NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 18 Preview

GWS Giants vs. Geelong Cats
(4-12, 15th) vs. (12-4, 4th)

From the last three rounds, the GWS Giants have come up against the Sydney Swans and the Fremantle Dockers, and this weekend will face another top four contender in the Geelong Cats.

Aiming to cement their place in the top four following Port Adelaide’s disappointing form slump, Geelong will be playing for keeps this Saturday night at Spotless Stadium with the opportunity to join the Sydney Swans – who have a bye this week – on 52-points.

Providing something to cling to for Giants supporters, GWS have a history of holding their own against the Cats in the first half of the match, however seem to run out of puff in the second stanza of the game.

The last time the two teams met saw Geelong come out on top but not before a scare from the young Giants who were within two goals at the final break.

Greater Western Sydney will be hoping for a similar performance – with a different outcome – against a side that is currently experiencing their worst away record since 2005 having won only one game out of five away from the comfort of Victorian air.

The Giants welcome back a plethora of stars to their lineup including a former premiership winning Cat, who has never played his former team before.  

Jonathon Patton and Tom Boyd will return to the Giants’ forward line alongside Jeremy Cameron and with this, will be hoping to capitalise on the team’s outstanding centre clearance record (13.6 per game – ranked equal second in the league).

Former Geelong star, Josh Hunt makes his way back into the team following a groin injury and will be counted on to add an extra element of experience to a side that is still without the injured Heath Shaw.  

Adam Treloar has been named on the bench and will undoubtedly provide a much-needed spark to the Giants midfield, which will be without Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield for the rest of the season as confirmed this week.

To make way for the returning superstars, Rory Lobb and Matt Buntine will miss with respective knee and calf complaints, while Jacob Townsend has been omitted.

Geelong has been forced into changes to their initially named team as Allen Christensen has been struck down with the flu. Formerly omitted mid-fielder Brad Hartman finds himself back in the Cats squad in replace of Christensen, while Mark Blicavs has been rested.

Matthew Stokes returns for the Cats from an ankle injury sustained in Round 14 and Dawson Simpson has been put back in the team to combat Shane Mumford in the ruck.

It should be a game with a high tackle count as each side is ranked in the top five teams in the league for their ability to chase down their opponents. Geelong is ranked first with an average of 75.5 tackles per game and the plucky Giants are ranked fifth with an average 71.5 per round.

With their three forward line heavyweights – Boyd, Cameron and Patton – lining up together for only the third time this year, the Giants will be aiming to improve on their inside 50 stats which see them ranked a lowly 15th in the league so far this year.

With the strong marking ability to New South Welshman, Tom Hawkins up front for the Cats, it is no surprise that Geelong are ranked fifth overall for inside 50s – handing the Phil Davis a difficult task this week.  

Adding to a the long list of milestone-making Giants this year, Adam Kennedy will be playing his 50th game for GWS, meaning a win at home is all the more important for the improving side.

AFL NSW/ACT Notes

In a big week of AFL retirements, one of New South Wales own has hung up his well-worn boots. Lenny Hayes, one of the many to come out of Pennant Hills, this week announced that he will retire from St Kilda, and the league, at the completion of the season.

Sam Naismith (Gunnedah) has proclaimed his intentions to become a more well-rounded player for the Swans Reserves. Currently playing as a ruckman while Tom Derickx plays the emergency role for the Swans senior side, Naismith says that he recognised the need to practice his marking in order to become available up forward, adding a further element to his playing capabilities.

The streak is over for Hawthorn’s Luke Breust (Temora) who last weekend kicked his first behind following 29 successful shots at goal in a row. Breust now joins Sydney Swans legend, Tony Lockett as the joint-record holder of 29 straight goals without a miss.