MATCH DETAILS
Geelong v Western Bulldogs
Skilled Stadium, 2.10pm, Saturday
It looks like being one of those cold, wintery days at Skilled Stadium. The bureau is predicting showers on Friday and they might hang about on match day. The mercury is unlikely to get above 12 or 13 degrees.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Geelong 20.18 (138) def Western Bulldogs 9.9 (63), round 16, 2007 at Telstra Dome
The Cats burnt up the Telstra Dome turf with a blistering eight-goal opening term. Thirteen goals to four in the first half ensured Geelong registered its 11th straight win in 2007, while the 75-point belting would start a disastrous final seven weeks of the season for Rodney Eade’s men.
Cameron Mooney booted four while Gary Ablett and Jimmy Bartel dominated through the midfield. Andrew Mackie and Darren Milburn provided terrific drive from the backline in Tom Harley’s 150th match as the Cats were able to get by minus Matthew Scarlett without any dramas.
Brad Johnson managed three goals for the Bulldogs while Andrejs Everitt showed he would be a star of the future with an impressive outing.
FORM GUIDE
Despite losing two men before half-time last week, Geelong built on a 33-point advantage at the main break and went on to pound Fremantle by 74 at the finish. The Cats are in rare form, having won their past four by an average of 84 points. Still, most of those wins have been against sides far lower on the table and this week they come up against a whole different kettle of fish. And injuries are likely to play their part. Still, Mark Thompson’s side can’t complain too much, given the charmed run it has had so far in 2008.
The Western Bulldogs have been superb this season, exceeding all expectations to emerge as a genuine premiership threat just a year after missing the finals. While they weren’t super-impressive against Melbourne last week, they did what they had to and just maybe they had bigger things on their mind. Beating the reigning champs on their home turf would certainly make a statement. The Bulldogs’ best this year would suggest it isn’t beyond them. They’ve only been beaten once from 15 matches and are the highest-scoring team in the competition.
RANDOM FACTS
* Geelong has won 44 of its 60 quarters played this season. The Bulldogs have won 40.
* Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel is back to his best and relishes playing against the Bulldogs. Last year, in round 16, he picked up 38 touches and three votes in the Geelong’s big win at Telstra Dome.
* Western Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson has kicked more goals against Geelong (49 in 22 games) than any other team. He also averages more than 18 disposals a game.
KEY MATCH UPS
Corey Enright v Jason Akermanis
To attack Aker or not to attack? Enright has been in career-best form over the past fortnight, so sacrificing his run and pinpoint disposal might not be the wisest option. But making the Bulldogs champion accountable going the ‘other way’ is what all teams attempt to do. Aker has been in amazing form and has been kicking his two or three each week, so whichever Cat gets him must not allow him any latitude near goal.
Cameron Mooney v Brian Lake
Geelong’s major tall target around the 50m arc has had an up-and-down year, but his team needs him to fire against a side not known for possessing big, key defenders. If Mooney can get his hands to a few early, the Bulldogs will be under pressure. Lake has been pretty reliable again this season but Eade doesn’t have loads of back-up, despite Tom Williams being a likely ‘in’ this week.
Max Rooke v Adam Cooney
Cameron Ling’s loss will be felt this weekend. Thompson is likely to assign one of his Cats a run-with role on the star Bulldog and Rooke, the Cats’ hardest tackler, might just be it. Cooney, while not as prolific in recent weeks, has been instrumental in many of his team’s wins this season, his explosive pace away from packs a feature of his game. Rooke will need to be at his nullifying best to negate one of the Brownlow Medal fancies.
WHAT THE CLUBS SAY
“I think it’ll be a hard game.
“They’ve just improved so much in the contested-ball side and I think it’ll be a pretty fierce battle.
“I think it’ll be a really fair, hard game of footy.”
Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade
“We'd probably prefer to play them at full strength so we can get an idea of where we're at.
“We're under no illusions of the big challenge we've got. They're a fantastic team and we've got a lot of respect for them.
“They're the best team in the competition and we're chasing them. I think the weekend will give us an indication of where we're at.”
