.
"We're going there to win, that's what we want to do. As the old saying goes, we're not here to run second, third or fourth." – Rodney Eade
Geelong
"They finished third for a reason and we saw that on Friday night against the Swans.
"We had a great game against them earlier in the year, so we're experiencing a fantastic battle and it will be great for Victorian footy.
"We know we've had a fantastic season, but this is our first cut-throat game since the grand final last year.
"So we want to make it count, there's no doubt about that.
"We won't be doing anything different, we'll be playing our normal styles, structures and people in the same positions." – Tom Harley
