Sydney Swans v Geelong
Saturday, August 15 2009, 7.10pm, ANZ Stadium
Season to date
Geelong's season (16 wins, three losses) has been an unqualified success by conventional measures, but the Cats have set the bar high in the past three seasons.
But the fact Mark Thompson's men have lost three of their past six games and scraped home for two of their three wins in the period makes for interesting times at the Cattery.
Injury and, perhaps, fatigue look to be contributing to Geelong's uneven form but a streak of 13 successive wins to start the year cannot be ignored.
Recent form
Round 15 – Geelong 9.11 (65) lost to Brisbane Lions 16.12 (108), Gabba
Round 16 – Geelong 17.15 (117) d Melbourne 11.5 (71), Skilled Stadium
Round 17 – Geelong 15.9 (99) d Hawthorn 14.14 (98), MCG
Round 18 – Geelong 14.9 (93) d Adelaide 13.13 (91), Skilled Stadium
Round 19 – Geelong 8.14 (62) lost to Carlton 14.13 (97), MCG
Last time they met
Sydney Swans 10.5 (65) lost to Geelong 17.14 (116), round seven, 2009, Skilled Stadium
The Swans matched the Cats for large parts of the first quarter but mercurial Geelong forward Steve Johnson broke the game apart in the second term as his side piled on seven goals.
Johnson finished the game with 4.5 and 28 possessions while Joel Corey and Joel Selwood each racked up 34 possessions in the absence of Gary Ablett.
Adam Goodes (27 touches, two goals) was a shining light for the Swans, while Michael O’Loughlin kicked three goals from limited opportunities.
The venue: ANZ Stadium
Geelong has played just twice at the Homebush venue for one win and one loss. The Cats won their most recent clash with the Swans at ANZ Stadium by 39 points in the corresponding round last year.
The coach: Mark Thompson
The former Essendon captain is now in his 10th season at Geelong and the job looks to be his for as long as he wants it.
Thompson has guided the Cats to five finals series in nine years and they have been the league’s dominant home-and-away team for the past three, challenged only by St Kilda this year.
However, a loss to Hawthorn in the 2008 grand final prevented Geelong from capitalising on its superiority and Thompson will be keen to make amends this season.
Strengths
Much like the Brisbane Lions’ brilliant midfield of the early 2000s, Geelong’s depth in the centre square has been the cornerstone of its success.
The development of Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Ling, Corey, Paul Chapman and Selwood into top-flight midfielders has left the likes of James Kelly and Corey Enright to play damaging roles from the flanks.
Each of those players boasts exquisite ball use and decision making, preventing opposition teams from focusing on one or two key players.
Missing in action
Chapman (hamstring) and Kelly (hamstring) are certain to miss Saturday’s game, as are defenders Darren Milburn (ankle) and David Wojcinski (ankle).
Forwards Mathew Stokes (quad) and Max Rooke (knee) face fitness tests while backmen Josh Hunt (knee) and Matthew Egan (foot) have been ruled out for the season.
The key: Lock the game down
St Kilda began Geelong’s relatively lean run in round 14 by choking its midfield with defensive pressure and halting its play-on style.
The Swans are well-equipped to tread the same path but that won’t be enough in isolation. They’ll have to produce their best offensive football at the same time – particularly with the return of Cats defenders Matthew Scarlett and Harry Taylor.
The young gun: Joel Selwood
It’s hard to believe that Selwood is playing just his third AFL season, such is his combination of composure, skill and courage.
There are few players who can play on the same field as Ablett and hold their own – Selwood is clearly among them. He’s been arguably Geelong’s best and most consistent player in 2009, averaging more than 28 possessions a game.
Whoever has the task of stopping him – perhaps co-captain Brett Kirk – faces an unenviable job on Saturday night.
The big questions
Can the Swans maintain their flickering finals hopes with a win? How will the Cats rebound from last week’s heavy loss to Carlton? How will Adam Goodes cope with attention from Scarlett or Taylor? Will Ablett fire after a quiet fortnight?
What they’re saying
"It's only been the last three or four weeks that we haven't played well and haven't had that hunger. Again, we call out to these guys to lift again, and I've got a lot of confidence they will. I would be not one bit surprised if in the next couple of weeks we play some sensational football." – Geelong coach Mark Thompson
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.